Boiler Room Reviews

• Boiler loses steam in the second half

  
  By A2E0CB9F9BMXUJ on 2000-02-27
  The first half of Boiler Room is highly entertaining. True, it borrows unabashedly from Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross, but it pays homage to those films with flair. This story, about a shady securities firm which uses money-hungry young alpha males to push bum stocks on an unsuspecting public, is actually more true to life than most realize. I have friends who have worked at or crossed path with such firms, and many of them remind me of the young hotshots of Boiler Room. Anyone who has read the cult classic Liar's Poker will see some similar personalities in this film.

  The first half, which follows the entrance of young Seth (Giovanni Ribisi) into this "chop shop" brokerage firm J.T. Marlin, has a certain snap, crackle, and pop. The employees of this firm are like an immature gang of boys with too much money, but director Ben Younger gives them smart dialogue and a certain mischevious charm. They're the types of hip slicksters that outsiders scorn, but only with a certain amount of envy.

  Affleck, Ribisi, and Vin Diesel are especially good. I haven't seen much of Vin Diesel except in Saving Private Ryan, but he's a dynamic young talent. Ribisi is a unique actor. Shy, and you can't tell if beneath it all he's psychotic or a sweet young kid.

  Unfortunately, the second half introduces the usual manufactured Hollywood conflict and resolutions which always feel like a script doctor came in at the last minute to wrap a film up. The rocky relationship between Seth and his dad (Ron Rifkin) does not feel real. It is ironic that it is the introduction of a common theme, the strained relationship between father and son, that trips up the engrossing realism of this film. A smart audience recognizes that even young men with wonderful relationships with their fathers could be easily seduced by the promise of a quick fortune in the fraternity of J.T. Marlin.

  In the end, this is a film worth watching on the strength of its first half. When a few of the young brokers in the film sit around watching Wall Street, reciting Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen's lines from heart, you'll wish you knew the words too.
  
  

• A Gen X Wall Street

  
  By A3RUTSTH1KJ49F on 2000-10-04
  At first, I was a little apprehensive about "Boiler Room" thinking it was just gonna be "Wall Street: Part 2". I finally rented it on tape and loved it. One of this year's most underrated films, Boiler Room is a smart and energetic film with excellent performances from it's right cast. The film tells the story of Seth Davis, a decent college dropout earning a living by running a casino inside his house, much to the strong dismay of his frustrated judge father. In order to impress his dad, Seth takes on a job at a stock brokerage firm where he becomes a fast tracking stock broker and making good money. Only later does he find out that his job isn't what it's cracked up to be. The performances are strong, particularly from lead Ribisi and supporting characters Nicky Katt as a two faced co-worker, Ron Rifkin as his dad, and Scott Caan as a hotheaded co-worker. Vin Diesel does quite well as the good guy to Ribisi's Davis. The film definitely has the testosterone feel of a Generation X movie with The Angel's rap/classical score. There's even an homage to "Wall Street" that I don't want to spoil. If you're in the mood for a really good film, rent "Boiler Room". Look for the director Ben Younger in a cameo as a stock broker.
  
  

• BOILER ROOM NEVER REALLY HEATS UP...

  
  By A1L43KWWR05PCS on 2001-02-12
  This is a Gen X version of the movie "Wall Street". It is an uneven, though intriguing, debut by director Ben Younger. It is also a movie that promises much, but fails to deliver anything substantial. First off, it lures you by claiming that it stars Ben Affleck. While Ben Affleck may appear in the movie, it can hardly be said to star him. In fact, Affleck's role cannot even be said to rise to that of a supporting role, so ephemeral is it. Yet, all the trailers feature Affleck prominently, as if by promising to deliver him, it may make up for the deficiencies in the film. Nonetheless, Affleck does give a dynamic performance, however miniscule his part.

  On the plus side, however, there are some other performances of note. Vin Diesel's is one. He just keeps getting better and is one of the most versatile young actors of today, having had featured roles in "Saving Private Ryan" and "Pitch Black". Also, Giovanni Ribisi turns in a very good performance, as well, though it is not believable that the beautiful Nia Long would find him to be her type.

  The premise of the movie is simple. Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi) is a nineteen year old college drop out who runs an illegal casino out of his Kew Garden Hills, Queens, NY apartment. While he is making a tidy sum out of his illegal operation which is a mecca for bored Queens College students, Seth is a disappointment to his father (Ron Rifkin), who is a federal judge and fearful of becoming tainted through association by his son's illegal activities.

