Wall Street 2 Review from Cannes

By Roger Friedman

Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” sequel, subtitled “Money Never Sleeps,” is a hit. It’s a formula Hollywood movie in the great sense. For the first time in a long time, the formula works.

There are many good things to say about “Money Never Sleeps.” The script sings and zings with excellent dialogue and memorable one liners. It’s a simple story of greed and morality, with a twist you can see from the beginning. But the players are winning, and Stone doesn’t get bogged down. He plays the 2008 financial crisis like an end of the world movie. It’s “Deep Impact” but the falling Dow Jones averages are meteors hurtling to Earth.

Michael Douglas returns as Gordon Gekko after 23 years. It’s a slow starter performance, deceptively sly. I kind of prefer him this year in “Solitary Man,” but don’t be mistaken: as he says in the film, Gordon Gekko is back.

Lots of great supporting performances: Shia LeBoeuf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, John Mailer, Susan Sarandon are all great. Eli Wallach is just perfect as the head a sinking Wall Street firm. He’s 93 and better than ever. Charlie Sheen has a welcome, winning cameo as Bud Fox. Sylvia Miles returns as the cranky real estate agent.

Read the rest here.

"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" Trailer Is Out

Oliver Stones' film, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," originally scheduled for an April release is now scheduled for a September launch. The first trailer is out, below.

Shia LaBeouf Caught Up In Rumors He Is Touting a Possibly Edgy Stock

Shia LaBeouf trained at John Thomas Financial to study for his role in the upcoming Oliver Stone/Michael Douglas motion picture "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps,"  according to Sam Antar, former Crazy Eddie fraudster, turned fraud buster.

Antar claims that a stock market manipulation scheme took place awhile back involving InterOil (NYSE: IOC), John Thomas Financial, Clarion Finanz AG, and banned stock promoter Carl Caserta.

NyPo now reports that:

Actor Shia LaBeouf appears to be taking his role as Gordon Gekko's protégé in the upcoming "Wall Street" movie a little too seriously.

After preparing for his turn as a hedge-fund trader by visiting trading floors of small brokerage houses, LaBeouf in the April issue of GQ talked up the stock of an oil and natural gas exploration company that has yet to produce any of either.

"IOC's momentum is major, and it will surprise to the upside," LaBeouf said in a text message to the GQ article's author, Adam Sachs, using the trader lingo he apparently picked up while prepping for the film.

LaBeouf bragged in a GQ that his he turned $20,000 into $450,000 from recent trading..

Antar is going for the jugular:

Apparently, Shia LeBeouf learned about InterOil from John Thomas Financial. It would be interesting to find out what he knew, when he knew it, and if he traded any InterOil shares. Maybe he can provide details on how John Thomas Financial pushed InterOil shares on it's customers? Afterall, LeBeouf learned about how the underbelly of Wall Street operates from John Thomas Financial and other firms to prepare for his leading role in the movie.

This the SEC may look into. A naive actor is red meat for the SEC, whether as witness or participant, unlike other potential cases.

Shia LaBeouf Meets Hardcore Wall Street

Shia LaBeouf co-stars in the upcoming Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, with Michael Douglas. He did some research for Wall Street 2 by spending some time with Wall Street traders and reports to GQ what he discovered:

On the Wall Street trading floors where he went to learn the banking ropes:

"I thought my life was pretty wild. I'm Richie Rich. I land in New York, secretly thinking I'm like the coolest guy in the world. I've been on the cover of GQ! But then I met these guys, and it's humbling. It's the most sex-drugs-and-rock-'n'-roll atmosphere that exists on the planet. I was hanging out with some wild human beings."

On getting past the stereotypes of Wall Street traders:

"It's easy to villainize these guys with the big paychecks," he says. "But they're not all bad. I'm a pretty left-wing character, and I come from whatever collar is lower than blue. But meeting these guys really opened my mind a lot. I've never seen people with more drive and determination in my life."

On his newfound hobby, trading:

"I trade in my boxers now. I'm up early for the markets. I'm real-time all day long." He loves the game and the thrill and the nerves of the market; and the market, it seems, loves him right back. As of the morning of our lunch, Shia says his online Schwab Active Trading account had grown to close to $450,000.

On being manipulated by Oliver Stone:

"We'd be on the street, and Oliver would just say, 'Go to that bar, get fucked-up, and come back.' I'd walk over, get smashed, and go back to work. He would really fuck with me when I was smashed. I get aggressive when I'm smashed, and he'd film that. He would just open you up completely, make you fucking naked-and then call, 'Action.'"

More Details On 'Wall Street' Sequel

As if Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke are not enough entertainment, FOX is fast tracking a 'Wall Street' sequel.

Michael Douglas will return as Gordon Gekko, according to Variety. Bud Fox is history.

Allan Loeb will write the screenplay. In addition to screenwriting, Loeb is a licensed stockbroker who once worked at the Chicago Board of Trade.