WALL STREET Clip - "Democracy?" (1987) Michael Douglas

[@TC8787-yq7og]

Michael Douglas was next level in this film, a timeless performance

[@JohnSwartz-vd9tv]

Amen.

[@jameswilliams-zr8co]

and martin sheen was great too

[@petergreen5337]

❤yes he came into his own

[@michaeld5]

Oscar™ winning performance; well deserved.

[@janpierzchala2004]

He seems to play as usual - very well and with this same way of speaking particular to him only - it is that the Gekko part suits him so well.

[@alexdumortier]

"A fool and his money are lucky enough to get together in the first place." Now that's writing: What a fantastic line!

[@conradmanove8749]

It's in Proverbs, Bible

[@alexdumortier]

@@conradmanove8749The quote in the movie certainly isn't in the Bible! Proverbs 21: " There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." The "modern" expression to which Oliver Stone and Stanley Weiser are referring in the 'Wall Street' script appeared Dr. John Bridges in his 'Defence of the Government of the Church of England' (1587): "If they pay a penie or two pence more for the reddinesse of them... let them looke to that, a foole and his money is soone parted."

[@juan9798]

Real talk!

[@abradfordajb]

Oliver Stone at his finest.

[@aliahawaii6791]

@@alexdumortier "Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with the mouth full of gravel." Proverbs 20:17

[@bitterbold]

Gordon is saying that 90% of the people out there have little or no net worth and when he turns around (2:44) and says "I own" there's the window cleaner in the background. I think this is a very well thought out scene.

[@sukhmaidickoff]

Maybe the window cleaner is the owner of the window cleaning company and maybe he has 500 employees, and he just still wants to keep working in his old field of work - and not sitting behind his office desk. That happens more often than you think.

[@bitterbold]

@@sukhmaidickoff interesting point but unlikely.

[@andyusfca]

@@sukhmaidickoff hehe....that's a good one

[@FranklinSninsky]

@@sukhmaidickoff The owner of a window company isn't risking his life to clean windows on a skyscraper though, and we know this simply by what Gordan is saying, The truth of this world...

[@sukhmaidickoff]

​@@FranklinSninsky Why do we know this? Do you *HONESTLY* think the owner of a window cleaning company typically started out as a baker, a gigolo or a carpenter? Of course not. There is a good to fair chance that he started out in EXACTLY the same business where he is the owner now. And there is a good to fair chance that from time that dude who started his window cleaning company many years ago, is also still active "in the field". And risking his life cleaning windows on a skyskraper? Why are you saying that? There is literally a "paved area" on the other side of the glass that is probably 3 feet wide - there is even a 3 feet high metal rail that protects him from falling down. And even if this wasn´t the case do you honestly think that window cleaners are using no safety measures at all - safety straps etc. and that they are risiking their lives? Naaaah. My point is that there are MANY craftsmen etc. who started out only by themselves or with 1-2 employees and who used the good and booming economic periods to expand their business so that it maybe has 200 employees now. I know several of those people. Even if those people in reality never had to work another day again, because they are already "well off" financially - there are MANY of those people who like to go out into their old field - to meet with customers and to just be in touch with what is happening in the sector where their business is. Not saying this is a bad movie - but in MANY ways there are just WAYYYY too many platitudes and too many clichees - like: *_"The rich Wall Street people are all arrogant pigz whilst the window cleaners who allegedly own NOTHING are the good people"_* - This is just so typically Oliver Stone. The clichees and platitudes are always visible in his movies.

[@juan9798]

It's all about bucks kid, the rest is conversation. It's poetry like this that solidify those like M. Douglas. Pure Legend!!!

[@zarni000]

he doesn't write the lines he just reads them

[@ricomajestic]

Oliver Stone and his writing partner for this movie wrote those lines!

[@1ftsports678]

I worked in NYC in the late 80s/90s. The CEO of our company had an office just like this. The power dynamic of the rich at the time was insane...they truly were higher than everyone else and lived in a different world.

[@senanur1983]

Power dynamic of the rich is still insane and they live in a different world - yachts, islands, senators and so many things in their pockets

[@jefffromjersey52]

Even Fortune 500 Execs had to have the Latest Gulfstream Jet of the time.. their 25 Mil dollar yearly Bonuses were just not enough for them.. The Amount of Greed at that time could not even be measured.

[@notseekingconverts]

Yet, now they insist that us little people need to decarbonize to save the planet.

[@zibtihaj3213]

They still do

[@BenneWill]

@@zibtihaj3213 They still do but in the 80s they weren't afraid to show it off. That's sort of what he means. Today RICH is a four letter word. During this time everyone's dream was to to work on Wall Street. The affluent drove around in black Cadillacs with gold rim hubcaps and wore golden cufflinks. Millionaires today walk around in jeans and drive Teslas. Different times.

[@albertobernardi4991]

Every line in this movie is a quote. How can be possible?? Great movie

[@marlone.a.chaplin3357]

Two words: Oliver Stone.

[@RobertMJohnson]

"Ya can't get a little bit pregnant, Bud"

[@romarsit1795]

my only question is - why is there almost nothing today which comes even close to this level of acting and overall movie professionalism

[@RickJ.Dalton]

Exactly!

[@louisvuitton56]

There is you need to watch more Morden movies

[@louislong1514]

Unfortunately, the recent liberalization in tech and art have made people dumb and tasteless. A garbage joke will get 100m views in tiktok. Nobody appreciates art in true acting anymore.

