I just watched the movie and want to share my thoughts with somebody equally captivated by the societal commentary! I’ve grown up around a lot of kids who aspired and probably still aspire to be rich, especially through finance (more like fintech nowadays). Yet, a part of me could never stomach working on Wall Street. I always root for the nameless silent workhorses like Agent Denham who devote their immense talents to the ascetic life of public service. When you meet Denham, he is almost robotic. A quiet, simple man building a complex yet completely airtight case against Belfort. He is an endurance hunter, stalking his prey until it finally cannot go one step further. But after the boat scene, I think Denham was touched by the magic dust of Belfort. Denham maintained his integrity, but just like a soon-to-be-swindled Stratton Oakmont client, he felt like he was special. For a brief few years, he had a case on his hands unlike any of his coworkers. He knew he was sure to win and in a matter of months or years he would be a giant slayer. In a sense, he was emotionally scammed by Belfort. What I saw on the subway was not defeat or indifference. I saw inner conflict. His years of austerity reasserting their dominance over the boyish ambitions that once led him to apply to be a broker all those years ago and just led him to think for a brief moment that he could be special again. When he squints and raises his chin, I see him engaging in a personal factory reset, trying hard to return to his drone-like state. He mentioned earlier to Belfort that his daily subway ride is when his thoughts about what could have been if he chose the broker life challenge him the most. However it seems the tale in real life isn’t so bleak. The real Agent Coleman seems to have been pleased with the media exposure, and in the fashion of the entrepreneurial Belfort eventually founded his own private consulting firm focusing on preventing money laundering and suspicious financial activity. He probably makes millions from government checks while training future Federal agents and regulators. Nowadays, he and Belfort both essentially are paid to speak and I would guess have similarly sized “consulting” firms. You could argue this equivalency between an honest man and a criminal is amoral, but I would be happy to see that honest work does have some benefit. While they may be at the same place now, I would guess that Coleman probably rests easier at night.
YES. thank you so much for this video. i just rewatched this movie and i wanted to find a video about the subway scene. it’s such a telling moment that even in a moment of victory for the agent, overall his place in life is still sitting on a subway wearing the same jacket.
Great analysis. I also like to think that look Denham gives is about seeing how nobody appreciates the work he has done in putting Jordan away. No one sees him as the hero who got the bad guy. Nobody is reading the headline but the man whose job it was to put him away, because everyone else is so fundamentally disconnected from the wealthy world Jordan lives in, that they couldn't care less about what happens to him, and likely don't even know who he is.
Don't agree with you on that one, tanner doesn't loses, he symbolizes the idealistic power what isn't impressed by money and he just doesn't care about Jordan going to Jail and loosing his business.
This is one of my favorite scenes in not just the movie but all of cinema
It really is strangely powerful, isn't it?
I just watched the movie and want to share my thoughts with somebody equally captivated by the societal commentary!
I’ve grown up around a lot of kids who aspired and probably still aspire to be rich, especially through finance (more like fintech nowadays). Yet, a part of me could never stomach working on Wall Street. I always root for the nameless silent workhorses like Agent Denham who devote their immense talents to the ascetic life of public service.
When you meet Denham, he is almost robotic. A quiet, simple man building a complex yet completely airtight case against Belfort. He is an endurance hunter, stalking his prey until it finally cannot go one step further. But after the boat scene, I think Denham was touched by the magic dust of Belfort. Denham maintained his integrity, but just like a soon-to-be-swindled Stratton Oakmont client, he felt like he was special. For a brief few years, he had a case on his hands unlike any of his coworkers. He knew he was sure to win and in a matter of months or years he would be a giant slayer. In a sense, he was emotionally scammed by Belfort.
What I saw on the subway was not defeat or indifference. I saw inner conflict. His years of austerity reasserting their dominance over the boyish ambitions that once led him to apply to be a broker all those years ago and just led him to think for a brief moment that he could be special again. When he squints and raises his chin, I see him engaging in a personal factory reset, trying hard to return to his drone-like state. He mentioned earlier to Belfort that his daily subway ride is when his thoughts about what could have been if he chose the broker life challenge him the most.
However it seems the tale in real life isn’t so bleak. The real Agent Coleman seems to have been pleased with the media exposure, and in the fashion of the entrepreneurial Belfort eventually founded his own private consulting firm focusing on preventing money laundering and suspicious financial activity. He probably makes millions from government checks while training future Federal agents and regulators. Nowadays, he and Belfort both essentially are paid to speak and I would guess have similarly sized “consulting” firms. You could argue this equivalency between an honest man and a criminal is amoral, but I would be happy to see that honest work does have some benefit. While they may be at the same place now, I would guess that Coleman probably rests easier at night.
The lyrics of the song before it dims down when he is in the train "Every way you look at it you lose". Very telling
Exactly! I love it
YES. thank you so much for this video. i just rewatched this movie and i wanted to find a video about the subway scene. it’s such a telling moment that even in a moment of victory for the agent, overall his place in life is still sitting on a subway wearing the same jacket.
Thank YOU so much for seeing it in a similar way
Great job man...u summed up the entire movie in five and a half minutes.
I tried to keep it short & sweet. Hope it was interesting :) thanks for the watch!
Love this Video bro
Thanks man! It's one of my fave essays i've produced
"Yes, I'd love to learn how to sell it, if only I had a pen to take notes."
I know just the guy
Great analysis. I also like to think that look Denham gives is about seeing how nobody appreciates the work he has done in putting Jordan away. No one sees him as the hero who got the bad guy. Nobody is reading the headline but the man whose job it was to put him away, because everyone else is so fundamentally disconnected from the wealthy world Jordan lives in, that they couldn't care less about what happens to him, and likely don't even know who he is.
More like the people don’t recognize denham as a hero, and end up wanting to be like Jordan and not the cop who put the criminal away
@@jeffsmith3747 yeah literally.
Yeah, that's certainly part of it
Goddamit, I love this film
S a m e. It's so good. One of Scorsese's best
Don't agree with you on that one, tanner doesn't loses, he symbolizes the idealistic power what isn't impressed by money and he just doesn't care about Jordan going to Jail and loosing his business.
Yeah, that's one way to think about it
This was a very interesting video.
Thanks! Glad you thought so! What specifically?
FSD Productions about the characterisations of Agent Denham.
@@400Awesomo Awesome! That one is a favorite! Thanks for checking 'em out
It's a true story.
Live rich or die trying.
Shelly sent me..🙏
Yeah?