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'Wall Street' returns after 23 years

Michael Douglas reprises his Academy Award-winning role as Gordon Gekko.

By Lauren Hill

Published Oct. 8, 2010

The business philosophy "greed is good" returned this year when the sequel to the 1987 movie "Wall Street" was released. This time, the stage is set in today's market with new characters, but the devil himself returns as Gordon Gekko, played once again by Michael Douglas.

The original "Wall Street," directed by Oliver Stone, told the story of Bud Fox, an ambitious junior stockbroker at Jackson Steinem & Co. in New York. Impatient to get started in the business world, Fox turns to the ruthless and legendary Gordon Gekko. In order to impress Gekko, Fox gives him insider information about the company Blue Star Airlines, which he overheard from his father, a maintenance foreman for the company. Gekko is impressed and takes Fox under his wing. He teaches Fox greed is good and breaking the law to get money is even better.

Quickly, Fox's life is flooded with riches he could previously only imagine — a penthouse, gorgeous women and tons of money to spend. But his morals are questioned when he discovers Gekko's evil plot to destroy Blue Star Airlines, leaving all the workers (including his father) unemployed.

Fox decides to save his father and the company by manipulating the Blue Star stocks to fall. Gekko quickly pulls out, fearing he will lose all he has gained, but later finds out Fox was the one who changed his luck for the worst. Fox returns triumphant only to be confronted by the police and placed under arrest for security fraud and insider trading.

In order to avoid harsh consequences from the law, Fox helps the police expose Gekko for his involvement in their illegal deals. The last scene in the movie shows Fox walking onto the steps of the courthouse for his trial.

Most movie viewers would agree this is a very disappointing ending, but that's where the new movie "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" comes in to finish the story. Already playing in theaters, this Oliver Stone-directed film tells the continuing story of the greed of Gordon Gekko.

This time, he lurks in today's New York market as a newly released criminal after eight years in jail. His victim is now Jake Moore, boyfriend of Gekko's daughter, Winnie. Gekko's experience in the business world and Moore's connections with Gekko's daughter provoke the two to become partners in a deal. The deal challenges Moore's values and brings Gekko closer to what he has lost over the years.

Michael Douglas has grown tremendously in his role as Gordon Gekko since the original film was released 23 years ago. Last time, he received an Academy Award for best actor. Maybe this time will be the same. Also joining the cast is a fairly new name in the blockbuster movie business: Shia LaBeouf, who plays Jake Moore.

Hopefully, LaBeouf's experience will be enough to bring the struggles of this character to life. Director Oliver Stone is also known for his work on the 1991 film "JFK," which won Academy Awards for best movie and best director. It has been a while since Stone has been noticed for his work. Maybe this will be his year. But whatever awards are later won, audiences will be awakened to the power of greed.