The Wolf of Wall Street - or Scorsese's very own White Collar

[aragarna]

After an epic fail 2 weeks ago - showing was full - I finally managed to see The Wolf of Wall Street yesterday.
Movie was great, Leo delivered an impressive performance. And I couldn't help thinking about all the White Collar parallels.

First there's that FBI Agent, Agent Denham, who looks determined to pin something on Leo's character (Jordan Belfort). Of course, he reminded me of Peter Burke.
And there's this conversation between the two of them, where you can see the differences of values (Belfort is literally throwing money away, the Agent is satisfied with his life and job even if that means taking the subway. His own joy in life is to catch people like Belfort). Truly that exchange is brilliant. And the Agent was of the straight  kind, one that would not take a bribe, but who might let you believe he could just to let you talk and have something on you (he's smart, too. ;-) )
And I kept thinking, that would totally be White Collar is Neal Caffrey was a despicable asshole (and without the Bromance. Which could sound less appealing, except, you know, Martin Scorsese!)
And that tiny detail that sealed it. When Denham comes to see Belfort, there's a second agent with him, who, honestly, is like totally useless in that scene. Just standing there... Except he is introduced as Agent Hughes! Now that made me smile big time.
So, it's my new head canon that Hughes was part of that team working on the Belfort case. That's totally a White Collar crime, that's all about fraud and a number of other white collar crimes we hear on the show. And it's in New York. It was in the 80's. That's totally working!

And that finale FBI bust, with all the famous navy windbreaker... Ah pure delight!

Comments

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

hmm and now I want to read a fic with young Agent Hughes and that case...

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

That would be fun!
Or Quantico using that case as an exercice, and so Peter learning about it, or maybe Hughes talking about it...

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

Or both Peter learning about the case in Quantico, meeting Hughes who then tells it in his own words and perspective... :D come one write it!

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

I'll think about it, but that's not an easy one. I need to find an angle.

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

\o/ yay! Thinking is good :D

[tommy50702.livejournal.com]

It certainly didn't pull any punches (which can be seen as unnecessary or admirable). But there was some great acting.