[@TriumphTheInsultComicDog]

Very simple answer for that: Diversity over talent

[@luislaplume8261]

Easy! Because Hollywood has become politically correct!

[@garyblade2332]

"Cause it's wreckable, alright!?" That statement is intriguing on so many levels.

[@EvanEvansE3]

Explain. What levels and in what ways

[@garyblade2332]

​@@EvanEvansE3The opportunity and means to do it was reason enough, without moral consideration for anyone/anything else. A basic, albeit dark facet of human nature. For example a partner may cheat in an otherwise good marriage simply because an opportunity presents itself or a school bully may advantage a smaller child just because he can. Hope this helps.

[@EvanEvansE3]

@@garyblade2332 yeah very interesting. Like the kid on the playground that just wants to play "destruction". Or like you said, a cheating human, like the story of the Scorpion 🦂 and the Frog 🐸.

[@garyblade2332]

​@@EvanEvansE3💯 ...and of course we see it in local politics and international affairs.

[@Mnnyquintero]

That's basically the private equity playbook

[@2spee]

"I create nothing. I own." 🔑

[@snorttroll4379]

not true though. he makes peoples money be used for something people would rather buy than what is available out there. like the aeroplanes. they could be better utilised by a company that chose to have men and ugly chicks as stewardesses and had smaller bag allowances and used more remote airports. like ryan air and stansted and spirit, is that the one? btw search aubrey de grey

[@jayzrat]

…and destroys!

[@KevinKenna-j6o]

Michael Douglas is worth $300 million so he's not totally out of character with Gordon

[@johndoe1.196]

Everyone creates, even if it's only waste.

[@fajita2]

Yeah, ownership is one of the core principles of Capitalism: anything and everything can be owned--land, people, etc. It's why slavery persisted for as long as it did in the west and why exploitation of land and environment is far more toxic in the west or it is driven by western forces. In Capitalism, the owner is basically faultless and faces little to no consequences because ownership is more valuable than labor. That is why Socialism, as a philosophy, emerged after Capitalism, as a philosophy. Socialism was a reaction to Capitalism, which by the 19th century was perpetuating colonization, imperialism and slavery throughout the world.

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

He didn't say one lie in that scene...we are living in corporatocracy, not a democracy.

[@backagain5216]

You said it William. One time we did but the middle-class that sustains society is being eroded into nothing. Soon it will be the ultra rich and the poor.

[@terra_firme]

Miracle, isn't it. Coming from Hollywood.

[@yangasidziya3245]

Why would they put that in a movie?

[@mirr1984]

@@yangasidziya3245Because Oliver Stone is a closet Marxist. Wall Street was supposed to be an anti capitalist film, but it actually had the opposite effect on most people.

[@Jonathan-si2nd]

​That's like claims about systemic racism. Neither exists. Rather, only people assuming various roles in companies and in societies exist. But like a good ghost story, you don't need evidence. Just a compelling mythical boogeyman to blame for human error and stupidity.

[@abradfordajb]

This scene is one of the most brilliant scenes in all of moviedom. There is so much going on in this scene, ethically, morally, personally .... anyone who hasn't seen this movie needs to watch it 2,3,4 times to really suck out the marrow of the story.

[@thepro08]

the worse is that they still do this shit, its a crime on day light and the prisoners own the country.

[@noeltaylor3594]

This and Ned Beatty from " Network" says it all.

[@gothxm]

this movie lives and dies with michael douglas. he made those words sing.

[@ricomajestic]

You have to watch all Oliver Stone movies from the 80s many times and listen very carefully. He touches on many themes in his movies that deal with morality, ethics, truths and makes the movie viewer think. He's a gifted writer for sure!

[@vantage789]

I’ve seen this movie 97 times and I still haven’t scratched the surface of its meaning.

[@cardo1111]

Michael Douglas’s greatest role. Used to motivate sales forces for decades to come, he certainly spoke the truth here.

[@ChrisDutch]

Motivated a few other people to prison for stock fraud and money laundering as well.

[@cardo1111]

@@ChrisDutch lol. Indeed

[@glynndonahue1159]

@@ChrisDutch Too few.

[@HankMcGurk]

Falling Down was better.

[@kkkb3132]

The Game is greatest role

[@tonywong6884]

The window washer is a chef's kiss. The illusion of hard work and the many layers of invisible people.

[@jameshoran8]

To Douglas's surprise, all the Wall Streeters he met loved Gordon and idolized him. He was their hero and they wanted to piss in the big weeds with the big dogs. Gordon's best line was, If this guy owned funeral parlors, no one would die.

