The 20th Anniversary of Wall Street, a Possible Sequel and Deciding Whether Gordon Gekko (or Greed) is Still Good

Now at its 20^th anniversary, it can't be underestimated how influential the 1987 Oliver Stone film "Wall Street" was on those who wanted to work on the real "Street" in those days. But with the ebbs and flows of personal philosophies (and tragic events shaping our nation)--the popularity of working as a money-obsessed stock broker also saw its ups and downs. When "Wall Street" had its 10^th anniversary in 1997--the 90's philosophy of making your life simpler and not focusing as much on money was in full swing. You didn't hear anything about the influence of "Wall Street" then, because the 80's mentality of money and power was on a loathing streak. Funny how things can change to go right back to the way they were a small decade later. That's not to say it's exactly the same in the 2000's. It's just for a certain income bracket of people now who received huge tax breaks under the Bush Administration. But, yes, greed is back in again for some in America--and I think the envy of those 98% who "have not" makes the concept of greed blown up into a giant balloon of ecstatic fantasy. That may be the fuel needed to make the projected sequel to "Wall Street" (with Michael Douglas updating us on his Gordon Gekko character) have success in a time when we wouldn't think anybody would care.

All this news of a sequel to "Wall Street" (working title: "Money Never Sleeps"--named after a famous Gekko catchphrase) has given rise to the inevitable 20^th anniversary DVD edition of the original '87 film. We also get the famous and nefarious "Greed is Good" speech in all the TV ads promoting the special edition of the DVD. Whenever I see that on TV lately, I can't help but think that some people bristle at the surface meanings of that speech and how it influenced so many people as well as honoring Michael Douglas with an Oscar for Best Actor. What some might consider a return of an unwanted specter to what's wrong with the world--others will look at it as an opportunity to analyze who we are now, how the financial world works today in comparison to 1987 and just wonder how Gordon Gekko would survive today in that same world.