S.O.S

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nz0ihi29YnU

A key element that makes this film so much more superior to other films is how closely the story line follows the truth. The phase," Based on a True Story" can be vague and often times include one small part that barely enables the film to use the phrase. The Wolf of Wall Street does not abuse, falsify, or misconstrue this phrase at all. The events that occur in the film are beyond exciting that left me asking," What are the odds?". For instance, the yacht sinking in a tropical storm that caused 30-foot waves was not conjured up at a round table somewhere in Hollywood. It actually occurred. The 167-foot yacht, before being purchased by Belfort, actually belonged to Coco Chanel. The Nadine, named after Belfort's wife at the time, was set sail after orders by a very under-the-influence Belfort. Although it might have been easier to take his private jet it was being borrowed at the time. Anyways, a total of nine Quaaludes later, the tropical storm would overwhelm the yacht and eventually the Italian special forces had to rescue. The only discrepancy? The helicopter was pushed off instead of yanked off by the waves in order to make room for the Italians. That's it. If that's the farthest this movie went out of context it is still more truthful than a huge majority of movies these days. Finally when they got back to shore and ready to depart, Belfort's private plane sent to retrieve them actually went down. A seagull flew into the engine. If THE Jordan Belfort didn't tell me himself, I don't think I'd believe it either. Fortunately, he speaks about in an interview by The Room Live. So, the action sequence clearly real and documented, but what's more unfathomable is he dealt with these circumstances all while being chased by the government. Eventually he was caught and did serve time. Jordan Belfort did rat out his friends in actuality like he did in the film. He was convicted of laundering and fraud. He served twenty-two months of a four year sentence in 1998. Ironically, he serves as a motivational speaker, charging somewhere around $30,000 a speech (Belfort really was a great speaker which did help him gain loyalty as an employer). Today, he is still paying back money that was scammed in his infamous "Pump and Dump" schemes. All in all, the truth the most interesting part of the film, and was not in any way tainted. That's what a great director should do in any movie.

Couple of interesting facts:

1. Tommy Chong was Belfort's cellmate. He helped inspire him to write a memoir.
2. Steve Madden was also convicted in being a part of his schemes forcing him to step down C.E.O.. He created a position in order to keep himself in the company as a "Creative Consultant". He served 44 months in prison.