[@Madasin_Paine]

Clever and amusing. U think they'd die younger, excessively, and he'd have each corpse loaded with sufficient life insurance. Funeral bz is wretched and heavily monopolized. Now they pitch greener departures. Bring in your dead, and come back and get a few yards of rich soil. Fertilizer for the golf course, back yard...garden Soy, lentils.... The departed can be at one with LIFE, after all. Using apex super predators, especially older humans, as fertilizers is a highly toxic bioaccumulation project up there with using "treated" sewage water for MUNICIPAL drinking water. Unless your water is that used to wash semiconductors during their manufacturing, I don't believe the industrial bioactive contaminates, eg tritium andnither radionuclides, nano plastics and other nano elements and compounds from industry and consumer products and pharmaceutical traces are sufficiently removed. Obviously poorer and ignorant people will be drinking the treated sewage while others will use reverse osmosis, adsorbent an or ion exchange columns etc. What kind of country thinks it fine to stock stores with organic and so called "clean " foods and filtered beverages next to those that are not? Sure, get Lewy Body dementia, Parkinson's, cancer, autoimmune disorders, multidrug resistance. If you cant pay, to bad! What kind of country has municipal water unfit for long or short term human consumption?One that isnt making your safety, health , happiness or freedom any sort of priority . And one where the public is sufficiently just fine with that. Like U.$. Like UK. The enlightened civilized humanitarian West advertising it as G*ds preferred or exceptional people. Health public safety national security becoming non standing, lacking legitimacy or authority to believe . A country who's leaders, gov and bz it's people fear more than love or respect. That has to be a sign of a failed state to come or a totalITarian one.

[@eric0380]

I call them wall steelers

[@gekisen01]

This movie is almost 40 years old and it still holds true.

[@stephenkissane4268]

37 but not much has changed yeah

[@david-m4z7l]

What Jesse Livermore said almost 100 years ago about the stock market it still holds true.

[@cobraelectric]

People still think that elections matter. What they don't understand is that politicians can be bought. They are hand picked and put in front for us to think we have a choice "The richest 1% owns half our nations wealth"

[@Obsidian12332]

yes, every single word, every statement, each and every nuance is still 100%. It's all about bucks, the rest is conversation.

[@CorporateShill66]

Much more true now

[@305donkryder8]

Man Pat Riley playing Michael Douglas is pure gold.

[@moheganson]

Ha, I always thought MD and PR resembled each other in 80s and 90s with that slicked back hair

[@305donkryder8]

@@moheganson Michael Douglas stated that he patterned Gordon Gekko after Pat Riley

[@bigtroll8249]

TRUE

[@rochskier]

Classic scene from one of the best, possibly the best, finance, Wall Street, and 80s movies of all-time.

[@Atilla-m9i]

Our Democracy is too "mature" with many entitlements for the established. We need to rebalance our Democracy.

[@wellokayyes1266]

I just realized this scene was done all in only two shots. And excellent camera movement shifting the tension in the room, great acting, classic.

[@edwardcatt2399]

One can just smell Gekko’s signature aroma of tobacco and cologne, it’s just that masterful a performance from Douglas (who probably smelled that way perennially up until the point he quit smoking) . . .

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

If you like that I highly recommend Tobacco Oud (discontinued), Tobacco Vanille, or Eben Fume

[@Htl3648]

And at that time, colognes for men smelled way better than the pansy ones of today.

[@zarni000]

@@edwardcatt2399 not much acting required. He basically just read a script. The script was what's good

[@user-sw9vy9lh7f]

@@zarni000 I disagree. There is so much power and energy in the character of Gekko. He becomes the epitome of what us plebs imagine Wall Street is. He did warn Bud : "And if you want a friend, get a dog". That is acting thanks to the brilliant script of course, that brings alive the script. Credit where credit it due please.

[@sirleo5103]

I love the use of handheld cameras to shoot this movie. It really offers you an immersive experience.

[@CharlesWhitford]

It's actually giving me motion sickness.

[@rokyericksonroks]

Oliver Stone knew what he was doing.

[@paulbenford6196]

This choice is brilliant...and in one shot...NO EDITING! 💯Man o man! Michael and Charlie are top of their game in this one. Definitely in my Top 5 all time favs.

[@NivekS-1224]

@@paulbenford6196 Yes, the one shot on this scene was pretty impressive. They did that a few times in this film. I remember the elevator scene between Buddy (Charlie) and his dad. I remember hearing that was hard to do with one camera and one shot.

[@SilentWayFarer1]

@@paulbenford6196 it's not one shot 1:02

[@joshuaharding7363]

Perception, capitalism, wall street, reality, greed, corruption, politics and government all in 1 speech. A masterpiece!

[@AlbertoPerez-zu6wg]

Facts

[@gdiwolverinemale4th]

As Tucker said a year ago, there were times when even scumbags like Gekko cared for America. Listen to his Teldar Paper speech. Those times are gone.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Perspection?

[@joshuaharding7363]

@@garyfrancis6193 thanks for bring the spelling error to my attention.

[@4rct1c9Ic3m4n]

Greed? Not. More like opportunism

[@albertpuppymaster671]

Michael Douglas acting is flawless. Thing is one long take and the guy has nailed it like nobody’s business.

[@user-sw9vy9lh7f]

One of the best films every made. I still remember so many lines from it. Shakespearean in modern times.

[@stuff4232]

Imagine if this movie was made in 2024. There would be a soundtrack going off in the background that is so loud you can barley hear the dialogue

[@patengelhart5787]

Great point!

[@emilianosintarias7337]

Also Gecko would have tattoos and talk about how he is from the street in his heart so don't judge him by what he actually does

[@James_36]

@@emilianosintarias7337he would be black and be selling a white guys business

[@lordtherapeutics]

He wouldn’t be allowed to smoke or be wearing a tie.

[@James_36]

@@lordtherapeutics he would also like men not women and has some trans ones on the side

[@deadreckoning6288]

This movie was 36 years ago. The world has only become more brutal, more greedy, more cutthroat, more dark, more desperate, more evil. Where does it end?

[@michaszeremeta4745]

Human love money. Thats answer.

