A compelling character makes a reader or audience member want to follow them across a narrative. Whether or not they are likable or unlikable is another story.
The 2013 film, The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the story of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). Belfort and his associates (Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) among them) make a hefty chunk of change selling penny stocks. The problem is that Belfort’s methods are not quite legal. Soon enough, the Feds catch wind of his practices and put him on notice.
From a technical and story standpoint, The Wolf of Wall Street is a brilliant movie. Director Martin Scorsese tells the story of a man who is both morally bankrupt and captivating. DiCaprio is all in as Belfort. Despite his many faults, you want to follow him on this journey.
Two things stuck out for me. The first is my usual complaint. Though Belfort’s second wife, Naomi LaPaglia (Margot Robbie) is his equal and puts up with most of his bullshit, she is still “the wife”. One of the comments that Robbie makes about her character is that Naomi uses her sexuality on her own terms instead of the men using it to their advantage. While that is admirable, most of the female characters in the film are sex objects at best and invisible at worst.
The second is that Belfort is Jewish. The stereotypes about Jews, corruption, and money are all too present. I know that it is based on a true story. But I still cringed nonetheless.
Do I recommend it? Maybe.
Writergurlny 
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