I remember when i had a short stint working for this telemarketing company, my boss used to always say "A sale is made on every call. Either you sell them what you are selling or they sell you an excuse." This is the message that this film hammers through: the lure of fast money and the power of persuation; you can destroy someone's life with one phonecall. Now unlike the characters in Boiler Room, im not trying to scam you out of your life savings- so stop reading these reviews and see the movie. You won't regret it. 8/10
265 Reviews
A must see film
baumer13 March 2000
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know all there is to know about the stock market. I know the basics and that could get me by until I asked people that were much more well versed and graceful when it comes to that side of business. I do know however that the stock market can be sleazy and deceitful at times and it can also be cut-throat economics. With this in mind I went into this picture with high hopes of at least a film that would teach me something about a part of life that I knew very little about. I was also intrigued because Ben Affleck looked like he had the Alec Baldwin role from Glen Gary Glen Ross, that small but explosive role where the seasoned vet comes in and tells eveyone how to sell, when to sell and what the best way to screw people out of their money is..... and hey, what do you know, I was right. Ben Affleck does have a similar role to Baldwin's. But what I wasn't expecting was the film that was before me. Boiler Room is one hell of a film and even if you know very little about stocks and bonds and insider trading and what-not, there is still plenty in here to keep you intrigued.
The actors in here, while not huge by name alone, are quite good and keep your attention. As I said earlier, Ben Affleck intrigued me the most, perhaps it isn't so much him but the character he plays. He was the cocky-know-it-all-millionaire-playboy that cares about nothing but closing the deal. He is greedy, self centered and most of all damn good at what he does. He teaches the new recruits how to become ruthless and mechanically shut off emotionally. In his world of stocks, there is no place for feelings of guilt, sorrow or pity. In his world all you have time for is greed and anxiety.... anxious to cash you next $100 000 paycheck. Ben Affleck has a small role in the film but it is an effective one.
Giovanni Ribisi plays the good guy here, Scott Caan plays a young and wealthy broker that uses his wealth and power as a way to let go of his anger by constantly getting into physical altercations. But in an impressive smaller role, the one who impressed me the most was Vin ( Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan and also the lead in Pitch Black )Diesel. He plays his character ( Chris ) right down the middle. He wants Seth ( Ribisi ) to succeed but he doesn't seem as ruthless as some of the other brokers and at the end he does something incredibly noble in the face of imminent doom, and that is what I found compelling about his character. Most of the other characters are all driven by success and money and show little compassion, but Chris ( Diesel ) does have that side to him and I enjoyed Diesel's performance quite a bit in Boiler Room.
The story is also quite intriguing and it is both fun and a little horrific to get into the heads and lives of these men as they deliberately try to ruin people's lives in the hopes of bettering their own. They fraudulently sell normal people bogus stocks to bogus companies and it doesn't matter that the people they are selling to are family, blue collar workers that want so badly to believe the American Dream has just landed in their lap that they believe anything that these total strangers are saying to them over the phone. And that gives the movie it's edge.
Boiler Room is the best movie I have seen so far in this new year. Although the new year is not even 4 months old yet, this is one film that may have a chance to make my top ten list of films for the year 2000. This is the first film for writer/director Ben Younger and at the age of 27 it looks as though this guy has a good future in the game. Not that I am comparing Younger to Spielberg or Boiler Room to Jaws, but Steven was 26 when he made Jaws and look where he is today. Again, I am not saying that Younger is following in those footsteps but it is a great film for a guy that is three years less than 30. I highly recommend this film to everyone!
8.5 out of 10.... a great triumph for Ben Younger and all involved.
The actors in here, while not huge by name alone, are quite good and keep your attention. As I said earlier, Ben Affleck intrigued me the most, perhaps it isn't so much him but the character he plays. He was the cocky-know-it-all-millionaire-playboy that cares about nothing but closing the deal. He is greedy, self centered and most of all damn good at what he does. He teaches the new recruits how to become ruthless and mechanically shut off emotionally. In his world of stocks, there is no place for feelings of guilt, sorrow or pity. In his world all you have time for is greed and anxiety.... anxious to cash you next $100 000 paycheck. Ben Affleck has a small role in the film but it is an effective one.
Giovanni Ribisi plays the good guy here, Scott Caan plays a young and wealthy broker that uses his wealth and power as a way to let go of his anger by constantly getting into physical altercations. But in an impressive smaller role, the one who impressed me the most was Vin ( Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan and also the lead in Pitch Black )Diesel. He plays his character ( Chris ) right down the middle. He wants Seth ( Ribisi ) to succeed but he doesn't seem as ruthless as some of the other brokers and at the end he does something incredibly noble in the face of imminent doom, and that is what I found compelling about his character. Most of the other characters are all driven by success and money and show little compassion, but Chris ( Diesel ) does have that side to him and I enjoyed Diesel's performance quite a bit in Boiler Room.
The story is also quite intriguing and it is both fun and a little horrific to get into the heads and lives of these men as they deliberately try to ruin people's lives in the hopes of bettering their own. They fraudulently sell normal people bogus stocks to bogus companies and it doesn't matter that the people they are selling to are family, blue collar workers that want so badly to believe the American Dream has just landed in their lap that they believe anything that these total strangers are saying to them over the phone. And that gives the movie it's edge.
Boiler Room is the best movie I have seen so far in this new year. Although the new year is not even 4 months old yet, this is one film that may have a chance to make my top ten list of films for the year 2000. This is the first film for writer/director Ben Younger and at the age of 27 it looks as though this guy has a good future in the game. Not that I am comparing Younger to Spielberg or Boiler Room to Jaws, but Steven was 26 when he made Jaws and look where he is today. Again, I am not saying that Younger is following in those footsteps but it is a great film for a guy that is three years less than 30. I highly recommend this film to everyone!
8.5 out of 10.... a great triumph for Ben Younger and all involved.
very good with some unanswered questions
blanche-225 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"Boiler Room" from 2000 is a very good film featuring some young, up and coming talent including Ben Affleck, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Scott Caan, Jamie Kennedy, Will McCormack, and Christopher Fitzgerald. Ron Rifkin has a showy role as Ribisi's father.
