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Whitecollar Crime: The Unexciting Truth

At the beginning of the movie, Seth Davis is running a successful casino inside his apartment for college students. When his parents find out that he has dropped out of school to do this, they aren't happy. Especially Seth's Dad, who is a judge.Enter Seth's stockbroker buddy who gets him a job at a small brokerage firm that sells stock in fake companies and provides enough cash to each broker to drive the foreign sports car of their choice. Will Seth's conscience overtake his will to please his father and become filthy rich?There are many details that lead you to this point in the movie; some are interesting, some are canned Hollywood stereotypes. The ending is no surprise and really drains the movie into nothingness. Seth's love interest, Nia Long (an $80,000/year secretary), is all but extraneous. It looks like the film makers tried to tie her into the plot, but they come up a little shy.Ben Affleck gives an interesting performance, but certainly does nothing to make the world of white collar crime any more exciting.

Ugh ! . . God !

This is a movie for rambunctious guys with a horrible case of football-neck and are too drunk to discern between palatable and utterly vomitous cinema.This movie is an indicator that no one, in any shape or form should be paying Ben Affleck for anything he does.. . .not to mention Vin Diesel. Giovanni Ribisi should have been replaced by a potted plant rather than tarnish his acumen as an actor.Despite the plot of the movie, there is no real essence of tension, conflict, or actual-isms. It doesn't take a stock-broker to understand that this would have been better-off as a documentary and not some excuse to swoon a more modern pop-culture that is obsessed with image and every aspect of major profit.My Cat walked out of the room after watching a couple of minutes of this movie, in which he looked at the screen and at me continuously before he pressed the off button on my remote.If an animal knows it's a bad movie, I'd imagine that's all you need to know.Well . . .and that watching Boiler Room is like drinking a cold mug of morning coffee.

Suspension of Disbelief... Two Reasons

The story was accurate with it's depiction of greedy Wall Street types, and their destruction of people's lives. Enron's greed, ruthlessness, and arrogance comes to mind. The look and feel of the film are for the most part believable. Good art direction! When the movie depicted these Bridge and Tunnel grifters wanting to fit into the Manhattan scene it was dead on. "The Boys" were telling gays in a restaurant that they should be put on some island not figuring when they said this that they were on one! This was hilarious.However I found the film implausible for two reasons. Reason number one: On Wall Street, greed is genderless. Women are fair game for plunder as well. Using the sexist excuse that women just aren't worth the trouble just doesn't wash.Reason number two: That a savvy New York City judge would make the type of phone call he made to his son at the sham brokerage firm in which he works at. He promises to exercise his power and influence to help get his kid out of hot water. Your average Joe knows about phone tapping. I found this phone call about as believable as Judge Judy making such a phone call.

An exciting film that brings the audience into a life that everyone American dreams of.

This film is a great movie that deals with Seth and his goal of winning the love from his dad that looks down upon him. After holding an illegal casino in his own apartment, he meets someone that offers him a job as a trader, which he later finds out is a huge con scam. This movie is about family love, forgiveness, and the harsh reality of society today.

Secrets And Lies

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-.

Wall Street for the next generation

This is a great film with a brilliant cast, especially from Ribisi. I always knew this guy was a good actor but his performance just blew me away. I especially liked the subplot about his relationship with his dad which was quite a moving experience.Two problems though: Ben Affleck and Tom Everett Scott sounded as though they just watched 'Glengarry Glen ross' and decided to try and outdo Alec Baldwin from it. Nearly every scene they are in feels as though they are just trying too hard. Secondly, the ending was a bit abrupt and left a few hanging plot-lines.Overall though, a movie that is sometimes deeply depressing, but hits home about a lot of things in life.

What can you say?

