Top 10 Small Details You Missed in Wolf of Wall Street
#10: The Bond Connection
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At Jordan and Naomi’s wedding, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings perform the title song to 1964’s “Goldfinger.” The real Jordan Belfort actually played “Nobody Does It Better” at his wedding, the theme from the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me.” But this track sticks out for another reason. If you notice, we hear the song before Naomi’s Aunt Emma arrives. The British actress who portrays Emma, Joanna Lumley, appears in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” The former Bond girl is credited as “The English Girl,” one of Blofeld’s Angels of Death. It’s no wonder then why Jordan was so charmed by her in the movie!
#9: The Use of CGI
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You wouldn’t expect a comedy biopic to employ CGI. And you’d be forgiven for not realizing this one did, because the digital effects are near seamless. But for scenes like parties and visits to the park, Martin Scorsese could’ve filmed them without using any aftereffects, right? Believe it or not, it’s actually cheaper to use a green screen in some cases. There’s no doubt that the mind-blowing visual effects made “The Wolf of Wall Street” that much more of an epic cinematic experience.
#8: Intentional Continuity Errors
When it comes to film and television, little mistakes are bound to happen here and there, whether it’s a magically disappearing cup, or a repositioned hand. But for Scorsese, he wanted editing inconsistencies in this film. The characters are often under the influence, obviously. And these “errors” show how the world is distorted through their eyes. Like when the stairs seem bigger from Jordan’s POV as he’s crawling to his car after taking Quaaludes. According to the film’s editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, many of the film’s scenes with continuity errors were left as is simply because they were such good takes. Like when Teresa catches Jordan with Naomi in the limo. It’s a highly emotional scene, but did you notice that she shuts the door more than once, and that the limo leaves, then reappears again? Huge props to anyone who caught that!
#7: The Ferraris
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A car enthusiast may actually notice this next one. When Belfort’s voiceover describes his life of excess, he mentions that he drove a “Miami Vice” inspired white Ferrari. It’s an impressive car, but it actually wouldn’t be around in the 1980s. The vehicle shown zipping down the highway is a 1992 Ferrari Testarossa. And later in the film, Jordan drives to Naomi’s house in a white 1989 Ferrari Testarossa. Car models aside, the film does an excellent job showcasing Mr. Belfort’s taste in luxurious vehicles.
#6: Adderall Wasn’t on the Market Until 1996
In his iconic opening monologue, Jordan Belfort lists off the staggering amount of drugs he takes every single day. One of the drugs mentioned is Adderall. Given the length of this daily dose breakdown, there’s one small detail that’s easy to miss. Adderall actually wasn’t released until 1996. The film’s events take place from the late 1980s into the 1990s, and this particular scene is supposedly set in the ‘80s. So, it’s actually impossible for him to have taken this brand of drug.
#5: Naomi Quotes Al Pacino
In one of the film’s many hilarious scenes, Naomi yells at Jordan for saying another woman’s name in his sleep. When Jordan tries to play dumb — asking “Who?” — repeatedly, Naomi delivers one of the best lines in the film. And if you’re an Al Pacino fan, this might sound familiar since it’s a direct line from Michael Mann’s crime drama “Heat.” While interrogating Alan Marciano (played by Hank Azaria), Pacino’s character Lieutenant Vincent Hanna asks about a woman, he gets the same question — “Who?” Props to Margot Robbie for keeping a straight face.
#4: The Drugs Are Vitamin Powder
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There are a few different ways prop masters can make fake drugs for film and television. The concoction depends on how the substance will be filmed. In the case of this film, there are many close-ups of the actors. For the ideal consistency, the actors were given vitamin powder to snort. Of course, it doesn’t have anywhere near the effect real cocaine would have on a person. But that’s not to say it’s without side effects. Jonah Hill ended up hospitalized with bronchitis from the massive amounts of crushed vitamins he inhaled throughout the film’s shoot.
#3: Jon Bernthal Really Punched Jonah Hill
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Sometimes realism is the only way to get a perfect shot. And that’s what Scorsese realized when Jonah Hill’s character Donnie needed to get punched by Jon Bernthal’s character Brad. After many takes of fake swings, the director suggested that the next one should be for real. Well, Bernthal has a background in boxing. So, when he really threw a good punch, the actor ended up knocking out Hill’s obnoxious prosthetic teeth in the process. Unfortunately, the part when the teeth go flying is edited out. But hey, they still got the shot, right?
#2: The Real Jordan Belfort Makes an Appearance
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If you didn’t know what the real Jordan Belfort looked like before seeing “The Wolf of Wall Street,” it’s highly unlikely that you’d catch his brief onscreen cameo. At the end of the film, the Leonardo DiCaprio “version” of Belfort takes the stage at a motivational speaking seminar. And who introduces him? None other than the real “Wolf” himself. Belfort introducing Belfort. It’s quite the meta moment, but one that goes unnoticed on the first watch. The film doesn’t paint him in the best light, to say the least. So, we’re kind of surprised he made an appearance. He’s not the only unexpected cameo, though.
#1: Martin Scorsese’s Voice Cameo
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Many directors like to cast themselves in their films and Scorsese is definitely one of them. You can find him in many movies including “Mean Streets” and “Taxi Driver.” But his part in “The Wolf of Wall Street” is harder to spot. In fact, you can’t see him at all. When Jordan is just starting out, he sells shares of Aerotyne International over the phone to a man named John. The audio isn’t the loudest, but if you listen closely, you can hear the director’s distinctive Queen’s voice.