It's interesting that several compared this film to "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" - certainly the comparisons are valid - but someone mentioned a real-life comparison, to the Enron situation. The documentary I saw was "Enron The Smartest Guys in the Room" and I think that's an apt comparison as well.
The plot concerns a young man, Seth Davis, who makes money running a backroom casino. His father is a federal judge and the two men are distanced from one another, his father making it clear that he doesn't approve.
One night, a man comes into the casino and suggests a stockbroker job for Seth with a boutique company. Seth becomes a trainee there, and comes up against heavy competition and ruthless bosses and managers, one of whom is played by Ben Affleck and another played by Nicky Katt. He temporarily wins his father's approval as he learns how to "always be closing" with every phone call, and the art of the deal. There's just one problem - there's something a little odd about the place, and Seth can't put his finger on it. What he doesn't realize is that the business is under investigation, and the Feds have targeted someone close to Seth for information.
Interesting film and very well acted. What's scary is, this type of thing worked with Enron so I wouldn't say it's unrealistic. Greed is greed, be it in stockbrokers, corporations, or stock owners.
I felt like others, let down by the ending. I could have used another five minutes to wrap it up better.
SPOILER HERE: STOP IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE ***
Did anyone else think Seth's father set him up? Not out of anger or cruelty, but to get him out of the situation and help to bring this place down. I found it hard to believe that as a Federal judge he would go along with this IPO and say, on the phone, that he wanted to help Seth so he "wouldn't get caught" - and this is all recorded and played back to him when Seth is brought in. The Feds banked on Seth spilling his guts in order to save his father. One would think his father would believe it would go the other way and therefore wouldn't have agreed to it, but he must have seen how desperate this kid was for his love and gone along with the Feds. They were threatening to strip him of his position as a judge. Seth's father a couple of scenes earlier wanted nothing to do with Seth because it jeopardized his job.
It's interesting that several compared this film to "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" - certainly the comparisons are valid - but someone mentioned a real-life comparison, to the Enron situation. The documentary I saw was "Enron The Smartest Guys in the Room" and I think that's an apt comparison as well.
The plot concerns a young man, Seth Davis, who makes money running a backroom casino. His father is a federal judge and the two men are distanced from one another, his father making it clear that he doesn't approve.
One night, a man comes into the casino and suggests a stockbroker job for Seth with a boutique company. Seth becomes a trainee there, and comes up against heavy competition and ruthless bosses and managers, one of whom is played by Ben Affleck and another played by Nicky Katt. He temporarily wins his father's approval as he learns how to "always be closing" with every phone call, and the art of the deal. There's just one problem - there's something a little odd about the place, and Seth can't put his finger on it. What he doesn't realize is that the business is under investigation, and the Feds have targeted someone close to Seth for information.
Interesting film and very well acted. What's scary is, this type of thing worked with Enron so I wouldn't say it's unrealistic. Greed is greed, be it in stockbrokers, corporations, or stock owners.
I felt like others, let down by the ending. I could have used another five minutes to wrap it up better.
SPOILER HERE: STOP IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE ***
Did anyone else think Seth's father set him up? Not out of anger or cruelty, but to get him out of the situation and help to bring this place down. I found it hard to believe that as a Federal judge he would go along with this IPO and say, on the phone, that he wanted to help Seth so he "wouldn't get caught" - and this is all recorded and played back to him when Seth is brought in. The Feds banked on Seth spilling his guts in order to save his father. One would think his father would believe it would go the other way and therefore wouldn't have agreed to it, but he must have seen how desperate this kid was for his love and gone along with the Feds. They were threatening to strip him of his position as a judge. Seth's father a couple of scenes earlier wanted nothing to do with Seth because it jeopardized his job.
Don't see it for the wrong reasons
danger-1521 February 2000
Boiler Room is good, but not great. But most people misunderstand the plot or buy into the marketing. This is NOT ABOUT day-traders. It is about so-called Boiler Room brokerage houses ("Chop Shops").
Boiler Room has very little to do with either the GlenGary Glen Ross or Wall Street movies. Yes, it happens to quote them a few times and the "greed is good"/"ABC -- Always Be Closing" themes are part of Boiler Room, but the movie is not those movies. If you really want to know what this movie is about, read "License to Steal".
This movie is basically LtS-lite. You'll learn a lot more about how scrappy brokerages manipulate fake IPOs to make millions for their employees.
And this is not a love story and Ben Affleck is mediocre at best. You might say it is a story about the relationship between a son and father.
To sum up: If you want to learn about day trading, see Wall Street.
If you want to learn about stock chop shops, read License to Steal.
If you want a decent movie with alot of hip hop but basically an unlikable protagonist, see Boiler Room.
Boiler Room has very little to do with either the GlenGary Glen Ross or Wall Street movies. Yes, it happens to quote them a few times and the "greed is good"/"ABC -- Always Be Closing" themes are part of Boiler Room, but the movie is not those movies. If you really want to know what this movie is about, read "License to Steal".
This movie is basically LtS-lite. You'll learn a lot more about how scrappy brokerages manipulate fake IPOs to make millions for their employees.
And this is not a love story and Ben Affleck is mediocre at best. You might say it is a story about the relationship between a son and father.
To sum up: If you want to learn about day trading, see Wall Street.
If you want to learn about stock chop shops, read License to Steal.
If you want a decent movie with alot of hip hop but basically an unlikable protagonist, see Boiler Room.
The real thing
jorgen6823 July 2003
The plot in Boiler Room is true to reality. A friend of mine was telling me about an outfit he used to work for in the 80's. Worked just like JT Marlin. They switched name three times in two years. My friend called people who lived far away so he wouldn't have to run into them at the grocery store.
The way the company keeps their brokers hungry is by encouraging excessive spending, such as luxury cars, so they have to make even more money to keep up with the lifestyle.
Boiler Room has a group of young actors that all play their parts well. Giovanni Ribisi makes a good appearance, and Nia Long needs to be in more movies.
The way the company keeps their brokers hungry is by encouraging excessive spending, such as luxury cars, so they have to make even more money to keep up with the lifestyle.
