Who doesn’t dream of wanting it all? Money, power, influence— the list is endless. Many people work towards these goals, but never make it. Say you’re an average person working an average job, and suddenly, you are whisked into high society. You have and can get everything and anything you want. There’s just one problem: What would you be willing to do to reach that dream? Would you compromise your morals? Would you commit crimes and break the law, all to make money?
Enter Wall Street, Oliver Stone’s iconic film starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, where the conflict between morality and money creates an unforgettable tale of corporate greed, materialism, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Released in 1987, it has become an icon in cinema and the financial world, with the movie heavily inspiring future films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and acting as a tale of caution for when one’s mind becomes corrupted by power and money and betrays their morals and principles.
Bud Fox (Sheen) is a young stockbroker trying to make a name for himself. With a little luck and persuasion, he lands a meeting with Gordon Gekko (Douglas), a legendary figure in the world of Wall Street. Over time, Bud becomes a protégé to Gekko, lured into a world of wealth and success, focused on profit above all else. He now has access to the life of a rich man, with extravagant meals, limousine rides, and a girlfriend. Eventually, he becomes involved in Gekko’s illicit activities, such as insider trading, securities fraud, and corporate espionage.
Eventually, Bud faces an internal struggle between his morals and his newfound illegally-obtained riches. He is forced to make a tough decision: to either keep his own personal fortune and wealth, or to stick to his morals and give it all up to face trial for his crimes.
Wall Street, despite its age, contains allegorical themes and messages that have been exemplified time and time again throughout history. The character Gordon Gekko is the definition of corporate excess, the dark side of capitalism, and lust and gluttony for power.
The film’s topics of the disregard of corporate ethics and economic responsibility eerily resemble the crimes of corporate thieves such as Jordan Belfort, Bernie Madoff, Michael Milken, and Elizabeth Holmes, as well as being seen as the cause of the collapse of companies such as Enron, WorldCom, and Lehman Brothers, and more recently Theranos, Nikola Motors, and FTX.
Such reckless financial behavior and corporate greed is also seen as a major factor for the cause of the 2008 financial crisis (which the second film is coincidentally based upon). The modern world is still grappling with misconduct in the corporate world, the need for federal regulation, and the importance of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigating deception and illegal business practices. The film teaches us that no matter what laws or regulations are put in place, there will always be scoundrels and corporate robbers who will stop at nothing to make money and grab power. Many times, criminals come dressed in stylish suits and ties and hide behind the face of professionalism to mask their inner selfish desires: a modern day wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Wall Street also touches on topics of materialism and excess, perfectly immortalized by the words of Gekko himself: “Greed is good.” The pursuit of material goods while sacrificing your personal values is something that the present world continues to glorify. All over social media, you see influencers and celebrities flex their fancy cars, expensive shoes, and lucrative dinner reservations all for the admiration and envy of others, all of things that Bud begins to relish in his rebirth into the high life. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious and driven, but a line must be drawn when these reach criminal and immoral limits. When someone becomes obsessed with power and influence, it is no longer inspired by ambition but by greed and selfishness.
In a time of unabashed indulgence and desire, Wall Street takes a stand of showing the dark side of excessive money and unchecked ambition. Its reflections of the corporate world and the moral question it imposes on its audience work together to create a new perspective on how we view the world. Even in the rush of fortune and success, it champions the need for ethical and moral accountability and responsibility. For as long as these themes continue to shape the world, the movie will endure as a cinematic, emblematic, and sensational masterpiece.