  Seth, wanting to make his father proud of him, tries to go legit and gets a job at a small brokerage firm whose owners (Ben Affleck and Thom Everett Scott) make get rich quick promises. Two senior brokers with the firm, Greg (Nicki Katt), who lured him to the firm, and Chris (Vin Diesel), who tries to look out for Seth while he cuts his eyeteeth, basically play a good cop/bad cop routine through out the film. Greg's former love interest, Abbey (Nia Long), the firm's $80,000 a year receptionist, turns to Seth for romance, much to Greg's annoyance. This creates tension between Seth and Greg for which Chris runs interference.

  Seth initially buys into the promises of big money and falls for the allure of mega bucks, hook, line, and sinker, becoming one of the most promising newcomers to the firm, only to discover that he has traded one illicit operation for another. It seems the firm is selling virtually worthless stock to unsuspecting individuals. When he looks to get out from under, turning to his disapproving father for help, he is rejected. His father, however, has a change of heart and reaches out to his son, only to become ensnared in his son's get rich quick debacle. You see, the firm has been the focal point of an investigation by the Feds for violation of Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. The movie now spirals quickly to its climax.

  The uneven pacing of the film, the failure of the romantic sub-plot due to lack of chemistry between Long and Ribisi, the under utilization of Thom Everett Scott, and the failure to deliver Affleck, as promised, contribute to the disappointment in the movie. Still, it could have been a contender, as it has some very promising moments. "Wall Street", however, made the same promise, the only difference being that it delivered.
  
  

• More realistic than you may think!

  
  By A3DSDLK526FL95 on 2005-03-13
  I am a Stockbroker with 15 years of experience. I began my career working for a firm that was like the firm portrayed in the film in many respects. In fact, I have heard this film was based on a firm that ended up merging with the one I worked for.
  
  The film provides a very accurate portrayal of a Small Cap firm from the late 80s to early 90s. For example, the recruitment process was perfect. You didn't need a resume, you didn't need an education and they didn't want people who already had licenses. They wanted raw recruits that didn't know anything and they made money on the testing process.
  
  After you passed the test, you received no training, you got a list (any way you could) and cold called until you opened an account on what they told you to buy. If you didn't open accounts within a month you were out. In the film, they cut off Riblisi's tie as a right of passage. In my firm, the first time you did $1000 in commissions in a single day they cut off your tie.
  
  Other things are realisitic as well; the fact that the firm has positions in the stocks that they sell and there is extra commission at certain moments, the Brokers all know every word of the movie- Wall Street, that they have big houses or apartments with no furniture, they drink and get into scrapes as a group, that all happened at my firm.
  
  There are many more examples of parallels between the firm in the movie and the experiences of the main characters and my own real life experiences. This movie may seem outrageous or over the top to some, but, it is as accurate as a movie about this subject could be.
  
  

• "A Sale is Made on EVERY Call You Make!"

  
  By A38U2M9OAEJAXJ on 2001-07-22
  Giovanni Ribisi is Seth Davis, a 19-year-old who's secretly running a backdoor casino while his parents think he's in college. Desperate for a quick buck, he joins JT Marlin, a brokerage firm that has the look, feel, and energy of a Morgan Stanley or Smith Barney. But underneath the gloss, this is a firm that engages in shady dealings, selling fake stocks and ripping off investors cold. Seth learns the ropes of the trade and over time becomes ruthless and cocky. He alienates his no-nonsense dad, who happens to be a judge and is, to say the least, disappointed that his son is blowing off college.
  
  On the surface, this sounds like a re-telling of "Wall Street," but don't dismiss this film so easily. "Boiler Room" soars on the strength of performances of Nicky Katt, Scott Caan (son of James), Nia Long, and the then-unknown Vin Diesel. The film moves at a brisk pace and, for the most part, avoids melodrama and other formulaic touches. Definitely worth a look.
  
  
• Awful
  By on 2000-06-02
  This film had the foulest language I have ever heard, it is not worth the plastic it is on. The movie has no point. The ending has no point. It is not even a good stock flick, it has nothing to do with wall street. Not even worth a buck rental. watch Wall Street instead.
  
  
• brave view of modern morality
  By A19ZXK9HHVRV1X on 2000-08-10
  Genuine honest-to-God timeliness is a rarity in contemporary filmmaking. So many movies end up using topicality as mere window dressing to gussy up otherwise conventional screenplays that, when a film arrives on the scene that is truly attuned to the truths of its time, it becomes something of a revelation. How many recent thrillers, for instance, have simply turned to high tech computer hardware in an attempt to infuse a little novelty into stories that otherwise creak with old age?