Boiler Room has a group of young actors that all play their parts well. Giovanni Ribisi makes a good appearance, and Nia Long needs to be in more movies.
Thinking with Testosterone
glocksout14 August 2006
Boiler Room is basically about a young college drop-out, played by Giovanni Ribisi, who is seeking the quick way to the top. He starts an illegal gambling casino in his home, but is soon offered a job as a stock broker. This is a fast-paced occupation full of young guys who don't know what to do with their money. They gamble constantly, they party constantly; drugs, women and cars. On the surface, this is easily brushed off as a formulaic, pop-culture movie. If you pay attention though, this is a lot more than that. The subtext for this story is the relationship Ribisi has with his father. This relationship holds a lot of tension, and through the film goes through many changes both positive and negative, and culminates in a tear-jerking revelation. I'll admit it, I almost cried. But there is also a lot more going on here, most notably the story of one of Ribisi's clients who had domestic problems he had to face with his wife and children. His performance was impressive, and you really felt for him.
Makes You Hate Overly Pushy Salespeople and Telemarketers!
jbartelone23 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Boiler Room tells the dramatic story of a young college dropout who runs a successful casino from his home, but is looking for bigger and better things. Giovanni Ribisi plays the main character who joins a major stock brokerage firm, promising great success and rewards to its employees. The problem, the leaders, all seemingly under 35, are so arrogant and conceited that they engage in some of the most immoral and unethical business practices imaginable. When Ribisi sees how a client he handled gets swindled into losing his life savings, he does investigations of his own, and in the end, the FBI raids the company.
Boiler Room does suffer a bit, not for lack of suspense. These things, shockingly could happen, but we do have some very conceited, arrogant punks as main characters who are growing up too fast, vulgar, cruel, and even disrespectful to their own employees without any sense of right and wrong. Credibility is strained, and Seth (Giovanni's character) should have realized that these bastards were up to no good right from his first day at the firm. Many questions are left unanswered as to how people with such a prick attitude got their positions in the first place. I was bothered by the characters of Michael the firm's leader, and his main brokerage trainer Greg. These two do not represent any positive leadership. I would hope that teens and young adults watching this film understand the way that these pricks conducted business was reprehensible.
The main problem with Boiler Room is that there is such a disdain for the heads of the firm, with their deception and brain-washing business practices, that the anger you feel with them picking fights, and basically being a$$holes to most everyone around them, detracts from the suspense of the movie. When Seth tries to make amends by trying to get back the money that his client lost in the end, it's a little too late to care. Additionally, the rap music did not coincide well with the dialog or scenes in which it was used.
However, you will hate overly pushy salespeople and telemarketers after watching this film! The phone dialogs are decent, quick, and sharp. Unfortunately, there is still a cruel edge on the other characters, except Ribisi, which seems to make Boiler Room not quite as good as it could have been.
Boiler Room does suffer a bit, not for lack of suspense. These things, shockingly could happen, but we do have some very conceited, arrogant punks as main characters who are growing up too fast, vulgar, cruel, and even disrespectful to their own employees without any sense of right and wrong. Credibility is strained, and Seth (Giovanni's character) should have realized that these bastards were up to no good right from his first day at the firm. Many questions are left unanswered as to how people with such a prick attitude got their positions in the first place. I was bothered by the characters of Michael the firm's leader, and his main brokerage trainer Greg. These two do not represent any positive leadership. I would hope that teens and young adults watching this film understand the way that these pricks conducted business was reprehensible.
The main problem with Boiler Room is that there is such a disdain for the heads of the firm, with their deception and brain-washing business practices, that the anger you feel with them picking fights, and basically being a$$holes to most everyone around them, detracts from the suspense of the movie. When Seth tries to make amends by trying to get back the money that his client lost in the end, it's a little too late to care. Additionally, the rap music did not coincide well with the dialog or scenes in which it was used.
However, you will hate overly pushy salespeople and telemarketers after watching this film! The phone dialogs are decent, quick, and sharp. Unfortunately, there is still a cruel edge on the other characters, except Ribisi, which seems to make Boiler Room not quite as good as it could have been.
A very very very good film
yevonwm1 October 2010
I'll sum this film up in 5 words, 'on par with fight club'.
This is a great film, every second of this film is worth 9/10. I'll start with the films flaws. Firstly, the main character is very weak, I'm not sure whether it's poor writing or bad acting but he just comes across as an idiot rather than the deep, flawed, entrepreneur that the film wanted to portray. Secondly, even in the year 2,000 floppy disks were an ageing technology, without giving much away there's a scene where an entire companies data is copied to a floppy disk. The film includes a lot of central characters and doesn't provide any back-story for any of them, this wouldn't be so much of a problem if the central character wasn't so weak but by the end of it you feel as though you haven't seen a single character develop or even begin to understood any of the characters but you have just seen a good film.
Praise: This film is amazing. The film really captures the desires of society and gives them a face. The characters really convey the shallow two facedness you come across every day where they're happy and pleasant until something happens that could even remotely damage their cash flow. Every person you've ever met that wanted to make a quick buck is in this film, the consumerism and lack of social conscience that constantly plagues society is so prevalent in this film. It also approaches the topic of share trading from a much more accessible angle, they don't put much effort into adding the right industry terms or showing scenes of the NY stock exchange - they show the consequences of share trading, the lack of understanding of the average consumer and give you a better understanding of where the money comes from. If you're anything like me then this film takes you on a ride where you are the main character every step of the way until finally you return to life with a much deeper understanding of the desires people succumb to in modern society. This film includes very young appearances by a lot of famous actors, Ben Affleck, Vin Diesel etc. who all pull their weight to give life to the film. I'm explaining the film in a very stale way but I can't help it, it's on par with 'fight club' - you can't explain why the film is good in a way that does it justice, just watch 2 hours of cinema that will improve your quality of life.
This is a great film, every second of this film is worth 9/10. I'll start with the films flaws. Firstly, the main character is very weak, I'm not sure whether it's poor writing or bad acting but he just comes across as an idiot rather than the deep, flawed, entrepreneur that the film wanted to portray. Secondly, even in the year 2,000 floppy disks were an ageing technology, without giving much away there's a scene where an entire companies data is copied to a floppy disk. The film includes a lot of central characters and doesn't provide any back-story for any of them, this wouldn't be so much of a problem if the central character wasn't so weak but by the end of it you feel as though you haven't seen a single character develop or even begin to understood any of the characters but you have just seen a good film.