[@jimaccosted9328]

With Christ returning!

[@capjus]

Who says so? I don't think and i don't see so. Its maybe equal at most or rather the opposite

[@apachewraith]

On the Cross.

[@KingKien95]

When the 90% that he mentions stop being easily distracted and manipulated to fight eachother and divide.

[@MrsBlaileen1]

This scene is a great representation of the difference between Fox and Gekko…how Fox does not truly understand Gekko’s ruthlessness and coldness until now.

[@NorseMan633]

Yep, great comment. Fox follows his greed during the movie as Gekko trains him to start "getting" valuable information instead of just "giving" it. Then in this scene Fox really sees that Gekko is completely without any type of moral compass and how ruthless he really is when he finds out that Gekko has decided to sell off Blu-Star piecemeal (behind everyone's back) and make millions instead of investing in the company and making it profitable. Classic!

[@CribNotes]

Watching this decades later, Charlie Sheen's acting seems a little stiff but Michael Douglas' performance is top shelf smooth. I love his subtle reaction to Sheen @ 2:11 as if to say "Kid, you just don't get it."

[@omreb9040]

Charlie wasn’t a great actor. Awesome comedian but very avg actor

[@spuriusscapula4829]

Charlie is a shit actor unlike his father and even his brother.

[@kittykatz4001]

@@omreb9040Charlie was still pretty young at the time and MD had Ben acting much longer. But it could be true MDs acting was better than Charlie’s but I think it’s unfair to comport Charlie to an older, more experienced actor. This was a big movie. Maybe Charlie, as a young man was nervous too-playing with MD opposite for big part of the film and already an established actor too. But I’m not disputing your assessment, but I just wanted to point that out,

[@Alliwantedwasapepsi]

His dad was the actor.

[@moheganson]

@@kittykatz4001yeah, he was only 21 here maybe 22 when film was released.

[@xabun]

nobody talkin about the amazing work the camera man did. it's wobbling all over the place. that's intentional. it supports the tension and symbolizes chaos ... great camera work here

[@georgerichardson7728]

Don't forget the symbolic constant rattling of the ice in the drinks... nothing is certain in this world.

[@bigtroll8249]

Great observation

[@hanscombe72]

Gordon took one look at the overfunded pension at blue star and went “nope. I need the cash.”

[@snorttroll4379]

why do the pensions have to be in the companies names? like wtf.

[@trevorparry2287]

Conrad Black tried to do the same thing to the pension plan for workers of a grocery chain he owned. The regulator rubber stamped the transaction only to see a court overrule it as the plan rules were murky/ did not say who actually owned the pension surplus.

[@dannyarcher6370]

"I create nothing." I appreciate his honesty.

[@johndoe1.196]

He creates wealth...

[@dannyarcher6370]

@@johndoe1.196 Why didn't he say so? Because he knows that in a post-gold standard world, he creates nothing.

[@johndoe1.196]

@@dannyarcher6370 So, if you have a billion USD, it's nothing? In that case, let me take it off your hands... Besides, have you tried to build wealth? It's not easy. Not only do you have to build it, it must be maintained. Poker chips aren't commodities but can be redeemed for them, which gives them value. Skilled players build their pile of chips. building wealth is a creative skill.

[@johndoe1.196]

@@dannyarcher6370 Create is a synonym for build. Successful creators build wealth. Not everyone is successful. It's a skill. Even destruction is a form of creation.

[@dannyarcher6370]

@@johndoe1.196 Go and read up on fiat currency and what happened on August 15, 1971 and come back to me. Wall Street has created incredibly little since that day.

[@vladimirdula]

Oliver Stone at his finest👌🏻

[@kevinphillips150]

Platoon was.

[@RobertMJohnson]

@@kevinphillips150 wall street is a better movie than platoon

[@BobABooey.]

I miss the movies of the 80's, all this CG stuff today in unwatchable.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Yep. When you had actual actors.

[@aaronstielstra6055]

Actual actors in front of other actual actors.

[@jacklondon6716]

You know why its called the American Dream? Because you have to be asleep to believe in it... -George Carlin

[@StratumPress]

I love George, but he was a millionaire who made that money by telling jokes. The American Dream is real. The only problem is that so are ignorant narcissists who don't appreciate anything and every problem in their lives are someone else's fault.

[@robertpolanco1973]

@@StratumPress Like what the heck did you expect George Carlin to do in his life anyway? As for the so-called "American Dream," it did NOT always benefit everyone in this country and I only see the REALITY of it by how the "glorious" free-market capitalist system ends up when there has been an unending gap between the rich and the poor. Furthermore, I find your comment about it to be just typical right-wing talking points as usual.

[@James_36]

@@robertpolanco1973 in the soviet union there was an even larger gap between haves and have nots.... cannot have rich without the poor etc... just the way it is no matter what theoretical ideology people think up

[@robertpolanco1973]

@@James_36 Well, I think that what happened in the supposed socialist countries like the Soviet Union had completely FAILED to follow the philosophical writings of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin on what would bring up a socialist or Communist society to true existence. What people like you have said just DOES NOT at all help on this issue and I find comments like yours to be pathetic indeed.

[@James_36]

@@robertpolanco1973 "that was not real socialism" your comment is the only pathetic one

[@richj011]

I was a senior in HS and watched this in my parents living room my GF at the time. We fell asleep and woke up to the credits and Talking Heads playing "Home". The movie and song left an indelible mark on my psyche and brings me instantly back to a better time.