  `Boiler Room' is a different story altogether. Even though, at its most basic level, this film taps into themes that trace their origins all the way back to the earliest ancient Greek tragedies, somehow `Boiler Room' manages to convey a vision of the world that is uniquely modern and chillingly contemporary in its character. In this era in which Wall Street has become the new American icon and in which even the most ill-informed common citizen is led to believe that he can become a millionaire almost overnight with virtually no financial risk merely by making a few shrewd investments in an ever-expanding stock market, any number of opportunists crouch poised for the kill, ready to spring on the unsuspecting investor and take him for all he is worth. This is the world `Boiler Room' opens up to us.

  Commendably, writer/director Ben Younger realizes (as so many others have not) that, in the world of drama, moral ambiguity is always more fascinating than colorless, good-vs.-evil simplicity. As a result, he has chosen, as the center of his complex screenplay, a young man, Seth Davis, who is, from the first moment we meet him, knee deep in the world of shady entrepreneurial skullduggery. Having quit college to run an underground casino out of his off-campus apartment, Seth jumps at the chance to move onto bigger and better things when he is offered a position at an `off Wall Street' stock brokerage firm that assures him he will be making a cool million dollars before his third year with the company is up. Thus, Seth becomes a symbol for so many young people today who have become so dazzled by the prospect of a near-instant wealth that seems just within their grasp that they abandon all thoughts of morality and decency in their blind race to the goal. And, indeed, one of the most insidiously effective scenes in the film is the inspirational pep talk that Ben Affleck delivers to the raw recruits at the beginning of the film. So dazzling and convincing is the speech and so inspirational and passionate its delivery that even we in the audience feel like we are missing out on a great thing. For, of course, Seth slowly learns that all is not true-blue and on the up-and-up in this firm as he discovers that he is indeed involved with a financial `chop shop' whose sole business it is to rip off weak, vulnerable and unsuspecting men looking for a few good investments.

  What is most admirable about this film is that, as Seth begins to realize the truth of the situation, he doesn't turn suddenly noble and righteous as he might in the hands of a less sophisticated author. Instead, he begins to think of ways to benefit himself financially by betraying the very scammers who have taken him into their operation. In fact, it is only after he is arrested by the FBI that Seth finally sees the need to do the right thing and to make restitution to the two men whose lives he has truly ruined - a young Wisconsin man whose marriage crumbles after he allows Seth to talk him into blowing his new-home down payment on a phony stock and Seth's own father, a morally upright federal judge, who in a moment of filial weakness, tries to help Seth with an illegal action and ends up getting implicated in the FBI probe as a result. However, Seth is not a thoroughly bad person; he is neither ruthless nor heartless, yet he has an enormous ability to rationalize his immoral actions within the common framework of achieving that instant wealth he somehow feels he is owed, despite the fact that his father certainly does not reflect that thinking. In fact, the relationship between Seth and his father underlines the moral complexity of Younger's tale. We feel for Seth because he has lived his whole life yearning to earn his father's respect yet making all the wrong choices in his quest to garner it. Yet, we also empathize with a father, caught between trying to model a sense of moral rectitude and maintain his own spotless reputation as a judge yet, at the same time, desiring to provide help for his child in need.

  And these are, after all, little more than twenty-something children dressed up as adults, an incongruity that Younger captures with uncanny brilliance. Despite the fact that they are involving themselves in million dollar deals and ruining countless lives in the process, these `men' have advanced little beyond the stage of frat-boy rambunctiousness in their behavior. We see them erupting into fistfights at local yuppie bars with similarly well-dressed members of a competing firm; we hear, pouring liberally out of their mouths, vehemently racist, woman-bashing and gay-bashing comments that solidify the exclusiveness of the world to which they belong; we witness them reciting verbatim, almost as if it were Holy Scripture, lines of dialogue from the movie that has become an emblem for their generation - not `Star Wars' but Oliver Stone's `Wall Street.'

  And, just as Younger forces us to identify with the hunger these men have for instantaneous financial success, he, even more effectively, helps us to identify with the poor ill-informed schmucks who are at the other end of the phone, being railroaded into making decisions they feel powerless to control. So bedazzled are they (and we) by the dizzying barrage of alien terminology pouring forth from the other end of the receiver that capitulation seems inevitable. For its glimpse into the inner workings of boiler rooms alone, the film earns its kudos as a fascinating experience.

  The outstanding cast is headed by Giovanni Ribisi, who creates a subtle portrait of a young man torn between his better angels - in the form of his own innate conscience and a beautiful young woman who is also a part of the firm - and the bitter demons of a morally bankrupt, value-free grab for instant wealth. The remainder of the cast is equally impressive. There is literally in this film, not a single character of potential `goodness' - not Seth, not the firm's secretary (Nia Long), not Seth's parents - who is not, at one point or another, forced to confront a great moral dilemma and found wanting. This is the kind of narrative courage that defines `Boiler Room' from beginning to end.
  