Praise: This film is amazing. The film really captures the desires of society and gives them a face. The characters really convey the shallow two facedness you come across every day where they're happy and pleasant until something happens that could even remotely damage their cash flow. Every person you've ever met that wanted to make a quick buck is in this film, the consumerism and lack of social conscience that constantly plagues society is so prevalent in this film. It also approaches the topic of share trading from a much more accessible angle, they don't put much effort into adding the right industry terms or showing scenes of the NY stock exchange - they show the consequences of share trading, the lack of understanding of the average consumer and give you a better understanding of where the money comes from. If you're anything like me then this film takes you on a ride where you are the main character every step of the way until finally you return to life with a much deeper understanding of the desires people succumb to in modern society. This film includes very young appearances by a lot of famous actors, Ben Affleck, Vin Diesel etc. who all pull their weight to give life to the film. I'm explaining the film in a very stale way but I can't help it, it's on par with 'fight club' - you can't explain why the film is good in a way that does it justice, just watch 2 hours of cinema that will improve your quality of life.
Surprisingly entertaining
Antithesys12 September 2000
Boiler Room showcases Giovanni Ribisi's best performance so far; he's shaping up to be a pretty big star. His performance and others keep this movie entertaining, and it stays entertaining throughout, despite a plot that derails near the end. Since the movie is about stockbrokers, it gets pretty technical and wordy, but it's not necessary to understand it all; just go along for the ride and Boiler Room is effective and enjoyable.
These Guys Can Act!
TimeaSiesta3 August 2006
The large and well-selected cast turned in very powerful performances. They crafted a convincing range of emotions, from cunning cut-throat manipulators of their clients' personal wealth during office hours, to brief examples of their "boys will be boys" shenanigans after hours. The story line is built completely around their personal financial greed, the hapless victims they scammed to realize it (with the greatest focus on one of them), and a well-sustained sense of mystery that plants seeds of possibilities along the way. The ending was not at all predictable; it could have gone in any of several directions. The viewer gets the impression that if these predators could yank even the last remaining penny out of a client on his (they targeted males) deathbed, they'd gleefully do so and view it as a major coup giving them full bragging rights. There's a hint of information about how legitimate stockbrokers earn their credentials and that was enlightening. The romantic angles are minimalized and that serves to benefit the film. The language is consistently coarse, but certainly seemed realistic for the characters' ages, their business sector and their work ethic. For everyone who enjoyed "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Wall Street" (both of which are alluded to in the film), or even more appropriately "The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron," this feature will really score a bulls-eye.
Good Movie. Nice Acting. Not Realistic Though.
Blackace21 August 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Can't really say too many bad things about this movie. It was actually pretty decent, if a little far fetched. Giovanni Ribisi plays Seth Davis. The guy who wants to be rich, fast. He runs a 24/7 casino out of his apartment and it's pretty funny to see customers knock on his door early in the morning to gamble. Everything is running pretty smoothly and even though his father (the judge) doesn't approve, he doesn't turn him in either. An old acquaintance stops by with a buddy. Tells Seth that they like to recruit him into their firm. Nothing is said as to WHY Seth is the right guy for the job. Maybe it's because he's running a successful casino in his apartment. Still, his friend Adam (Jamie Kennedy) and the recruiter (Greg - Nicky Katt) don't tell us why. So Seth, after cleaning Greg out of some cash at the casino table, takes the offer and head to the interview the next day. There they meet Jim (Ben Affleck) who dismisses two people right of the bat. I won't tell you why. See the movie. Affleck is excellent in these type of roles. Like his counter part Matt Damon, Ben is great at speak loud and fast with lots of emotion. He give the interviewees the load down on how to make a million dollars just 3 years. Everyone buys the pitch and it's off to training.
**** Light Spoilers ****
Seth does his three months of training under the mean spirited Greg who thinks that Seth is out to steal his old girlfriend Abbie (Nia Long). Even though Abbie dumped Greg weeks ago and is taking a liking to Seth. Still Greg believe that Seth is trying to step over him as Seth starts to close stock deals at a rapid rate. Everything is going smoothly until Seth becomes suspicious after seeing a co-worker who runs the books, shredding documents. Then he sees Michael (Tom Everett Scott) looking for a larger leasing office. Nothing is mention about how Michael because CEO of the company, but everyone respects his leadership none the less. When FBI agents start getting involved things turn for the worse. I won't give anymore of it away. You'll just have to see it for yourself.
The only thing I didn't like about the film was the way it ended. I would have liked it to have gone on for another 10-15 mins to see what ended up happening in the office. The "original ending" on the DVD was even worse. Again, you really want to see the next 10-15 mins after the movie ends. Also, the premise was really far fetched. The firm seemed to have been around for a long time and I find it very hard to believe that people would buy stocks over the phone with a company that's not recognizable. Even if they are recognizable, most high stock purchasers either already have a broker or do it themselves online. Also, the people who were losing all this money would have eventually hired a detective to investigate the situation. I can see it happening, but not on the scale that was involved in the movie. Rich people aren't as dumb as the film made them out to be. I would also think that the employees calling would wonder why they are selling stock for companies that are going out of business. Also the "rips - (commission)" were way to high.
Overall the movie is worth a rental. It's worth watching a couple of times. I own the DVD, but will probably sell it after a couple more viewings. I gave it a 7 out of 10.
**** Light Spoilers ****
Seth does his three months of training under the mean spirited Greg who thinks that Seth is out to steal his old girlfriend Abbie (Nia Long). Even though Abbie dumped Greg weeks ago and is taking a liking to Seth. Still Greg believe that Seth is trying to step over him as Seth starts to close stock deals at a rapid rate. Everything is going smoothly until Seth becomes suspicious after seeing a co-worker who runs the books, shredding documents. Then he sees Michael (Tom Everett Scott) looking for a larger leasing office. Nothing is mention about how Michael because CEO of the company, but everyone respects his leadership none the less. When FBI agents start getting involved things turn for the worse. I won't give anymore of it away. You'll just have to see it for yourself.
