Yet Jake’s brilliant career comes to a shattering stall when a nearly destroys Zabel, one that helps Louis’ adversary, Bretton James (Josh Brolin) take advantage of a dire situation. And this is where part of the problem with ‘Money Never Sleeps’ lies. There are so many characters, all with too many issues that as good as this film looks, the focus is scattered. The connection between Jake and all those that surround him is at times compelling, yet it is literally a case of too much of a good thing. Too many villains, too many layers and just a little bit too long.

The focus that made the original film so interesting is lost here, yet there is the occasional spark. Shia LaBeouf and Michael Douglas both have a winning chemistry. What makes their relationship work is the youth and promise that LaBeouf’s Moore offers to Douglas’ Gekko. Much like the Douglas/Sheen relationship, this near father/son bond is believable and really should have been the focus of the film. As it stands, there are a couple of culprits here besides the obvious; the true bad guy is simply greed. Money really is the root of all evil.

Aside from good performances, including both Susan Sarandon (as Moore’s mother) and Carey Mulligan, ‘Money Never Sleeps’ looks amazing. Stone personifies the powerful world of Wall Street with magnificent shots of New York and the rich, corrupt and corruptible who haunt this world drowning in wealth. The beautiful women, the cars, he takes it all in so we get a sense of the magic which Moore is seduced by.

What it comes down to is that ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ tried to be too many things. It meanders throughout the relationships explored often leaving the viewer with disinterest. If you are a fan of the original film, there are some worthwhile moments (especially a fun cameo), but those of you who either didn’t see the original, or maybe even didn’t like it, you may not appreciate what Stone’s latest has to say. This was an impressive undertaking that took on too much to be truly effective.

iamROGUE’s Favorite Moment: The use of split screen to drive the story was an interesting choice and really worked when it was employed.