COMMENT Despite all the brickbats Malaysians have thrown at him, I, however, would like to say “bravo” to Red Granite Pictures founder Riza Aziz. For he has achieved what every Hollywood-yearning Malaysian filmmaker has failed to do - achieve blockbuster success in Tinseltown.

Though I am greeting the film producer with admiring applause, my heart pangs with envy at his triumph.

As a Martin Scorsese fan, I grew up dreaming of working with the acclaimed film director.

And again, Riza has done what I have been aspiring to achieve in the last decade or so, producing a Martin Scorcese film starring film star Leonardo DiCaprio.

And indeed, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ was a masterpiece. Funny but disgusting. Shameless but illuminating. Frightening but entertaining.

Watching the film, various thoughts flashed through my mind.

I wish I had Riza’s good fortune to have the opportunity to work with a great writer like Terence Winter, who crafted lines like those uttered in the same film:

“There’s no nobility in poverty. I’ve been a poor man, and I’ve been a rich man. And I choose rich every **** time.”

And that encapsulated the core of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, and maybe, to a lesser extent, Riza’s rise in Hollywood?

It is all about the money as much as the glitz and glamour.

I wish I have deep pockets, so I, too, could make the transition from a non-filmmaking background to the pantheon of Hollywood stars (Riza was allegedly from banking, I’m allegedly a reporter).

Despite questions regarding the source of his funds, you have to admit Riza has indeed put Malaysia on the world map in his own special way.

What’s more - based on past precedents - we, Malaysians, are people who “mudah lupa” (forget easily).

So thank you, Malaysians. For in a few years’ time, the aforementioned questions would have faded away, but great movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ would stand the test of time.

Keep making timeless movies, Riza. Malaysia boleh. Hidup Hollywood!

TERENCE TANG is a member of the Malaysiakini team.