The only thing I didn't like about the film was the way it ended. I would have liked it to have gone on for another 10-15 mins to see what ended up happening in the office. The "original ending" on the DVD was even worse. Again, you really want to see the next 10-15 mins after the movie ends. Also, the premise was really far fetched. The firm seemed to have been around for a long time and I find it very hard to believe that people would buy stocks over the phone with a company that's not recognizable. Even if they are recognizable, most high stock purchasers either already have a broker or do it themselves online. Also, the people who were losing all this money would have eventually hired a detective to investigate the situation. I can see it happening, but not on the scale that was involved in the movie. Rich people aren't as dumb as the film made them out to be. I would also think that the employees calling would wonder why they are selling stock for companies that are going out of business. Also the "rips - (commission)" were way to high.
Overall the movie is worth a rental. It's worth watching a couple of times. I own the DVD, but will probably sell it after a couple more viewings. I gave it a 7 out of 10.
Very impressed
stephie-1226 November 2003
Although Giovanni Ribisi is the main character, Seth, one of the most outstanding performances is by Vin Diesel as Chris. In Boiler Room he shows that he is more than muscle as he acts his pants off! If you like Wall Street, you will love this - there is even a tribute to it in the movie. An intelligent movie dealing with the desire to get rich quick, regardless of the consequences. A must see!
A Scarily Realistic Look at '90's Male Envy
noralee28 October 2005
"Boiler Room" is the first movie since "Kids" that I watched with increasing fear about the implications for my sons.
Maybe it was that I was watching it literally blocks from where a good portion of the movie takes place in Kew Gardens Hills, with a packed age and gender mixed audience that could relate to the very realistic locale, including the transportation references to the broker's site way out on the L.I.E., and the very, very blunt NY way of talking ethnic blues and disparagement slang.
The movie would be paired well with "Fight Club" as it shows what happens when testosterone in today's society gets out of control, but scarier because it's not a satire or fantasy. Here it was so grounded in reality that it was absolutely frightening; I kept saying a prayer over and over "Please God, don't let my sons turn out like this." I came home and pinned my 15 year old and lectured him about money not being everything and that he should never let himself get entrapped in an unethical situation.
There are some plot points that don't quite work, with the guy's father (DA Morgenthau in yesterday's New York Times decried the legal aspects as ridiculous), but I did appreciate the novelty today of a script that has a guy see the moral light not through the cliché of the love of a good woman (the only woman here is as ethically compromised as he is for similar motivations) but rather of love for his father (reminded me of "East of Eden" a smidgen).
Ben Affleck is in the movie for only minutes, but is effective. Ribisi is absolutely fantastic, and his relationship with Ron Rifkin as the father quite believable. Vin Diesel was so good (he almost makes us believe that he's Italian-American though he's clearly something else) that now I'd be willing to see his action movies.
Some critics have disparaged that this is just a junior "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" -- but the touchstones those movies as karaoke provide are key to this movie. First, this is very much about the '90's and '00's for a younger generation, complete with very hip hop soundtrack (another popular cultural push about get-rich-quick-myths).
Second, I just read a history on the impact of 19th century self-improvement books, and this shows that these movies are functioning like that (shades of Gen X's who learn history from movies like Stone's "JFK").
Writer/director Younger evidently used to work in the NYC Comptroller's office so has a handle on financial dealings that made sense to me. What also scared me were the aspects of the closing the deal that are shades similar to what I deal with daily in the nonprofit world.
The unethical win when the ethical envy them.
(originally written 2/27/2000)
Maybe it was that I was watching it literally blocks from where a good portion of the movie takes place in Kew Gardens Hills, with a packed age and gender mixed audience that could relate to the very realistic locale, including the transportation references to the broker's site way out on the L.I.E., and the very, very blunt NY way of talking ethnic blues and disparagement slang.
The movie would be paired well with "Fight Club" as it shows what happens when testosterone in today's society gets out of control, but scarier because it's not a satire or fantasy. Here it was so grounded in reality that it was absolutely frightening; I kept saying a prayer over and over "Please God, don't let my sons turn out like this." I came home and pinned my 15 year old and lectured him about money not being everything and that he should never let himself get entrapped in an unethical situation.
There are some plot points that don't quite work, with the guy's father (DA Morgenthau in yesterday's New York Times decried the legal aspects as ridiculous), but I did appreciate the novelty today of a script that has a guy see the moral light not through the cliché of the love of a good woman (the only woman here is as ethically compromised as he is for similar motivations) but rather of love for his father (reminded me of "East of Eden" a smidgen).
Ben Affleck is in the movie for only minutes, but is effective. Ribisi is absolutely fantastic, and his relationship with Ron Rifkin as the father quite believable. Vin Diesel was so good (he almost makes us believe that he's Italian-American though he's clearly something else) that now I'd be willing to see his action movies.
Some critics have disparaged that this is just a junior "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" -- but the touchstones those movies as karaoke provide are key to this movie. First, this is very much about the '90's and '00's for a younger generation, complete with very hip hop soundtrack (another popular cultural push about get-rich-quick-myths).
Second, I just read a history on the impact of 19th century self-improvement books, and this shows that these movies are functioning like that (shades of Gen X's who learn history from movies like Stone's "JFK").
Writer/director Younger evidently used to work in the NYC Comptroller's office so has a handle on financial dealings that made sense to me. What also scared me were the aspects of the closing the deal that are shades similar to what I deal with daily in the nonprofit world.
The unethical win when the ethical envy them.
(originally written 2/27/2000)
Over egged
Critical Eye UK18 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
As over-heated as its title suggests though more wasteful of energy than a leaking kettle, 'Boiler Room' at least manages to duplicate the efforts of its characters by promising much but delivering nothing.
Though ostensibly an insider view of Wall Street trading and an explanation of why the word 'stockbroker' has come to rank alongside 'double glazing salesman', the movie actually ducks the subject altogether and instead yields a one-note narrative about a criminal scam practised by a bunch of unappealing yobs who may well have a lifestyle that only the super-rich can afford yet on this evidence appear to exist in an unfurnished house watching TV re-runs of Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen showing how it was really done, way back when.
