This document provides an analysis of the film The Wolf of Wall Street. It discusses the narrative form, including the plot about Jordan Belfort becoming a wealthy stock broker through illegal means. It also analyzes the film's use of mise-en-scene such as costumes, lighting, and facial expressions to develop characters. Sound is discussed as well, noting the mix of music that creates a "dangerous fun" atmosphere. In the end, the film serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of illegal actions.

1. Film Analysis:
The Wolf of Wall Street
By: Monica Urizar
Film 1
Winter 2018

2. Table of Contents
 Introduction/Overview -3
 Narrative Form -5
 Mis-en-scene -7
 Sound -8
 Summary -9
 Citations -12

3. Introduction/Overview
 Based on the
biography of Jordan
Belfort played by
(Leonardo
DiCaprio).The Wolf of
Wall Street is the story
about an ordinary man
who becomes tired of
his everyday life
routine, and sets out
his plan to become rich
by robbing millions off
of wealthy investors.
 Directed by: Martin
Scorcese
 Release date: December
25, 2013
 Drama/Biographical
Film

4.  Martin Scorcese helped create a sense of
realness and created emotion in every scene
with:
 The use of lighting helped create a sense of
realness and added meaning to the film.
 The choice of clothing style gave a “cool” vibe
throughout the film
 Facial expressions and even posture is important as
it helps capture different personalities for example,
the carefree attitude and the confidence in Jordan.
Introduction/Overview
 Sound is also very significant in order for the
audience to understand the characters and the
emotions being portrayed.

5. Narrative Form
 Plot: Based on the biography of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) a stock
broker that served 22 months in jail for fraud after stealing millions from
wealthy investors.
 Story: Jordan Belfort was an ordinary, simple but intelligent man with a
regular paying job. He later begins by making a small fortune, and later
befriends a man named Donnie (Jonah Hill) who together start a small
business in a garage. He sets out a plan to become rich and begins living a life
of crime, drugs and corruption.
 Time: This film is 3 hours long, and begins with a young Jordan living in the
year 1987, married and living a simple life in a small apartment in Queens,
New York. The film then goes on to show Jordan in the early 90’s when his
business starts taking off but his marriage is compromised with his lifestyle
and ends with an affair. Later on in the film we see him marry the woman he
had an affair with but continues the same dangerous lifestyle, until he gets
caught and is taken to jail for 22 months. The movie ends with Jordan in a
seminar. The total plot duration is approximately 14 years.

6. Narrative Form
Cause and Effect:
 Jordan meets Donnie who
gives him drugs had he not
met Donnie he might had
not made as many
mistakes as he did
 Jordan becomes a reckless
and careless man due to
drug use.
 Jordan divorces his wife
after meeting a model, the
mix between his lifestyle and
the party scene were the
cause for his divorce.
 He goes to jail due to his
crime and ends up doing 22
months in jail.
 Most of the cause
and effect in this
film are the result
of the decisions
made by the main
character.

7.  Costume: In this scene Jordan is wearing
an expensive looking suit, which indicates
wealth.
 Body Language: His posture here is also
important as it shows his relaxed, carefree
attitude. It also helps the audience see
that he is the man in power.
 His facial expressions show a cocky man
and it is obvious he is no longer the man
he once was.
 Hair: His hair also appears well combed.
 Setting: the scene is taken in his
brokerage agency but dimming lights, as
well as strippers helps emphasize that it is
not your regular brokerage agency.
 The lighting: in this scene the lighting is
bright and is focused on Jordan alone
indicating his importance in the film.
Mis-en-scene

8. Sound  The movie deals
with a lot of drug
abuse and illegal
activity so the
sound really
brings out the
overall theme of
the movie. The
music is a
mixture of hip
hop and rock,
creating a party-
like atmosphere,
and a feeling of
“dangerous” fun..

9. Sound
I chose these two clips for you to hear
the the type of music played in the
film.

10.  Many emotions ranging from
sadness to euphoria were
shown on the film, and easily
identified and shared by the
viewer throughout the movie.
 The ending of the film also
serves to give a message:
everything done illegally will
have consequences.
Summary
How does this film serve as art?

11.  The narrative form used in
this film used voice-over-
narration providing clues as
to who the main character
is, as well as help build
excitement as the story
unfolds.
 It was also made in a non-
linear form, giving viewers a
backup story of who Jordan
Belfort was before and after
he had money and the
consequence his actions had
at the end.
Summary

12. Summary
 The movie is based on actual events, and Martin Scorsese’s provides an
excellent sense of straight-forward realness, especially with his use of mis-en-
scenes accomplished with his use of lighting and direct, graphic scenes. Not
many people like the idea of candid scenes, but it is actually those scenes
that add credibility throughout the film

13. “The Wolf Of Wall Street - Office Party
complete.” YouTube, YouTube, 6 Feb. 2014,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2J5fzM0DOM.
“The wolf on his yacht.” YouTube, YouTube, 8 Nov.
2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSPxlhR60_o.
“Photo Gallery.” IMDb, IMDb.com,
www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/mediaindex.
Works cited:

14. The End