  

• This movie falls far short of Wall Street
  By on 2000-07-20
  Based on the trailer, the expectations were set high and I was hoping to see a new version of Stone's "Wall Street" or something like that. While the industry has been portrayed correctly, at least to some degree and New Jersey is full with such Boiler rooms, the language is sickening. Every other word is profanity, especially Ben Affleck's role is limited by a sparse vocabulary. In short, the script is mediocre at best, and there's plenty of foul language, and don't expect a high-profile lifestyle or exotic cars in this flick as there are only a few scenes where you can see a Ferrari. It's a boring and depressing movie and I don't recommend it.
  
  
• 'The Boiler Room' goes through the roof!
  By A3E8BTA2SXPV3P on 2000-07-23
  This film seems to cover all of the bases-fast-paced action, peerless performances, and hysterical dialogue (but a warning, they are all saturated with the vernacular of stressed-out, potty-mouthed stock brokers). Although some reviews have said the script is convoluted and lacks direction, I entirely disagree. The script contains scenes that reveal the many dilemmas that plague Seth (Giovanni Ribisi) - his struggle to gain the approval of his inhibited father, a federal judge; his fight to live with himself; and his need for redemption. It is obvious that it is quite difficult to find films that are so tightly and expertly woven these days, but overlooked films like `The Boiler Room' confirm that there are still writers and directors out there who know how to do their job competently.

  Ben Affleck has a memorable cameo as the guy who motivates the young brokers-to-be. Vin Diesel's role is small but he most definitely makes the most of all of his scenes. Nia Long plays Abby, whose role (if I must nitpick) I felt could have been developed a bit more and contained more connecting scenes with Seth. The kudos really goes to Giovanni Ribisi, who is proving that he is fast becoming one of Hollywood's hottest and most talented stars. Enigmatic in appearance and disquieting in demeanor, he takes command of every scene and delivers his lines with emotion and bite. I cannot think of another actor who could play the role of Seth as well as he did. His performance in the role of a young man struggling to come to terms with himself keeps you nailed to your seat for the entire duration of the film.

  The rap music and slightly annoying cinematography chiefly in the beginning of the film can be easily forgotten once all the primary elements are established. Don't miss this film!
  
  

• wall street for dummies
  By A168H9ZORMJ8ZV on 2002-05-14
  As a trader myself this movie is an insult to the finance industry if its objective was to portray it.
  This movie borrows its concepts from the false impression that trading is all about extremely ruthless hungry young college drop outs who are going to be "millionaires in 3 years exactly after the day they start" yeah right....
  Furthurmore, it is full of unidimensional characters who are portrayed as greedy, ruthless and violent.

  This dvd maybe mildly amusing to those whose knowledge of the industry is minimal...but please, making those silly references to Wall St by means of taking off lines from Gordon Gekko is cheesy and outdated....
  The whole idea of how the brokers make money in this movie is a joke...it involves cold calling small investors and selling them shares that arent listed yet....(would anyone actually fall for that? paleez)
  whats more? hows this for dialogue..
  "sell 20 shares" (customer)
  "your done" (broker)
  hello, dosent the customer want to know the price???
  
  

• "Do you know what 'bridge financing' is?"
  By on 2002-07-15
  Do you care? And those who DO care probably know enough about the subject to realize that it's an unfit subject for a movie. The characters in Ben Younger's *Boiler Room* know what bridge financing is, and much else: using rat-a-tat-tat monologues and dialogue, they spew an endless stream of financialese comprehensible only to stock brokers. Writer-director Younger works under the large assumption that if we're bright, or hip, or whatever, we'll be able to follow along. Maybe, maybe not . . . the bigger question, of course, is if we'd care to. But Younger, aware that many GenY nitwits don't know what an "IPO" is, throws in some gratuitous violence (one broker beats another one almost to death at a bar for no good reason), fast cars, and loud music to keep everyone's eyes from drooping. (Unfortunately, no sex scenes with the hottie love-interest, Nia Long.) The story involves the late-90's generation of stock-brats at a brokerage that sells stock in phony companies. Our conflicted "hero" is Giovanni Ribisi, pale as a sheet. He looks as if he's spent too many years holed up in the Actors Studio, what with all his half-audible Method mutterings, and requires some sun and fresh air. There's a subplot involving his relationship with his father -- he wants his daddy to love him, the poor baby -- that's strictly Amateur Night at the Movies. Finally, Younger is brave enough to acknowledge the movies he has stolen from (*Glengarry Glen Ross* is mentioned; *Wall Street* is quoted), but such honesty doesn't nullify the theft. Indeed, the director is as crooked as his characters.
  
