Every film wants to be compared to a Martin Scorsese film at the end of the day.
Every time Netflix execs release a movie, they are probably somewhere in a bunker simply praying that some unwitting critic will say each new film is ‘like Taxi Driver’ or is somehow ‘Inception meets Goodfellas’.
In the case of one film starring Chris Evans and Emily Blunt though, that’s exactly what Netflix got – with what felt like every second review mentioning how it was just like Wolf of Wall Street.
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Just like Wolf of Wall Street, it is a true story, just like Wolf of Wall Street, it focuses heavily on drugs, and just like Wolf of Wall Street it is involves a high profile corporate conspiracy full of crime.
Add to that an R Rating, a stellar cast, a rags to riches story, and fans raving over it – and you can easily see where the lines were drawn.
See the trailer and have a gander for yourself as to whether you back the comparisons.
Pain Hustlers was released last year, with Evans and Blunt being joined in the cast by Catherine O’Hara, Andy Garcia, and Brian d’Arcy James.
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Directed by Harry Potter veteran David Yates, the film follows Liza Drake (played by Blunt), a woman who looks to improve her life by climbing the ladder of a bankrupt pharmaceutical company.
As her life improves, she finds herself in the midst of an ongoing conspiracy at the company.
Based on a true story, Blunt and Evans both received plaudits for their acting in the ‘gritty’ retelling of the bonkers real-life tale.
Under a post in the Facebook group Netflix Bangers, one fan commented: “Absolutely loved it, reminded me of Wolf of Wall Street but from a Pharma angle.”
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Another commented: “I found the movie to be quite interesting, as well as a decent portrayal of the pharmaceutical industry.
“It's a business, and the only interest is in having more money, and spending more, no matter the consequences for people's lives.
"| trust this movie will open other's people minds to the importance of knowledge in any field, especially when it comes to our health.”
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Amy Nicholson of the New York Times gave the film a positive review saying: “The movie is constrained by its own conscience, thriving when Evans’s marvelously feral Pete is unleashed to dress like a Lonafen spray and rap about sales commissions, only to pivot apologetically from corporate bacchanals to suffering victims.”
Kevin Maher of The Times (the British one), said: “Blunt is on fire, co-star Chris Evans is serviceable, and Andy Garcia is a hoot as the imperious, eccentric, billionaire boss.”
Rex Reed of The Observer said: “A real-life story with social issues about capitalism that is entertaining and funny while it makes you think, without being too earnest and serious.”
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For fans of Wolf of Wall Street (aka most of us), here’s your weekend watch sorted.
Topics: Netflix, Chris Evans, Emily Blunt, Film and TV
Michael Slavin