Home/Episodes/The Wolf of Wall Street
‘The Wolf of Wall Street' With Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Ryen Russillo
December 3, 2019 · The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) · Biography · Comedy · Crime · 2:13:51 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Best Quote
Chris RyanHas 1,200 words copy and pasted from the movie, notes many lines happen as offscreen ad libs during camera cuts▶ 11:04
Sean FennesseyJordan's drug consumption monologue: 'On a daily basis, I consume enough drugs to sedate Manhattan, Long Island and Queens for a month... I take quaaludes 10 to 15 times a day for my back pain. Adderall to stay focused. Xanax to take the edge off, pot to mellow me out, cocaine to wake me back up again and morphine well. Because it's awesome.'▶ 17:07
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanMark Hanna lunch scene emphasizing McConaughey's physical acting and the back-to-back sequence of great scenes including the Donnie diner scene▶ 29:06
Ryen RussilloMark Hanna lunch scene focusing on McConaughey's performance and how it revitalized his career, calling every line 'so perfect'▶ 29:46
Sean FennesseyJordan Belfort introduction scene with voiceover and fourth wall breaking, Mark Hanna lunch scene with McConaughey, and Donnie Azov diner scene where he quits his job▶ 27:27
What's Aged the Worst
Chris RyanThe limited take economy around the movie that demanded art be either moral judgment or celebration, with no room in between▶ 1:08:30
Ryen RussilloAgrees with the others about the problematic critical reception and adds that the runtime criticism is what's aged worst▶ 1:11:47
Sean FennesseyThe takes that this was a celebration of wealth - those were bad takes and haven't aged well▶ 1:08:21
Casting What-Ifs
Chris RyanLeonardo DiCaprio — Supports DiCaprio - argues Leo uses his handsomeness as an acting tool and can push boundaries because he's good to look at, which works for Jordan Belfort's character.▶ 1:15:54
Ryen RussilloBrad Pitt — Mixed on DiCaprio vs Pitt - thinks Pitt is better at darker roles and would look less attractive/more hateable, but acknowledges DiCaprio was needed for this specific character. Thinks Blake Lively would have been great but Robbie became a phenomenon.▶ 1:15:10
Sean FennesseyLeonardo DiCaprio — Prefers DiCaprio over Brad Pitt - doesn't think Pitt can reach the unhinged intensity DiCaprio shows in the microphone scene. Also thinks Margot Robbie being an unknown was helpful, though Blake Lively would have been fine.▶ 1:16:52
Dion Waiters Award
Sean FennesseyJon Bernthal — Lists multiple candidates from least to greatest: Bo Dietl, Kristen Milioti as Jordan's first wife, Jake Hoffman as Steve Madden (calls it a 'cold check'), Shea Whigham as Captain Ted Beecham, Joanna Lumley as Aunt Emma, Rob Reiner as Max Belfort, and John Bernthal as Brad▶ 1:23:31
Half-Assed Internet Research
Chris RyanAdded context about Scorsese's development struggles and noted the poetic irony that the movie's corrupt financing mirrored the story being told about Wall Street corruption▶ 1:37:29
Ryen RussilloProvided detailed expertise on the Malaysian 1MDB scandal and Jho Low's story from 'Billion Dollar Whale' book, explaining how the stolen funds financed the movie and Low's relationship with DiCaprio and Hollywood celebrities▶ 1:34:53
Sean FennesseyPresented extensive trivia including McConaughey's improvised chest beating, the Malaysian 1MDB financing scandal, 450 VFX shots, Guinness World Record for swearing (506 F-words), actors snorting B vitamins as fake cocaine, and Christina McDowell's critical open letter▶ 1:33:42
Overacting Award
Chris RyanRob Reiner — Rob Reiner - 'fucking nuts in this movie, just screams the entire time'▶ 1:52:42
Apex Mountain
Chris RyanTitanic — Says Titanic is Leo's Apex Mountain because 'he's just the most popular person in the world', also suggests 'it might be for Jonah' (Hill)▶ 1:54:43
Ryen RussilloArgues against Leo having apex mountain, says there's 'not enough separation in the roles' and that Django is darker but not definitively better than other performances like Wolf of Wall Street▶ 1:54:38
Sean FennesseyDiscusses Leo's career extensively, mentions his post-Beach filmography including Django, Wolf of Wall Street, but doesn't declare a definitive apex. Notes it's 'not clear enough' and considers business impact beyond just performance▶ 1:55:01
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Chris RyanWhat in the movie is real versus not - car changing from red to white, plane crash scenes, unreliable narrator moments like waking up strapped to chair or finding cops at home▶ 2:07:15
Ryen RussilloHow people gradually get into increasingly destructive situations - the psychology of how someone starts small and ends up risking everything, using examples of infidelity and dual lives▶ 2:08:08
Sean FennesseyQuestions about real-life machinations, specifically Danny Porish rejecting the movie and wanting his name removed, leading to the character being renamed Donnie▶ 2:06:58
Who Won the Movie
Sean FennesseyMartin Scorsese — Scorsese - because he's the author of the whole project and this was a reminder that he wasn't done yet, returning to his signature style after Hugo▶ 2:11:27
Movies Referenced (54)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:08 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:48 |
| The Irishman (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | ▶ 7:22 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | ▶ 1:40:10 |
| Dogma (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:51:36 |
| Joker (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | ▶ 5:44 |
| Margin Call (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Ryen Russillo | ▶ 18:29 |
| Moneyball (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:18:24 |
| The Artist (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:31:38 |
| 2012 (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 44:56 |
| Body of Lies (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:55:03 |
| Field of Dreams (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:06 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 2:08 |
| Rob Reiner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo | This Is Spinal Tap, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 7:11 |
| Ryan Kilbourne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:29:45 | |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 1:44:42 |
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 1:22:35 |
| Christopher Nolan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Ryen Russillo | Tenet, Interstellar, Inception | ▶ 30:28 |
| Kevin Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Clerks, Chasing Amy | ▶ 1:51:21 |
| Oliver Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK | ▶ 21:06 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 1:24:22 |
Actors Referenced (65)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo DiCaprio | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 74 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Inception, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed | ▶ 2:08 |
| Matthew McConaughey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 34 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, Magic Mike | ▶ 7:11 |
| Jonah Hill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 7:08 |
| Brad Pitt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith | ▶ 57:56 |
| Margot Robbie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | Suicide Squad, The Wolf of Wall Street, Barbie | ▶ 7:11 |
| Jon Bernthal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo | The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard | ▶ 7:11 |
| John Wayne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | ▶ 7:11 |
| Blake Lively | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | The Town | ▶ 1:20:34 |
| Matt Damon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed | ▶ 16:20 |
| Christina Hendricks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Ryen Russillo | ▶ 44:29 | |
| Jean Dujardin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo | The Artist, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 1:31:24 |
| Joanna Lumley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey | The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 7:11 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Belfort | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 43 | Sean Fennessey, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan | The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 1:08 |
| Jon Favreau | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Ryen Russillo, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Chef, Iron Man, Swingers | ▶ 7:11 |
| Spike Jonze | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo | Three Kings | ▶ 33:46 |
| Bill Dubuque | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | The Accountant | ▶ 51:25 | |
| David Auburn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Lake House | ▶ 43:04 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Other Guys | ▶ 8:43 |
| Rodrigo Prieto | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Brokeback Mountain, The Wolf of Wall Street, Killers of the Flower Moon | ▶ 7:22 |