  
• flashback of a Middle Eastern disaster
  By AMBEDBAB5ZLDS on 2000-04-20
  Definitly worth watching, I've seen it 3 times in the movies and I'm getting it on DVD as soon as it gets out. This movie gives Wall Street a challenge for best movie relating the stock market or trading in general. Vin Diesel shined in that movie and so did Ribisi. I would recommend this movie to everyone, even my friends that didn't know anything about trading loved it. It also remindes me of the tragical market disaster in the Middle East called "Soug Al-Manakh" were they were doing the exact same thing the boiler room did. Watching it made me wonder if that's the story they were portraying. This would easily make my top 10 favourite movie list. A Must see
  
  
• Half-baked, overlong, and a little boring
  By A17UL6RVPNK5IS on 2000-08-23
  "Boiler Room" is full of good ideas but does a poor job executing most of them. The firm in the film, J.T. Marlin, is interesting at first and has an authentic feel, but, by the second reel, the continuous dialogue about how the firm works, how to sell a customer, how to make money, etc. grows repetitive and sillily simplistic. The musical score, although carefully chosen to emphasize the crude, shallow, but ultra-cool lives of the characters, also becomes annoying. The few scenes where customers are "reeled" in are completely unbelievable and Affleck's scenes are especially aggravating - he chews the scenery but rants obscenely about the obvious, talks about selling as if he came out of a high-school marketing class, and his tough-guy tactics feel strained. The climax of the film is predictable and the plot devices driving Seth throughout the movie (the actual illicit mechanisms of the firm, for example) are poorly elaborated and generally not believable. The scenes between Seth and his father are moving (although his father's change of heart on certain issues late in the film seems contrived) and Nia Long is excellent as Abby. Abby's moments with Seth are involving and I wish there had been more of their complex relationship in the film. Overall, "Boiler Room" had plenty of potential, but there is a lot of style over substance in the film, and too many parts of the plot don't ring true.
  
  
• New spin on the speech-act play
  By AU0N3J18IUGCH on 2001-06-13
  You win no points comparing this to Glengarry Glen Ross(which is the subject of my thesis), as they make specific references to Mamet's play (produced 15 years ago, by the way) in the film. True, this may be the same type of story, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a story about con artists that David Mamet hasn't already written. This is new, younger, hipper, and, dare I say, funnier than it's predecessor. Vin Diesel is impressive and interesting and Giovanni Ribisi is endearing. The film is well written and the alternate ending is great. I'm not sure which ending I like better... I like them both for different reasons. I would not hesitate to call this an "art film" because it does read much like a piece of theatre.
  
  
• don't compare this movie to wall street
  By AMPMZ48UIV7K3 on 2001-06-14
  I think the BIGGEST mistake people make about this film is they expect a 'gen x' version of the film Wall Street. Well, don't.

  This film stands by itsself. Its not meant to be a remake of 'Wall Street.' They are both about the stock market, yes. They are both about ruthless yuppies, sure. But the similarities stop there.

  Boiler Room is a drama/suspense/mystery film. Its about the classic story of a son willing to do ANYTHING to prove himself to his father. Its never dull, it always keeps you guessing, and its got a 'real world' feel to it.

  So, again, watch this film like you would watch any other film. Don't try to hold it to the standard of 'Wall Street'. If you let the movie stand on its own, you'll be able to appeciate it!
  
  

• Who Was the casting director in this film?
  By AIBRTGBN07D6A on 2003-12-27
  I really hope they didn't pay a lot for the services of Giovanni Ribisi in this film because his acting is horrible. He is constantly stuttering and drooling and acting like he's confused. But this is acceptable because his performance is on par with the rest of the movie.

  These guys are filthy filthy rich, we get it. You don't need to keep beating it into our heads that they have tons of money. And the backstory about the relationship between Ribisi and his father? Who cares? It's poorly developed along with the rest of the plot.

  If you want a good movie that brings interest to an uninteresting subject, get Wall Street or Glengarry Glen Ross. "Boiler Room" is a poor second.
  
  

• Boiler Room May Boil Your Nerves
  By A1K31NF81TS0CO on 2006-07-10
  Some folks might rent or buy this DVD for its well known names, but Vin Disel and Ben Afflec play very small roles It is Giovanni Ribsi that shines. He plays a young college drop out, who turns to an in-house, illegal gambling den to help him release his inner rage and built up anxieties towards his demanding father.
  
