WallStreet (1987) - The Movie - Sumizeit Original Book Summary

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"Wall Street" (1987) is a drama film directed by Oliver Stone, starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. It follows the story of a young and ambitious stockbroker named Bud Fox (played by Sheen) who is eager to climb the ranks of the financial world. He becomes involved with a wealthy and ruthless corporate raider named Gordon Gekko (played by Douglas), who teaches him the ways of the industry and manipulates him into breaking the law to make profits. As Fox becomes more deeply involved with Gekko and his schemes, he realizes the cost of his actions and must decide whether to stay true to his morals or succumb to the seductive world of wealth and power. The film highlights the greed and corruption prevalent in the financial industry and its impact on society.

"Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" is a wake-up call for the American conscience." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Michael Douglas is unforgettable as Gordon Gekko, the embodiment of Reagan-era greed." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"A cautionary tale about the seductions of power, money, and ambition." - Janet Maslin, The New York Times

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"Wall Street" is a 1987 drama film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. The movie explores the corrupt and greed-fueled world of high finance in the 1980s, and its impact on individuals and society as a whole.

The film follows the story of Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen), a young and ambitious stockbroker who dreams of making it big in the financial world. He is eager to work for the infamous and wealthy corporate raider Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas), who is known for his aggressive business tactics and his ruthless pursuit of profits.

Bud manages to land a meeting with Gekko by using insider information he obtained from his father, who is a blue-collar worker for an airline company. He impresses Gekko with his tenacity and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed, and Gekko takes him under his wing.

Bud quickly becomes immersed in the high-stakes world of corporate finance, attending lavish parties, making insider trades, and being swept up in the excess and glamour of Wall Street. He begins to see Gekko as a mentor and role model, and his ambition blinds him to the consequences of his actions.

However, as Bud becomes more deeply involved in Gekko's schemes, he begins to realize the cost of his actions. He starts to see the negative impact that his insider trading has on individuals and society, and begins to question whether the pursuit of wealth and power is worth the moral compromises he has made.

Meanwhile, Bud's relationship with his father deteriorates, as his father sees him becoming more like the Wall Street executives he despises. Bud's relationship with his girlfriend, Darien (played by Daryl Hannah), also suffers as he becomes more focused on his career.

As Bud's moral crisis deepens, he decides to turn against Gekko and expose his illegal activities to the authorities. This decision leads to a dramatic showdown between Bud and Gekko, and forces Bud to confront the consequences of his actions and the true cost of his ambition.

The film ends with Bud being sentenced to prison for his involvement in Gekko's illegal activities, and Gekko being arrested for insider trading. Bud's relationship with his father is reconciled, and he is left to reflect on the lessons he has learned about the corrupting influence of money and power.

"Wall Street" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of greed, corruption, and the moral compromises individuals make in the pursuit of success. It portrays the excess and glamour of Wall Street in the 1980s, while also highlighting the negative impact that the financial industry can have on society as a whole. Michael Douglas's portrayal of Gordon Gekko is particularly memorable, and the film's famous "greed is good" speech has become an iconic moment in movie history. Overall, "Wall Street" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of wealth and power.