First time around, Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko became an icon of 80s capitalism in the original Wall Street. He embodied the spirit of the times, that greed is good, but ultimately paid the price with an eight-year stretch in the slammer, writes Rhian Morgan.

So it is fitting that, at a time when the world is being punished for bankers' greed through the credit crunch, that Gekko arises again, a metaphorical phoenix from the ashes of avarice.

Money Never Sleeps starts with a chastened Gekko leaving prison, alone and friendless, with no-one to greet him at the gates as he is weighed down with the twin symbols of his former life – a huge brick of a mobile phone and a garish Rolex.

Fast-forward another seven years and Gekko seems to be king of the hill once again on top, with the release of his book analysing the credit crunch.

His resurrection as media darling stirs painful memories for his estranged daughter, Winnie (expertly played by Brit actress Carey Mulligan), who blames him for the suicide of her brother. Which is bad news for her boyfriend, corporate banker Jake (Shiah LaBeouf), who admires her dad so much that he brokers a meeting with Gekko Senior after he gives a charismatic promotional speech.

Seeking forever to gain the upper hand, Gekko promises Jake inside information on the downfall of his former mentor in return for a reconciliation with his daughter.

Among some polished performances, Douglas shines as the charismatic Gekko, eliciting guilty wry grins from the audience. And LaBeouf is perfect as that rare commodity – a banker with a heart of gold. His unassuming, almost feminine looks suit his noble eco-warrior character, a crusader who believes in love and loyalty above financial reward.

Mulligan gives a finely nuanced performance as the worthy Winnie, a character who could quite easily have lost credibility if a lesser actress had taken on this role.

And Josh Brolin is delightfully hateful as the two-dimensional avaricious banker, a figurative embodiment encapsulating all we hate about the corporate stereotype that is all too common nowadays.

And, in the most part, the plot gives these top-rate actors something to chew on, with plenty of twists and turns, energy and dynamism.

Director Oliver Stone's timely follow-up has softened the original premise, rounded the edges of the rough diamonds but kept the stone-cold heart intact. Money Never Sleeps is perfect for the zeitgeist - you could say that greed is still good this time around.