  (SPOILERS)
  But it is his discovery of a Boiler Room operation hawking non-existent stocks and bonds for non-existent companies that really steers this movie.
  
  Fantastic interactions between the main character, and Vin Disel character. I appreciated the relationship beteen Giovanni and the secretary character, but I felt it was under-developed and weak. Could have been left out, or developed better.
  
  I saw this one in the theater, and now own on DVD, and would recommend it to any Pre-MBA student, or Wall Street wannabe. It is great training.
  
  MC White said: Check it out!
  
  
  
• Not too enjoyable
  By on 2000-07-17
  In between the Rap soundtrack, the warmed over storyline and predictable plot - there wasnt much to enjoy here. I have to say I am very unimpressed with these actors, Ribisi, Diesel and Affleck - Affleck especially trying to reprise the role of Alec Baldwin from Glengarry Glenn Ross, frankly he would be scarier reading his lines in a dress. Wall Street is a far superior film - while it is given "homage", it basically says a lot that the best scene is when the actors are repeating Michael Douglas's lines while watching the movie on TV.
  
  
• One of the Best Business Movies, Period
  By A13E1JJG6HV1YM on 2003-10-27
  When I first saw Boiler Room in the theaters, I knew nothing about the fast-paced world which was enclosed behind the doors of our nation's brokerages. Even though I know a whole lot more about this aspect of business, that is not the main reason I LOVE this movie, the acting is superb (Vin Diesel is not as bad as everyone thinks he is in this movie), the plot original, and the soundtrack absolutely pulsating.

  From the perspective of a student at a business college, this movie is highly entertaining, and if you ask anyone his is at all interested in business, you are likely to get the same response. Boiler Room does for me what Wall Street must have done for many in the 80's. This movie only helped my desire to become a stockbroker become more cemented.

  A must-see for anyone who already owns Wall Street or Glengarry Glenross and by adding Boiler Room to those two movie, you end up with the holy trinity of business films.

  The only downside to the film in Seth's relationship with his African-American secretary. The film tries too hard to examine race relations and other factors involved in dating a coworker. It should have just stuck with its examination of the lives of the young brokers, because that is what it does best!!!
  
  

• "Gecko"
  By A27QS4FWJMRG1W on 2004-02-04
  This movie surprise me.I liked how they use "Gecko"and it shows them watching Wall Street that was cool.The next best movie to Wall Street (Michael Douglas) in the stock market.
  Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi) drops out of college and stumbles upon a job to be a stock broker to make all kinds of money, everything is going well, and he is doing great,but things seen to good to be true , as he finds out what he's got himself into.With actors such as Ribisi ,Vin Diesel,Nia Long , Scott Katt and Ben Affeck as (Jim Young) some what like Alex Badwin's part in Glengarry Glen Ross similar in arrogant roles.So set the sale and Enjoy!!!!
  
  
• A Modern Day Wall Street
  By on 2004-02-07
  What Wall Street did for the '80s, Boiler Room did for the 90's. With its wonderful cast and side plots, Boiler Room showed the shady world of the flourishing chop shops during the 90's boom. The father/son relationship Seth has is heart-wrenching as is the Abby's home situation. Many lessons are to be learned through this film. For one, regardless of how shady a company is, there do exist some people in these firms who either don't know what is going on or who really have no other choice. Secondly, stop worrying about trying to impress others (even family) it just may get you into trouble.
  
  
• Wall Street for Dummies is True
  By on 2004-06-21
  If you think this movie was intelligent and the best stock market film I feel sorry for you. I can name ten better than this and even though this movie tries to become Wall Street for the 90's it incredibly falls short. Why? More than one reason. First of all the actors don't compare to those in Wall Street. Martin Sheen and Michael Douglas stole the show in Wall Street with fine, veteran acting. I didn't care for Charlie Sheen but even he was better than Giovanni Ribisi. Boiler Room was just another film thrown up to target a young audience. It has no point, no plot and the best actors were the ones shown the least. Jamie Kennedy, Nicky Katt, Ron Ripkin, Nia Long ( and the guy that played Harry ) were the sparks of the film. Ben Affleck and Vin Diesel's presence wasn't needed. Neither of them did anything of importance. All the actors in the world and the casting director picked Ribisi to be the lead? Especially when he's standing beside actors who would have played Seth ten times better? I can't see that. He may be a likeable supporting character but he wasn't strong enough to carry the role of Seth. I love interracial relationships but there is no way in the world a woman as beautiful as Nia Long would look at a room full of young men and fall for Giovanni Ribisi, who played Seth like a mindless dork.. Sorry, but I couldn't believe that. Seth was supposed to be this hustler yet he is so stupid he can't see that J.T. is a chop shop? Please! Anyway this is nothing to get hot for unless you like lackluster films that will only amount to " wannabe " status. Yes this is a wannabe Wall Street that never is or never will be.