[@MichaelChengSanJose]

Gordon was exaggerating for effect in the 1980s about the extreme wealth gap, but the nearly 40 years since have seen reality close quickly to that dystopia. The top 1% owns about 43% today. The top 10% owns 74%, leaving 26% for the bottom 90%. 26% isn’t nothing but spread out through so many hands, it’s barely measurable.

[@KevinKenna-j6o]

Michael Douglas is a part of that worth $300 million

[@snorttroll4379]

reduce red tape if you want more of the plebs to create and own.

[@johngray0]

Since the 80's we've imported poverty in the form of 3rd world immigrants such that 15% of our population is a baked-in underclass. This doesn't explain the rest of the weath disparity, and you can still maintain we want to still import these level of immigrants. Just saying you can't move towards an egalitarian society AND also mass import unskilled immigrants illiterate even in their own language.

[@HelloThere-jr6gd]

He earned every cent through hard work.

[@KevinKenna-j6o]

@@HelloThere-jr6gd so did Gordon

[@ProjectHysteria]

"You're not naive enough to think we live in a democracy do you?" - great line

[@kas8131]

Notice how he’s immediately condescending to Bud, calling him “sport”

[@wrath231]

"this is your wake up call,pal...go to work!

[@stefanhammel192]

Save the cheap salesman talk it's obvious😅

[@andrestamayo6509]

Life lessons...hard ones...real ones...are taught in this film.

[@arisdelis1]

Geko warned him many times..its trench warfare out there pal with No prisoners and No feelings..Its all about the bucks...Fox was naive and did NOT listen to these warnings..Geko is not a villain, in order to succeed you.must be ruthless...

[@spuriusscapula4829]

lol what "life lessons".

[@coryboy345]

@@spuriusscapula4829 Greed, and don't trust anyone when money is involved...

[@thebrunostrange]

@@arisdelis1 lol you pretty much described what a villain is and then followed it up by "he's not a villain." The writer and director of the movie itself sees Gecko as a villain.

[@Dr.Beetlejuice110]

​@@spuriusscapula4829yeah, it's not life lessons at all. It's showing how fucked we are. These people are making the rules and others are just trying to get on their level instead of revolting and over taking them. Thats how you know these political talks about morals etc is BS because when it comes to money morals, what's right and what's wrong don't matter. It's all about being on top with these people.

[@specialiseesi6746]

Michael Legend Douglas. What a scene!! When his face popped up on my screen I knew I had to click on it right away. I´m gonna watch this film asap.

[@coreydonohoe8121]

The interesting thing about this scene is that Gordon is telling Bud the truth. He is wrong to call it made up nonsense as there are many complex rules and regulations that dictate how free markets are allowed to work but from the persective of the audience (or Bud Fox) who may not know all of the rules these things may as well be made up. Bud feels bad about his father and friends losing their jobs but Gordon is right about it being all about money. With the money he is making Buf could simply use that mobey to help these people instead of blowing it all up. Gordan is a criminal who uses inside information to cheat the system but Wall Street attempts to attack all corporate raiders as the villains with the employees of the raided companies as the victims. Master class in acting by Michael Douglas in this entire movie.

[@JGalt-em4xu]

Except that these complex rules and regulations are usually written by men like Gecko themselves. The days of committed anti-trustors and sincere, well meaning regulators have long since given way to regulatory corporate capture.

[@larrywiniarski1746]

But the employees of the raided companies who lose their jobs ARE victims. They are harmed as a result of an event or action. That's the definition of "victim".

[@patrickh9937]

Gavin Newsome hasn't aged at all.

[@monsterpig3270]

True story: I got into a fist fight with Gavin Newsom (a sophomore) when I (Senior at the time) was in High School. Broke his nose. Next time you see him on TV, take a look at the bridge of his nose. I gave that to him. Your welcome.

[@FarewellAphrodite]

@@monsterpig3270 Why? What high school did you go to?

[@ThatGuyOverThereWeird]

@@FarewellAphrodite Newsom probably slept with his gf

[@MaineOffGrid.]

I can’t believe it’s been 37 years since this movie was released.

[@johnwiley9973]

Top 3 movie all time for me . Timeless

[@senanur1983]

Richest 1% own half the country - true it went from 5 trillion to around 12 trillion now. Gem of a movie.

[@mikeg2491]

At least guys like Gekko formulated strategy and moved chess pieces to own companies & assets. The rest of Wallstreet was just borrowing at 0 interest rates and buying up their own stock.

[@sukhmaidickoff]

@senanur1983 - I honestly don´t see a big problem in that - unlike many envious people (I am NOT saying you are one of those). The richest 1% very often also employ hundreds of thousands of people - like the Walton family, Bill Gates etc. They put bread on the table for many, many people. For me it´s not such a big problem that 1% owns that much. And to those people who disagree I just want to say: If you consider it very easy to get there - and to become one of the 1%´ers - then why don´t you start right now?

[@apachewraith]

​@@sukhmaidickoffBecause you have to get lucky, and outcomes are random. All the skill in the world won't get you to the top of anything without luck. Poker being the best statistical example.

[@sukhmaidickoff]

@@apachewraithThat doesn´t change that in 98% of all examples it is NOT luck - but skills and persistance - that will bring you to the top.

[@noeltaylor3594]

This scene ages scarily well.

