| As this lifestyle gets out of control, we are shown this rough scene. Jordan is being handled by two men. One of the men is holding Jordan's arm behind his back and the other one is holding the other one and is handcuffing him. These men that are capturing him have coats with the lettering "FBI" on them. The text on their jackets works as anchorage. We are able to know that they are federal agents instead of possible kidnappers wanting to hold him for ransom. They also have badges, which is also a sign of legal and physical power. Before this incident, his father had advised him to take a leave from the massive corrupt business that he created so that he wouldn't be in the situation that he was in in this image. Had he done so, he possibly could have avoided this situation all together. As we've seen in these transitions, Jordan had been controlled by this idea of power that was planted in his head when he was just soaking up all the information that he could. He fell easily to peer pressure and slowly lost his innocence. Had he stuck to his original morals and not allowed for them to be influenced and changed, he most likely wouldn't be in this situation.
 This film does a great job at positioning the viewer to identify with Jordan. The mirror phase does attempt to place the viewer in Jordan's shoes, but the film seems to take you further and aligns you with the main character. Alignment is "whenever we gain information about a character." (Smith, 43) We are positioned to identify or to see ourselves as the main character but alignment takes it a step further. When we identify with the character, we can disagree with what they do or not connect to them due to faulty camera work or a bad story line. When we align with the character, we may not be as critical of the character. Smith expresses that "Another way to align us more fully with characters is to have us experience what is going on inside their heads, to give us access to information that we could not see/hear if we were standing near by." (Smith, 44) The Wolf of Wall Street creates situations that are meant to align the audience with the main character. Throughout the movie, present time Jordan narrates the story. He speaks with confidence and knowledge. From beginning to end, he explains what is happening. You may not be familiar with stockbroking or penny stocks but he will teach you. Jordan takes you from scene to scene, keeping the audience engaged and giving them the information needed to follow along seamlessly. This allows for the audience to feel more connected to that character. You learn information that you can't learn with out his narration. Even if an audience member may not like the main character, he/she is badgered with close-ups of this character and alignment tools such as narration and peeks into the character's mind. This film also has Jordan speak directly to the audience in the midst of excitement, and with emotionality, instead of only simple narration. When Jordan does this, the audience can feel even more connected or aligned with the character than before. The audience members once again both identify with and are alienated from the main character while feeling aligned with him. |