  Don't be fooled by the great soundtrack. They used hip hop to lure you into thinking this film was hip and trendy. Once you start to watch it you see it's nothing to get excited about.
  
  

• Very edgy drama!
  By A16UUU50QH75TS on 2006-01-29
  I bought this movie because I'm a big fan of Vin Diesel. I watched it one night and found it to be a very edgy and very entertaining drama. The plot was very well developed, the characters were very well developed, and the relationship of the main character Seth (Giovanni Ribisi) with the other main characters made for some great plots with-in the plot. All the character relationships are all good for different reasons. The relationship between Seth and his father (Ron Rifkin) had such great intensity. The alliance with Greg Weinstein (Nicky Katt) changed into an excellent battle of wills. The romance with Abby (Nia Long) proved to bring a very fuzzy element to the movie. And the alliance with Chris (Diesel) shows us that Seth has one friend he can count on. Excellent performances all-around, great plot, and a very hip musical score. Highly recommended for fans of stock market type movies and Vin Diesel movies. Boiler Room starts out smokin' and never cools off!
  
  
• A Man's Movie
  By A1DQFVPUH3QM6W on 2000-05-04
  Meet Seth Davis. He wasn't big on school, but he had the smartsto set up and run his own casino. His little business would have beena model for honest gambling in a state like Nevada, but in Seth's town, it's illegal. And his Dad is a judge. Having made a tidy sum in his business, he tries to honor his Dad's wishes and moves into the more respectable profession of stockbrokering, at the little-known Long Island shop, J. T. Marlin.

  And this is where the movie begins to dazzle. It showcases the rough world of strong-arm salesmanship and the extraordinary talents of the masters of the discipline. (The philosophy is summed up in Jim's pithy insight: "A sale is made in every phone call. Either you sell the customer on your idea or he sells you on his. Either way, a sale is made.") And while Seth admires his gurus and proves himself to be an apt pupil, he also begins to unravel the corruption behind the profits and the ruined lives left in the wake of his successful seductions. What Seth does in the face of his discoveries marks the turning point of the movie and reveals the stuff men are made of. I won't tell you what happens, but I can tell you this: Go watch the movie!
  
  

• Straight Pimp
  By AN212CW3H75JH on 2000-05-18
  This movie is one of the best movies this year. Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Affleck and Vin Diesel are awesome. If you like hardcore, money talks and BS walks movies, order this today. The style and stroy are just great. Money, cars, girls, crime - it's what makes the world go round. Order it now.
  
  
• One of the more poweful movies you'll see
  By A3AHNUIIEVP9BN on 2000-08-23
  This movie blew me and my friends away. It simply emits a vibe of power, power over others, and money's power over all. Ben Affleck is amazing in his speeches and Giovanni Ribisi will blow you away. Add one of the best hip hop soundtracks to it and you have one of the best movies I've seen. BUY IT!
  
  
• Secrets And Lies
  By ATXO4UA7N1HDC on 2000-10-21
  Boiler Room: rated R, 1 hour and 50 minutes

  Inside the Boiler Room, lives a secret world, existing on the basis of corruption, treachery, and deceit. Seth Davis, the innocent newcomer, is introduced to the underground operation run by stockbrokers looking to cheat people out of their money, in hope of becoming filthy rich. Everyone in the firm is in their early 20's rapidly acquiring wealth, and none of them dare ask questions as to where their wealth comes from. Seth is the only individual curious to know how he is becoming so prosperous. A series of coincidences lead to his discovery, and eventually to his backlash against the firm. Between the time of Seth Davis' unskilled work, while in training as a stockbroker, to his mastery of the job, when he attempts to escape the fraudulence that he had once taken part in, a string of intricate details and relationships maintain a tense and entertaining atmosphere for Boiler Room. The intense environment, and heated dialogue is what makes Boiler Room such a unique and compelling film. Conversations between characters are cunning and edgy. Characters evolve from good to bad and vice versa throughout. Seth's own father takes his twists in personality, from a spiteful, stubborn, disillusioned parent, to a more sensitive, and compassionate human being. Some of these moments are a bit sappy, but never overdone, and always sincere and believable. Nearly all of Seth's friends are pompous, self-centered hypocrites, which he soon finds out through his experiences with them. He discovers who his true friends are as well, and by the end of the movie, finds out who he really is. The acting display is surprisingly good. Giovanni Ribisi as Seth does a remarkable job, clearly proving his worth, in a star-making role. Ron Rifkin does wonders with his character, as Seth's father, contributing to the reality of their relationship. And supporting actors such as Ben Afflek (Jim Young, head of the training department), Nicky Katt (Greg, ice-cold rival of Seth), and Vin Diesel (Chris, close colleague to Seth), all execute marvelous acting performances that help keep the movie together for its audience. The movie is fast paced and punchy, much like a treadmill constantly gaining momentum. By the end of the movie, it has its greatest grip on the viewer. I found myself wishing it would not end so soon. Ultimately, moral values triumph over the harsh injustices of the real world, but the damages done, can never be reversed.