Such referencing isn't merely embarrassing. Here, it's downright disastrous, for not only is 'Wall Street' plundered to no effect but Mamet's searing 'Glengarry Glenross' is also dragged in, book-ended by dialog that was fresh when Lemon and Mamet handled it but in this outing is tedious to the point of being vapid.
The plot, such as it is, falls down more often than a drunk trader celebrating a Morgan Stanley bonus: the leading character's father is a judge at great pains to protect his reputation, yet makes no effort to check out the provenance of his son's place of employment; the FBI is investigating his son, but no convincing explanation is ever given as to why it should be trying to gather the dirt on him when evidence in abundance exists where every other employee is concerned; the lead character's girlfriend is, or is not, an FBI informer, though it's impossible to care either way; the scam involves the creation of non-existent pharmaceutical companies which nevertheless inexplicably feature in the stocks reporting in the financial pages of major newspapers.
With nothing whatever to hang on to other than a preposterously sentimentalised relationship with his screen father, Giovanni Ribisi struggles hard to make his character engaging, but fails, largely because there's no sense of loss for the audience to share in come the denouement Ribisi's character starts the movie with a Volvo station wagon and finishes the movie with a Volvo station wagon, none of the riches-beyond-imagination to which the movie frequently refers seemingly coming his way.
At a running time of 115 minutes, 'Boiler Room' is 105 minutes longer than a sequence in 'The Sopranos' in which Christopher presides over a not dissimilar operation and his two psychotic henchmen beat up a trader who is actually trying to do an honest job of work.
As 'The Sopranos' achieved more impact with that throw-away sequence than anything managed by 'Boiler Room', it's pretty clear that this is a movie that certainly doesn't warrant any kind of 'buy' recommendation.
Though ostensibly an insider view of Wall Street trading and an explanation of why the word 'stockbroker' has come to rank alongside 'double glazing salesman', the movie actually ducks the subject altogether and instead yields a one-note narrative about a criminal scam practised by a bunch of unappealing yobs who may well have a lifestyle that only the super-rich can afford yet on this evidence appear to exist in an unfurnished house watching TV re-runs of Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen showing how it was really done, way back when.
Such referencing isn't merely embarrassing. Here, it's downright disastrous, for not only is 'Wall Street' plundered to no effect but Mamet's searing 'Glengarry Glenross' is also dragged in, book-ended by dialog that was fresh when Lemon and Mamet handled it but in this outing is tedious to the point of being vapid.
The plot, such as it is, falls down more often than a drunk trader celebrating a Morgan Stanley bonus: the leading character's father is a judge at great pains to protect his reputation, yet makes no effort to check out the provenance of his son's place of employment; the FBI is investigating his son, but no convincing explanation is ever given as to why it should be trying to gather the dirt on him when evidence in abundance exists where every other employee is concerned; the lead character's girlfriend is, or is not, an FBI informer, though it's impossible to care either way; the scam involves the creation of non-existent pharmaceutical companies which nevertheless inexplicably feature in the stocks reporting in the financial pages of major newspapers.
With nothing whatever to hang on to other than a preposterously sentimentalised relationship with his screen father, Giovanni Ribisi struggles hard to make his character engaging, but fails, largely because there's no sense of loss for the audience to share in come the denouement Ribisi's character starts the movie with a Volvo station wagon and finishes the movie with a Volvo station wagon, none of the riches-beyond-imagination to which the movie frequently refers seemingly coming his way.
At a running time of 115 minutes, 'Boiler Room' is 105 minutes longer than a sequence in 'The Sopranos' in which Christopher presides over a not dissimilar operation and his two psychotic henchmen beat up a trader who is actually trying to do an honest job of work.
As 'The Sopranos' achieved more impact with that throw-away sequence than anything managed by 'Boiler Room', it's pretty clear that this is a movie that certainly doesn't warrant any kind of 'buy' recommendation.
Great movie but disappointing ending !
mluzipo18 January 2001
Great movie, I really enjoyed the most of it except the ending. The producer got it right until that last 30 minutes or so. It lost pace and drama, and I was definitely not expecting the movie to end like that.I would have liked to see the policeman coming and rocking the boiler room. I would have also liked to see just how far Nia Long would have gone with her complicated love life. Great movie but pathetic ending !!!!
A great original story.
chrisbrown645310 August 2000
Boiler Room is a nice refreshing change from the same old rekindled story. Seth (Ribisi), is a free spirited, self-employed young man whom just happens to run a illegal casino from his home; a very profitable one I might add. When he is visited by a friend that is a stock broker, he is talked into a career change. Ribisi is joined by an great cast including Vin Diesel (Chris), Tom Everett Scott (Michael), and Nia Long (Abby). The main reason I went to the theater to see this movie, was Ben Affleck. Well to my surprise, Affleck was just a minor part of the movie, all be it a GREAT part! Some of the funniest parts of this movie are when Chris, and Michael are talking smack to each other about their backgrounds. It is very funny stuff, and I know that Vin Diesel fans will enjoy this film. My opinion is that you head out to your local Hollywood Video and rent this one.
Boiler Room's a SIZZLER!
jessestlr16 August 2001
Boiler Room rocks! Except for the average acting, this film is flawless. Younger's script is absolutely outstanding. It takes us inside on what's happening and not happening. Not only does it show the life of the broker, like most do, it shows the life of the shambled investor in a capatalist world where the innocent get punished more than the guilty. This movie knows how to entertain. It not only is drama, it is a superb thriller as well. When I said at the top about the average acting, there are a few exceptions, the major one is Ben Affleck. He isn't in this one a long time, but this is the best performance he's given. He's terrifying! And this guy's a good actor, so his best perfomance means something. Also there's a really good perfomance from Nicky Katt from Boston Public. This is a guy who just fits into his roles so easily you gorget it's him. THAT'S good acting. This movie deserved a much better award season than it got. Boiler Room is a solid 9.