[@eFMe-fk1xh]

No wonder why people loved Gekko so much, despite being a "villain": every single word he speaks in the movie is the truth. What he does is bad for sure, but he never denies it: he's like "the reality of the world is bad, so I gotta be bad; and I beat any bastard at that game". Like Oliver Stone himself said, Gekko is charming like a pirate: he is an outlaw that fights and rules in a world of outlaws.

[@tediekgb]

It’s the truth alright and he obviously is proud of it which is why I don’t like him or capitalist like him

[@high_maintenance]

It’s a zero sum game pal 😅

[@JoePedo]

Michael Douglas absolutely hated how popular Gordon Gekko became. He really tapped into something with that performance whether he meant to or not.

[@jamesfrancese6091]

“Villainy” is not determined by the mere (in)veracity of one’s beliefs, but what one chooses to do with them. Everything he’s saying has been uttered more pointedly by hundreds - hell why not millions - of critical observers of capitalism over the decades and he simply manages to repeat their words with a greasy smirk. Thus his appeal to sociology-deprived business bros who see a smug articulation of their own received preconceptions as some kind of “redpill” for lack of self-reflection. But I don’t blame them personally for the last part, which is only a function of their typically middle class upbringings. Their elitism is aspirational. In other words, having class consciousness is an essential component of genuine elitism; nobody who learns something from Gekko can do anything with it, which I guess is reassuring in a way.

[@corpr8dystopia778]

Michael’s laugh after Bud said Pinocchio is perfection

[@ericpanissidi6761]

How could you trust anyone on wall street.i really watched this and wolf of wall street and casino.the house always wins.

[@jeromemaida4933]

Maybe if you got your information from places other than fictional movies, you'd have an answer.

[@RobotMetalhead]

​@jeromemaida4933 maybe if you paid attention in 2007, you'd realize that the movies are right: Wall Street execs are nothing but scum.

[@mikeg2491]

@@jeromemaida4933 Wallstreet is so regulated up the ass your average broker is actually afraid to get ballsy and make you solid returns. Stuff like Wolf of Wallstreet is what you see in the crypto world with no rules and how volatility where big money can be made and also lost in an instant. It’s not Wallstreet but a boiler room somewhere.

[@Turn420]

If you’re a fan of great movies then you absolutely know the “because it’s wreckable!” Line. Amazingly delivered

[@chuckselvage3157]

Besides Falling Down Michael Douglas best role.

[@thee_morpheus]

And two roles that are on the farthest sides of the spectrum, great range by Mikey D

[@halid4740]

you are powerful if you have talent only, it's the message of this movie

[@robertstorey7476]

The line about money transfering from one perception to another has always stayed with me and I think I understand it a little more as each year goes by.

[@ChrisWolff2013]

He walked into the offices wanting to kill this man, and left dazed and defeated. Gordon just knew his way out of a fight.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Yep

[@joseantoniomillabrito2764]

Both are at their top!!!! A scene for the ages, still absolutely true and telling how things have not changed one bit.

[@waynelarson1230]

Michael Douglas with his swagger and charisma, made the whole world fall in love with the villan, including me,I want to be Gordon Gekko

[@trumpershaveblinderson7470]

Great that's exactly what we need. Another heartless out for himself Gordon Gekko.

[@FoulWeatherFriend385]

Well the consequences of Gecko’s actions pretty much remain offscreen, so it’s easy to see him as “not that bad.” For example, we never see the retiree who loses their pension because of Gecko pumping and dumping their company. It’s easy to worship him when blinders are placed on the audience.

[@westmcgee9320]

“Want”, not “wantED”? 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@anthonydileonardo8156]

The studio wanted Tom Cruise and Warren Beatty...Stone wanted Sheen and Richard Gere...that's show biz

[@williamrussell174]

Another wannabe coming right up 😂

[@paulthomas8884]

The "Greed is Good" monologue is supposed to be the iconic part of this movie. THIS is the scene that makes it for me: "-that rabbit out of the hat."

[@stefanschutz5166]

Michael Douglas, what an actor!

[@brutemegahunk3895]

It’s this speech by Gekko that makes Fox flip. It reminds me of what the Mafia must be like.

[@perrytornado]

Inflation kills off more people than guns and violent crime/ Academic institutions and the gov't are heinously criminal organizations/

[@polyverse1]

Gordon summed up the state of America and Capitalism in a nutshell. This movie was way ahead of it’s time.

[@thegreatluxor8807]

And what was that quote

[@polyverse1]

@@thegreatluxor8807 when he gave his greed speech to shareholders at Teledar paper.

[@KB-ke3fi]

And capitalism allowed America to defeat the freaking Nazis too.

[@RobertMJohnson]

did you sleep through the 80s or something? wall street wasn't lost on anybody in the 1980s

[@strauqq1]

One of the best films ever made. These two were at their peak here.

[@ricomajestic]

Gordon Gekko the early years might be a great story! Based on some of the things he said in the movie, he came from a working class background and made it all the way to the top somehow. Blue collar kid who became one of the richest and most feared kats in business. Wish Oliver Stone would write a prequel to Wall Street!

[@mattturner7531]

Dude, Gekko's office is extraordinary.