  Boiler Room, directed by Ben Younger, also starring Nia Long and Tom Everett Scott, is a brilliant and captivating thriller A-.
  
  

• Hang up
  By A21PREXEN6AEXS on 2001-05-20
  The story of Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi), a young college dropout trying to make his father (Ron Rifkin) proud of him. The story starts with Seth running a successful small-time casino out of his house much to the dismay of his father when he finds out. So Seth decides to start at the bottom and become a stockbroker trainee. Alas the brokerage house is a "chop shop," one of those brokerages on the fringe that sell a variety of very risky and easily manipulated stocks to unsuspecting rubes over the phone. These include penny stocks, unregistered and letter stocks that the brokerage sells from its own inventory at a tremendous mark up. Seth starts as a cold caller while he studies for his series 7 exam (test for a broker license). Seth becomes very good at his job, but he knows something is very wrong about his employer, and that he is cheating people. But Seth is really a decent person after all and proves himself later. This film is often compared to "Wall Street," but it is really more like Glengarry Glen Ross only with stocks instead of real estate. Generally fine performances by the entire cast, good dramatic tension and realistic. The family conflicts that lie at the heart of the drama are moving. The story line bears an incredible resemblance to the book "License to Steal" by Anonymous. The moral: never never buy a stock from anyone over the phone who cold calls you. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
  
  
• And many miss the point...
  By A31LDELNWRLEAL on 2001-09-16
  Not every movie about Wall St. is supposed to be a remake of "Wall St." That wouldn't make any sense. First off, this movie is based on an actual firm that operated in Long Island a couple of years back. I've got to give the film credit. I saw this one while I was a commodity broker. I was able to predict the lines that the brokers/broker trainers were about to say so they did their research. I think that it would have benefitted the film to include scenes from other "legit" firms just so one could compare and contrast to figure out just exactly were the elements of fraud because now, every individual that's cold-called will think back to this movie. I did appreciate the appearance made by Nia Long, and the interactions between the brokers and the prospective clients were so on point. Excellent. This isn't a blockbuster hit, but it's a good movie.
  
  
• Rating depends on what you want to get out of it
  By A1A7VS5J7OR71D on 2002-03-26
  Hollywood loves Wall Street firms as they give movie producers real life drama of greed, deception, sex and all the excesses. Boiler, Room, staring Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck, Giovanni Ribisi & Nia Long, is a tale of the deceptions found in the stockbroker game, specifically with really slimy, shady operations that trade in illiquid penny stocks and leave their clients holding the bag 99% of the time. Their sole goal is to make money at the EXPENSE of clients. This stuff actually does occur in today's age so there is a bit of reality within the drama.

  I bought the DVD, having rented it already, for the following reasons.

  1) The soundtrack is great.

  2) Great Actors - fan of Ribisi and Diesel

  3) The movie accurately depicts the shenanigans and salesmanship that some firms do. All of Wall Street is about sales. It is about ringing the register because that is what generates nice, fat bonuses but this movie clearly talks about how these people understand people and their emotions.

  4) I used to work in the investment industry and I love seeing the slick willies go to work. This is plain fraud in the movie but some brokers, at reputable firms, can really lay it on!

  The core plot of the movie is about Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout who strives for approval from his father, a judge who is horrified that his son operates a 24-hour illicit casino. When an old friend visits the casino with a fellow broker, Davis is impressed by their wads of money and yellow Ferrari, and decides to join the firm. In no time he's making sales and settling into the groove of the office and all the after-hours perks, but the dream fades when Davis discovers the scam that is making all of the brokers wealthy beyond their dreams. This is not the antisocietal havoc of Fight Club, but the more deliberate mayhem that comes from greed run amok. The testosterone-junkie brokers of J.T. Marlin (the only female in the office is Abby, the receptionist and love interest, played by Nia Long) are out to make the sale, and whether that sale is legal or ethical doesn't matter...
  
  

• Glengarry Glen Ross
• Wall Street (20th Anniversary Edition)
• Rogue Trader
• Barbarians at the Gate
• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room