Dramatic, enjoyable, true life depiction.
casablancan25 May 2000
Its tough to make a realistic film of any subject and produce a piece of enjoyable, believable cinema. Its done well here, to the point that many of the viewers will disbelieve the gaul and gullability of the characters. This is how it is in the scam- world of finance (its all a scam, we just need it).
I take 3 points away from this film because all of the sub-plots make no sense and the cinematography is terrible. (Out of focus so much my eyes hurt!).
Deserves a place on everybody's DVD shelf.
I take 3 points away from this film because all of the sub-plots make no sense and the cinematography is terrible. (Out of focus so much my eyes hurt!).
Deserves a place on everybody's DVD shelf.
One of the BEST cult films of the decade
jfmvp31 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
If you're on IMDb and reading this review, I'm sure you know what a "cult" film is ("Donnie Darko" and "The Boondock Saints" are prime examples), and "Boiler Room" has become exactly that. It's a niche movie for 18-30 year old men who are frustrated with the grind, and would prefer an easier, quicker way to riches. "Boiler Room" also has some of the pent up male aggression that was astutely highlighted in "Fight Club."
As Seth Davis, Giovanni Ribisi plays the lead in this film. While his performance is solid and adequate in handling the most screen time, he is not the star of the show. Ben Affleck (as Jim Young), Nicky Katt (as Greg Weinstein), and Vin Diesel (as Chris Varick) provide the standout efforts of this ensemble cast.
Affleck, in an ode to Alec Baldwin's character in "Glengarry Glen Ross," is slick-talking, persuasive, and funny at the same time. Along with his work in "Good Will Hunting," this is one of the best performances of his interesting on-screen career. The same can be said of Diesel who, for once, doesn't appear to be out of sync or awkward in the delivery of his lines. His performance is smooth and a very, very pleasant surprise.
Katt is the sleeper of the trio (seen in smaller roles in "The Brave One" and "Insomnia"), and I like his attitude and confidence in the Weinstein role. He showcases the ability to handle a significant workload, and it's unfortunate that he hasn't garnered more screen time in subsequent movies. I doubt he was too happy going uncredited in "The Dark Knight."
Getting back to "Boiler Room," youthful director Ben Younger does an outstanding job with pacing. This film blurs by without ever feeling too light or heavy, and Younger coaxes superb performances from his cast. The ensemble seems very comfortable working off each other, and Younger deserves credit for finding the right dynamic.
Unfortunately for Younger, like Katt, he hasn't found subsequent success. That's disappointing to me, because the former flashes a great deal of promise with "Boiler Room." It's one of my favorite lower-budget films of the decade, and it's a shame that it didn't make a little more money. When crap like "Transformers II" smashes in the box office, it makes you feel for quality movies that flop.
It is what it is though, and "Boiler Room" gets a big thumbs up from me.
As Seth Davis, Giovanni Ribisi plays the lead in this film. While his performance is solid and adequate in handling the most screen time, he is not the star of the show. Ben Affleck (as Jim Young), Nicky Katt (as Greg Weinstein), and Vin Diesel (as Chris Varick) provide the standout efforts of this ensemble cast.
Affleck, in an ode to Alec Baldwin's character in "Glengarry Glen Ross," is slick-talking, persuasive, and funny at the same time. Along with his work in "Good Will Hunting," this is one of the best performances of his interesting on-screen career. The same can be said of Diesel who, for once, doesn't appear to be out of sync or awkward in the delivery of his lines. His performance is smooth and a very, very pleasant surprise.
Katt is the sleeper of the trio (seen in smaller roles in "The Brave One" and "Insomnia"), and I like his attitude and confidence in the Weinstein role. He showcases the ability to handle a significant workload, and it's unfortunate that he hasn't garnered more screen time in subsequent movies. I doubt he was too happy going uncredited in "The Dark Knight."
Getting back to "Boiler Room," youthful director Ben Younger does an outstanding job with pacing. This film blurs by without ever feeling too light or heavy, and Younger coaxes superb performances from his cast. The ensemble seems very comfortable working off each other, and Younger deserves credit for finding the right dynamic.
Unfortunately for Younger, like Katt, he hasn't found subsequent success. That's disappointing to me, because the former flashes a great deal of promise with "Boiler Room." It's one of my favorite lower-budget films of the decade, and it's a shame that it didn't make a little more money. When crap like "Transformers II" smashes in the box office, it makes you feel for quality movies that flop.
It is what it is though, and "Boiler Room" gets a big thumbs up from me.
Be Careful of the Job You Choose !
whpratt111 June 2006
This was a very interesting film that had some comedy and some drama and starred Giovanni Ribisi,(Seth Davis),"The Big White",'05, who plays a young man who decides to quit college which upsets his father, who is a Judge in the court system of NYC. Seth decides to go into the brokerage business with very little experience in the world of finance and becomes deeply involved with his new career. This stock firm operates very differently and sort of bends the Wall Street way of doing things, so to speak. Seth meets up with Nia Long,(Abbie Halpert),"Are You There Yet?",'05 and becomes very deeply involved with Abbie, at one point in their conversation together, Seth tells Abbie, "How About some Sweet Chocolate Love?". This is a very entertaining film and has an ending you will not be able to figure out until the very ending. Enjoy.
Depressing, yet hard edged
Quinoa198423 June 2000
This film owes a credit to Glengarry Glenn Ross and Wall Street, but I actually liked this better. Why? Because it seemed more real to me (the script and acting probably did it) than the other films. I liked the Giovanni Ribisi character, who changes slightly through the film, but eventually we see the real side of him, which is great. Funny, thrilling and cool, this film may not be for the weak at heart, but it is for anyone who can afford the tickets. Ben Affleck appears (in one of his better performances) as Ribisi's showy and pushy boss at the stock place. One of the better films (top 20) of the new year. A+
The excellent performance by Giovanni Ribisi alone makes this film worth seeing.
ronell30 April 2000
I think anyone who has had any sales experience will appreciate this film. These guys are good at what they do, even though they are destroying peoples lives. This is not an inside look at how a stock brokerage works, but how a legitimate looking business can actually be a telemarketing scam. References are made to "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Wall Street" which may not have been a good idea since this film is not in the same league, thus highlighting its shortcomings.