[@moheganson]

Yeah and he can drink on the job

[@KB-ke3fi]

Looks like WalMart

[@sw4841]

All time classic…unchecked greed at its highest form

[@kH1laDi]

Amazing how quickly he was able to diffuse the situation with words

[@NorseMan633]

I've seen this movie so many times and it's still just as riveting and enjoyable as the first time I watched it years ago. All the actors give just 5 STAR performances. Michael Douglas, Charlie and Martin Sheen are all fantastic in their character portrayals. Oliver Stone does an incredible job of capturing the hedonistic 80's Wall Street culture. I love this scene because it's when Bud really gets to see who he's actually in bed with when Gekko reveals himself as the insatiable money driven snake that he is. Just a classic scene. Peace !

[@johnjim6793]

Michael Douglas is pitch-perfect as Gordon Gekko. What I like most about the way he plays him is that Gekko, despite his recklessness and his greed, also has some very admirable qualities. He is charismatic, intelligent, and he is not superficial. He kind of cares for people around him in his own way, especially for Bud Fox - but not too much as not to double-cross him when the occasion arises. Gekko tells Darien to be careful with Fox because he "hasn't been around the block yet". He punches Bud in the face, but then hands him his handkerchief to wipe off the blood. Other than Logan Roy's spoilt and immature children in "Succession", he is a serious person.

[@Davidsworldtravels]

Gekko and Logan Roy would likely have some epic rants about America, capitalism, ambition, and how weak everyone else is compared to them

[@robertpolanco1973]

Well, well, well! I am so impressed with Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" just like his other classic films! A definitive cinematic masterpiece on the issues that were presented in the film, like predatory capitalism. It's no wonder that I am such a fan of Mr. Stone and his long line of filmmaking work! 👍

[@rastaman39]

Movies like JFK Snowden Oliver stone is a courageous man

[@robertpolanco1973]

@@rastaman39 You are certainly right on that about Oliver Stone and anybody who does not like him for what he stood for just doesn't really get it anyway. Thank you for your honesty, sir! 👍

[@gking407]

predatory isn’t a type of capitalism, that’s literally what it is: predation on society, survival of the meanest most evil human traits

[@robertpolanco1973]

@@gking407 In regards to your assumption about capitalism not being a predatory system, like what were you trying to point out? That capitalism is some kind of "humane" system? Well, I really DO NOT think so!

[@gking407]

@@robertpolanco1973 no i agree capitalism is not humane at all!

[@massimo7219]

They don’t make movies like this anymore. I don’t know if anyone won any awards for it, but a number of people should have.

[@sevensolaris]

Check out The Company Men. Very similar film in some regards.

[@THEDOPESHOW_FrankMidnight]

Art warns us and gives us the opportunity to save ourselves.

[@utmosdemos3645]

Art doesn't do squat. People do. People make art, ergo warnings and the opportunity to save ourselves comes from ourselves.

[@THEDOPESHOW_FrankMidnight]

@@utmosdemos3645 that's clearly a reaction and not a thought. Why do people make art?

[@rickmaurer8726]

Why the rich and mega-corps are doing everything possible to subvert and destroy it....

[@rsk9228]

Blue horseshoe loves Wallstreet

[@zarategabe]

Good thing that this was all back in 1987 and that all these problems have improved so much by the year 2023....

[@snex000]

Do we have more government regulation now than we did in 1987, or less?

[@zarategabe]

@@snex000 for Wall Street? Less

[@snex000]

@@zarategabe What the fuck are you smoking bro?

[@MonseiurFusiono]

All fixed!

[@NightlyMischief]

Its pretty unnerving that speech could be said now and be just as true.

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

$70 million dollar payday for less than two months of work... I'll take it.

[@MrJiggy80]

Everything he said back then in the 80's still holds true today in 2024.....powerful, classic movie on money and wealth

[@SanFelipeCreek]

SUN TZU I wish i knew what that was as a kid . Thank you Oliver Stone for Wall Street . Dexter Lombardo 🤠🧔

[@PhamVans]

Watched this movie a bunch of times. There's a lot of financial wisdom can be found in this film. The quote about money not being made but shifting from one perspective to another is quite genius. Like the world we live in, the money that exists (and created) just goes around in circles via transactions.

[@BartSantello]

Nothing's changed. It has only gotten worse.

[@snex000]

Do we have more government regulation now, or less?

[@classic1984]

@@snex000 For Wall St? We have less.

[@snex000]

@@classic1984 Why are you lying?

[@classic1984]

@@snex000 You think the Dodd-Frank act made up for the deregulation of the 90's?? lol

[@snex000]

@@classic1984 What "deregulation" dummy? You're just making shit up. The number of regulations and the number of pages they take up is objectively measurable. All they have EVER done is go up. Stop lying.

[@PoliticaV]

I absolutely love Gordon Gekko’s character. Always keeps his composure, is professional and polite, and yet ruthless all at once.

[@jaguar4271]

Isn't all he said the truth? Except the democracy part we were never supposed to be that.

[@toomuchdrivetothrive]

Wall Street and Margin Call are cut from the same cloth. Amazing acting, writing, and flow.

[@resetpassw0rd]

Still hard to believe they have used an actual ice cubes in the glasses instead of fake, so you can hear that noise all the time.

[@jamesfeldman4234]

It just hit me watching the magnificent and riveting Michael Douglas performance in "Wall Street." California Governor Gavin Newsom modeled his look on Michael's character, And it's not just the replica of Michael's hairstyle. It's the brazen way that Michael's character lies while smiling and looking you straight in the face. Newsom's got that down too. However, you have to wonder why California voters think that having Gordon Gekko running the State is a good idea, as he destroys it.

