From the time it was first announced to when it was released in theaters on Christmas Day, “The Wolf of Wall Street” seemed have all the qualities of an Oscar contender. The stellar cast of A-list actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey made the film highly anticipated. Add Martin Scorsese as the director and one could already see the Oscar nominations rolling in. DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, while Hill was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Scorsese was nominated for Best Director; and the film itself was nominated for Best Picture as well as Best Adapted Screenplay. All in all the film was nominated for five Oscars, but the question is are these praises deserved?

The film is based off of the memoir “The Wolf of Wall Street,” the true story of a man named Jordan Belfort. The runtime for the film is a whopping 180 minutes, and a movie of that length has to do something to keep the viewer interested. “The Wolf of Wall Street” goes above and beyond to entertain the viewers every step of the way. Scorsese does an excellent job with moving the film along and avoiding any dull moments. The topics of drugs, alcohol and sex are heavily discussed throughout the film, which only spice it up further.

The film features a young stockbroker, Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio, and the successes and failures of his career. Belfort quickly builds up his firm into a mega corporation that is dangerously corrupt and highly illegal. The film follows Belfort and his associates, one of whom is played by Hill, and how they deal with the many stresses of wealthy living. This dark comedy will have the viewer laughing for a solid three hours.

Hill and DiCaprio are exceptional together and truly make the film all the more exciting to watch. The chemistry between the duo is genuine and heartfelt, which helps the viewer feel more engaged in the film. Often a film lasting longer than two hours can get a bit boring at times if scenes are dragged on longer than need be. However, “The Wolf of Wall Street” grips the viewer’s attention for the full three hours. Scorsese knows how to make every scene fascinating, throwing in clashing personalities and stunning individuals.

Controversy surrounds the film’s rating. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is rated R, however it just missed the cutoff for NC-17. There is nudity throughout the film, and it has also set a record for the number of times the “F word” has been used in a movie: an extraordinary 506 times. However, the nudity and explicit language only enhances the film and gives it a sense of realism. Overworked employees like the men and women featured in the film surely need their fair share of stress relievers, thus explaining the endless amount of frivolity and heated language.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” is a phenomenal film, and offers a prime example of how a film should be directed. The fact that any film can be three hours in length and retain the viewers’ attention during the whole affair is a feat in itself. All aspects of the film were well done, including the acting, directing and filming.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” is a perfect portrayal of the corruption and greed that fills the world today, and is an enjoyable film for all mature ages. As the Oscars roll closer, one can feel nothing but excitement and anticipation to see how the “Wolf” really fared with the Academy.