The big plus for this movie is Giovanni Ribisi, a very low key performance that added credibility to his character and drew sympathy from the audience. On the minus side, the constant barrage of profanity and the prejudiced views expressed by some of the characters was very offensive, and the uninspired soundtrack will not make it into my CD collection.
The big plus for this movie is Giovanni Ribisi, a very low key performance that added credibility to his character and drew sympathy from the audience. On the minus side, the constant barrage of profanity and the prejudiced views expressed by some of the characters was very offensive, and the uninspired soundtrack will not make it into my CD collection.
The Minor Leagues Of Corruption
bkoganbing24 January 2010
Back in the old days what Giovanni Ribisi went to work at was euphemistically termed a 'bucket shop' and the practice of holding onto profits and never really paying except in select instances was referred to as 'bucketing'. The regulations put in during the New Deal curbed them somewhat, but the deregulation that occurred during the Reagan Years put operations like these back in business. That and telemarketing did the rest.
Our protagonist in this film is Giovanni Ribisi who's a kid that I can somewhat identify with, one who can't seem to please his rather stern father, Ron Rifkin, who also happens to be a federal judge. He'd like for Ribisi to get into traditional professions like law or medicine, but Ribisi is a child of his era and is on the lookout for a quick buck. That he gets from his current endeavor which is running a small casino out of his apartment. Though illegal Ribisi runs it honestly, but that fact makes no never mind to Rifkin.
One of his steady patrons, Nicky Katt, interests him in going to work at his brokerage house which is not located in the heart of Wall Street, but out on Long Island.
Gordon Gekko would be proud of this bunch, trained by Ben Affleck who lives the Gekko creed from Wall Street of 'greed is good'. But this crowd could never get in Michael Douglas's front door, remember what a hard time Charlie Sheen had in Wall Street. You've got your list of prospects, aka suckers, and you get on the phone and sell, Sell, SELL, but only what you want sold in a given period. The activity drives up the price and then it deflates, but not before the broker gives out. On Wall Street, it's called 'kiting' a stock.
Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko takes us to the rarefied world of big time Wall Street corruption. These guys are the minor leagues of the same sport. Ribisi as he soon finds out was living more honorably as a casino entrepreneur. But he can't get out mainly because dad seems to have somewhat changed his attitude. And Rifkin's respect is all he wants.
Boiler Room works best during the scenes with Rifkin and Ribisi, their up and down relationship is the key to the whole film. Other performances to watch out for are Nia Long as the secretary clearing $80,000.00 a year because of her insider information, Vin Diesel as a cheery hedonistic sort of bucketeer, and Nicky Katt is a more intense variety of the same breed.
The one to really watch out for is Ben Affleck. It's a small part, but Affleck does wonders with it. Now this is a man who could really have made it Gekko's world and wouldn't have had the trouble that Charlie Sheen had crashing it or the conscience pangs after he discovers what it's all about. Affleck should have gotten Oscar consideration in the Supporting Actor category.
In fact the whole film is sadly overlooked, don't miss it if it is ever broadcast.
Our protagonist in this film is Giovanni Ribisi who's a kid that I can somewhat identify with, one who can't seem to please his rather stern father, Ron Rifkin, who also happens to be a federal judge. He'd like for Ribisi to get into traditional professions like law or medicine, but Ribisi is a child of his era and is on the lookout for a quick buck. That he gets from his current endeavor which is running a small casino out of his apartment. Though illegal Ribisi runs it honestly, but that fact makes no never mind to Rifkin.
One of his steady patrons, Nicky Katt, interests him in going to work at his brokerage house which is not located in the heart of Wall Street, but out on Long Island.
Gordon Gekko would be proud of this bunch, trained by Ben Affleck who lives the Gekko creed from Wall Street of 'greed is good'. But this crowd could never get in Michael Douglas's front door, remember what a hard time Charlie Sheen had in Wall Street. You've got your list of prospects, aka suckers, and you get on the phone and sell, Sell, SELL, but only what you want sold in a given period. The activity drives up the price and then it deflates, but not before the broker gives out. On Wall Street, it's called 'kiting' a stock.
Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko takes us to the rarefied world of big time Wall Street corruption. These guys are the minor leagues of the same sport. Ribisi as he soon finds out was living more honorably as a casino entrepreneur. But he can't get out mainly because dad seems to have somewhat changed his attitude. And Rifkin's respect is all he wants.
Boiler Room works best during the scenes with Rifkin and Ribisi, their up and down relationship is the key to the whole film. Other performances to watch out for are Nia Long as the secretary clearing $80,000.00 a year because of her insider information, Vin Diesel as a cheery hedonistic sort of bucketeer, and Nicky Katt is a more intense variety of the same breed.
The one to really watch out for is Ben Affleck. It's a small part, but Affleck does wonders with it. Now this is a man who could really have made it Gekko's world and wouldn't have had the trouble that Charlie Sheen had crashing it or the conscience pangs after he discovers what it's all about. Affleck should have gotten Oscar consideration in the Supporting Actor category.
In fact the whole film is sadly overlooked, don't miss it if it is ever broadcast.
Well done!
buiger26 January 2010
I agree with both Ebert and Berardinelli with their view on this movie. This was a very well made film, one can see that a lot of effort has gone into making it by the Director, a lot of motivation. This is a compelling, very realistic motion picture about real life, with real, multi-layered characters we can feel for, we can love, hate or sympathize with. The acting is very good throughout, especially Ron Rifkin, Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck. If I would have to find a small fault in this movie, I must confess i believe that Ribisi is miscast (even though he does his best to play the part as well as possible). The ending of the film leaves some questions unanswered for the attentive viewer, but all in all does not take away from the overall positive impression. And for a debut, this motion picture is worthy of respect. Well done!
very weak effort
ICLOSEM27 February 2000
Glengarry Glen Ross and Wall Street do NOT add up to make Boiler Room, however, the extremely weak references to these films was rather unimaginative and provided some much needed comic relief to film. The soundtrack even made this movie worse than it already was, don't get me wrong here....I don't mind rap, but an entire soundtrack of rap! - no thanks. I am sure cold call selling is very tough, and I am also sure that scams like this exist...but let's be honest with ourselves: Did you believe it?
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