[@latenightlogic]

I love that Douglas is the polar opposite of this in real life.

[@coryboy345]

Really? In what way?

[@apachewraith]

He's literally worth like $350 million 😂

[@latenightlogic]

Politically guys. Geez

[@apachewraith]

@@latenightlogic No. You don't get a job in Hollywood without being Deep State, let alone make $300+ million

[@coryboy345]

@@latenightlogic He's a douchebag hypocrite, not all that different from this movie, just not as arrogant and cocky.

[@deividbx]

The 80s packed in one clip

[@SuperNovaJinckUFO]

If a company is worth less than even the assets that it owns, and thus allowing something like this to be profitable, then it's already a failed company

[@slchance8839]

100% How many businesses last 75 or 100 years? Not many. WHat happened to the best horse-shoe maker? Buggy whip maker? Best telegraph company. Charlie's dad was part of an airline company that was clearly not making a profit: otherwise, Gecko would have LET them make a profit and make HIS profit on top of it. Look around us: telemarketers, receptionists, insurance assessors, mall employees, human resources...how many of these jobs are not really needed and they are just bleeding a company dry and the company is already dead: not now, not 10 years from now, but 15 or 20. Visit your childhood neighborhood and see how many of the same stores are there. Not many. The businesses didnt make it. Maybe his dad would have kept his job for a few years, but the reality is that the dad's company was probably leaking money, like a boat leaks water. Eventually it sinks. Better off to sell what you can while you can before it's under water and a total loss. The dad, charlie, and gecko are all trying to make money...but some people buy and sell the boat while other people are IN the boat.

[@DavidChen322]

Thats one way of looking at it. If youre in it for the quick buck. But a lot of times theres more profit in rebuilding a company, growing it, expanding it, etc. Yes, this often means letting people go who have grown used to mediocrity. But its not the same as wgat Gekko did here.

[@ElGringoVeterano]

Well. . . this is unsettlingly relevant, if not more now than ever.

[@tonyvanwoezik9842]

I haven't seen this movie in a very long time but if memory serves me , Geko was ridiculed and humiliated by Bud's father at a meeting involving Stock options and to add insult in front of Darian whom he had a romantic affair with .It was a severe blow to his giant ego and the sell-off was pure retaliation

[@FoulWeatherFriend385]

Yeah I think people often overlook this as Gordon’s motive because he’s such a sociopath that it would make sense for him to have no motive at all.

[@arisdelis1]

Geko saw the $75M over funded Blue Star pension and said..."its Mine" has nothing to do with retaliation..Fox is the EGO idiot who thinks he can be a NICE GUY on Wall Street and still survive....

[@ryh5169]

Or Gekko planned on gutting it all along and Carl was the only one who saw through him. Seems unlikely Gekko would've spared the company if there was a quick profit to be made by killing it, blows to his ego notwithstanding.

[@jameshoran8]

Gekko planned to wreck Blue Star. Carl only reinforced his decision as Gordon knew Carl was onto him as to the scam

[@ryh5169]

@@jameshoran8 when i see people misunderstanding motivations for something like greenmail it helps realize why corporate raiders like Gekko were/are so successful

[@0201-n6d]

He pointed to absolute dog shit of a painting, that adds another layer of being a masterpiece.

[@roc7880]

the movie is still less cynical than the real present wall street

[@MichaelLu8]

the hand-help camera work is amazing for this scene.

[@unguelootay8589]

Modern art is shit he's right it's all speculation

[@AnthonyMcqueen1987]

This film shows how insane the 1980s were when rich men were ruling the world and oddly no different than now.

[@tonycerviver2123]

I love the racquetball scenes, Gekko kicks Bud's Ass without breaking a sweat. "Every battle is won before it's fought." Harvard types don't add up to dogshit. Give me guys who are poor, smart, and hungry and no feelings. If you need a friend, get a dog.

[@moheganson]

Lunch is for wimps 😂

[@gregifyozone2934]

It was squash not racquetball.

[@scottAlexander-u8s]

One of my favorite movies.

[@nvkulk]

Great masterpiece

[@gwynnielsen5081]

Human nature will never change. The bottomline is that when money is involved people will make all of the wrong decisions.

[@JoeKlunder1]

Could Bud have used the money he was going to make and set up a pension for the soon-to-be-laid-off employees? Had GM done that in real life in Flint, etc. it would have been better than what actually happened.

[@TheConchologist]

Greatest performance of the decade!

[@technomad1770]

Depressing, but true.

[@regularSenseAppeal]

In todays world Gordon Gecko would be considered a boy scout.

[@commanderkeen3787]

Man, Charlie Sheen is such a bad actor. And Michael Douglas is such a great actor. To see them sharing a scene, with Sheen's lousy acting, and Douglas' Oscar-winning acting, is weird. The part of Bud was originally meant to be played by Tom Cruise, that would have elevated this film into timeless greatness. Unfortunately he was scheduled for Rain Man and had to pass on the role

[@moheganson]

He was only 21 years old

[@RobertMJohnson]

what??? Wild Thing in Major League? Chris in Platoon? it's flippin great in Wall Street when he yells at his dad after the first meeting and when he tells his gf to get the $*#&@ out of his apartment. he's fantastic as bud fox.

[@flirtwd]

So real and relevant that it stings even inn 2024. Damn!