The story revolves around the character of Jacob Moore (played by Shia LaBeouf), a young and ambitious proprietary trader at Keller Zabel Investments. Jacob idolizes Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas), the infamous former Wall Street titan who was convicted of insider trading and served time in prison.
After the death of Jacob’s mentor, Louis Zabel (played by Frank Langella), in a suicide brought on by the collapse of his firm, Jacob is determined to seek revenge on the ruthless investment banker Bretton James (played by Josh Brolin), whom he blames for Zabel’s downfall.
Jacob’s plans for revenge become entangled with his personal life when he becomes romantically involved with Winnie Gekko (played by Carey Mulligan), Gordon Gekko’s estranged daughter. Winnie is a left-wing activist who despises her father for his role in her brother’s death and wants nothing to do with him.
Despite Winnie’s reservations, Jacob reaches out to Gordon Gekko, who has been released from prison and is promoting his new book, “Is Greed Good?” Jacob sees an opportunity to use Gekko’s connections and knowledge of the financial world to gain an advantage over Bretton James.
As Jacob delves deeper into the world of high finance, he discovers that everyone has their own agenda, and no one can be trusted. He must navigate a web of deceit and betrayal while trying to protect his relationship with Winnie and salvage his career.
In the climax of the film, Jacob’s plan for revenge against Bretton James comes to a head as he orchestrates a scheme to expose James’ fraudulent activities and bring him down. However, Jacob’s actions have unintended consequences, and he finds himself facing the consequences of his own greed and ambition.
The film ends on a hopeful note as Jacob reconciles with Winnie and Gordon Gekko and learns valuable lessons about the true meaning of success and the importance of integrity and honesty in the pursuit of wealth.
“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its performances and timely subject matter but criticism for its convoluted plot and lack of focus. However, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the world of high finance and the moral dilemmas faced by those who inhabit it.