Greed is ALIVE AGAIN!

In a truly stunning turn of events, Oliver Stone is in talks to make a sequel to his 1987 ode to high finance greed, Wall Street (the origin, you'll recall, of Gordon Gecko's famous mantra "Greed is good."). Details are still sketchy, but this is the most excited I've been about an abstract concept in a long time. 

Let's face it: Stone has lost a lot of what little appeal he had in the first place. He really made his name taking already sensational headlines and simply adding more exclamation points: his projects are marked by the oversaturation of his subjects with sensationalism, migraine-inducing editing and loud noises until people started paying attention. So his decision to revisit what really made him relevant in the first place (Wall Street, and timely digression on the nature of the cynical, fast money designs of the 1980s) is not only a stroke of genius, but also a deliciously ripe hot mess waiting to happen. 

Because Wall Street has always seemed like one of those films whose influence is greater than its actual audience, as Gecko's strong advocacy of greed (and wish-fulfilling lawful prosecution as the credits close) came to represent the money-hungry, moral-lite version of the 1980s so rampant in pop culture. Three years after its release, its mantra was central to a 1990 Newsweek cover story that asked the counter to Gecko's assessment: "Is Greed Dead?" Most recently, Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly proclaimed that the film was an eerie foreshadow, as watched today it "reveals something now which it couldn't back then: that the Gordon Gekkos of the world weren't just getting rich -- they were creating an alternate reality that was going to crash down on all of us."

So, this remake/sequel idea is clearly outstanding, for several reasons (helpfully outlined below): 

Item 1: The timing is perfect-almost too perfect. Given that the germ of this recession was born in the self-centered and image-obsessed 1980s, History will look back on these days with an oddly comforting stance. It pretty much proof that history repeats itself, with a a built-in cross reference. The original has the delicious, tawdry feel of a morality tale that got caught up in its own vices,  and this sequel could potentially give many bruised consumers the cathartic growl they need. 

Item 2: It's being called a sequel, but everyone knows it will be more like an updated remake. Or at least it should be, if they're smart. Which instead of lame and unimaginative, is instead of AMAZING IN EVERY WAY. Think of it: what other somewhat forgotten 1980s movie is so ripe for a second life? (If you said Willow, you leave this blog. Leave it right now). So if they could only manage to keep the same themes, power struggles and stock characters, superficially updated to accommodate the recession, this will be brilliant. There is no way that film could fail. 

Item 3: I saved the best part for last but: not only is MICHAEL DOUGLAS returning as Gordon Gecko, but do you know who will reportedly take the role of the naive but quick to tarnish young financier? SHIA LEBEOUF! Yes, everyone, Shia LeBeouf once again proves himself the only working young actor by snagging this plum role. Originally filled by charmingly wooden Charlie Sheen, this role will give Shia the chance to use that smarmy baby-face to sarcastically fight the Man (AND MAYBE MORE?!?). 

It's unfortunate Shia doesn't have a father who is conveniently also an actor, thus sealing the onscreen father/son relationship with the rich layers that only quality stunt casting can accomplish. The father/son dynamic, with Martin Sheen acting as the ignored voice of reason to son Charlie, was actually one of the strongest parts of the original, with Gecko's counter influence acting like an incubus on the natural bonds of the American family unit. Or something! 

Early reports are promising--with writers on the project maintaining that the recently-released Gecko will appear to have reformed but ACTUAL QUOTE! "A leopard doesn't change its spots." That, random writer on the project, is a true thing.   

The possibilities are literally endless. If this turns out to come to nothing, I'll be very disappointed. I feel like this project is the last chance Olivier Stone to give his 1987 self an eternal high five.