The development of economic relationships is one of the common themes for modern movies. Directors investigate the current state of affairs, formulate their positions, and share ideas with spectators through their camera. Among a variety of successful projects, Wall Street, directed by Oliver Stone in 1987, remains one of the most provocative movies where the themes of organizational abuse, perverted morals, greed, and justice are properly discussed.
Gordon Gekko and Bud Fox are the main characters whose relationships turn out to be the core of the movie plot. The latter is fascinated by the achievements and possibilities of the former and ready to neglect his family values, moral principles, and even pride to become rich. Fox believes that “there is no nobility in poverty” and cross the line when he decides to sell inside information (Wall Street, 1987). He trusts Gekko, who, in his turn, never shows emotions and follows such rule as weak people are sheep, “and sheep get slaughtered” or “greed is right, greed works” (Wall Street, 1987). Their relationships are based on the desire to gain power, but, as well as in many firm-employee affairs, when an employee tries to teach the teacher a lesson, unpredictable changes and abuse occur.
In general, Wall Street shows that business affairs do not have good or bad people because greed distorts the truth and blinds even the most professional liars or naïve workers. Gekko never says that he is good or right in his passion for money or control, and Fox is unable to realize the impossibility of a balance between friendship and money. Due to poorly identified values, the lack of trust, and unfair conversation, Wall Street introduces the highest form of abuse of firm-employee relationships when jail and punishment turn out to be the only available outcomes.
Reference List
Wall Street (1987) Directed by Oliver Stone [Film]. Los Angeles, Calif: 20th Century Studios.