I haven't been to a movie theatre in years but thought I would go see Boiler Room. I am an investor and my personal opinion is this movie was the worst piece of garbage I have ever seen. Boiler rooms and the tactics depicted in this film most surely exist but this was the worst storyline, actors and music soundtrack I have ever seen. All I can say is the advertising agency that hyped this film is no better than the boiler rooms they depict in this film. I rate this movie a 1 on a 10 scale and the ending was pathetic. You will leave this movie feeling as if you have been reamed by a boiler room operator in my humble opinion. Wait for this one to show up on HBO or network television....I don't think it will be long. I wish I would have bought $13.00 worth of penny stocks instead of wasting the $$$ on this movie.

a smart, well-made film

Ribisi is a young slacker and college dropout who wants to win the approval of his father (a renowned federal judge) but supports himself by running a low-rent casino out of his home. Wanting to find success without having to work too hard for it, he's persuaded by his friends to take a job at a shady brokerage house. He acquires money and success almost instantly, but all of it seems just too good to be true. Well-written and directed the film has a familiar setup, but it's acted with conviction and holds your interest throughout. Perfectly cast, especially Affleck (recalling shades of Alec Baldwin) who's never been better as the company's foulmouthed, egotistical motivator. ***

Boiler loses steam in the second half

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.

What a horrible waste of time...

Was looking forward to seeing this movie, was painfully disappointed. The plot disjointed, the characters unlikable, and the acting was pitifully incompetent. It's funny that they highlighted two good movies in this film, Glengarry Glenross, and Wall Street. If you're thinking of watching a good movie about sales, choose Glengarry Glenross, and if you have a yen for something about stocks and takeovers, choose Wall Street. Whatever you do, don't waste your precious time with this misguided, inane piece of cinematic garbage.

Did we Really need another Film like This?

The Big Question that surrounds "Boiler Room" is... "Is this a Story that Needed to be Told". And the answer is.. No, It's not a True story, It's not a very Exciting story, but it Does manage to hold interest because of a Strong lead performance by Giovanni Ribisi and a Spectacular Supporting cast.

The story involves Seth Davis, (Ribisi) a guy in his Early Twenties who runs an illegal casino out of his apartment. When a friend knocks on the door with a job offer, Seth takes it, as he wishes to show his dad that he can do Legitimate work. Within Three months he is one of the Top Stock-Brokers at the firm, but he also starts to believe that the firm is Corrupt.

The Jumpy Editing got on my nerves here and there, but it was only real used in the first half of the film, and once it stopped, the film Improved. The directing is nothing Fancy, not Bad, but not Spectacular. Writer/director Ben Younger lets his Terrific cast tell the story. "Boiler Room" suffers from Seen-it-all-before Syndrome. If you know that going in, you can just sit back and enjoy the Top-notch performances.

Ribisi is as Spectacular as ever, he carries the film. Every facial expression, every line of dialogue, he makes look totally authentic. Vin Diesel, Scott Caan, Tom Everett Scott and Jamie Kennedy give Wonderful Supporting performances as his Co-workers. Diesel gets more screen time then the others and he registers best.

Ron Rifkin gives the performance of his Career as Seth's Father. The scenes where he and Seth talk, argue, and ultimately mature are among the films Best scenes. (certainly the best Dialogue scenes) But, in the end it is Ben Affleck who walks off with the film, his Extended Cameo proves why he is so Popular. The whole film is about selling people stuff they don't need, we didn't need another film like this, but Ben sells it to us anyway, and I bought it.

Not nearly as good as the films that inspired it.

Boiler Room was a true let down for me.Not only did this film open with a fascinating first half, but it bosted two of today's best young stars, Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck. Boiler Room is a film about the power of greed and the corruption of the soul. The first 45 minues or so are wonderful as the film's central character is essentially seduced into a shady stock brokerage firm filled to the brim with money grubbing young men.The first problem with Boiler Room is that it sets up most of the firm's brokers as well dressed thugs. They go out and get in fights almost nightly. None of these characters are very likable, and presenting them as thugs is hardly a respectable decision. It becomes harder and harder to take this film seriously, in a world of business, these guys act like they stumbled out of a college frat party. Perhaps this is one of Boiler Room's major points, to present the newest generation of 'yuppies' as cutthroats and scum. Writer/Director Ben Younger does achieve a certain degree of ambiguity here with this gimick, but Boiler Room completely crumbles away in its second half.Giovanni Ribisi's character Seth briefly enjoys success at the firm but becomes suspicious of it all too quickly. Soon he discovers that his firm is essentially a fraud and without giving too much away must eventually choose to do the right thing for the right people. This seemed a silly plot twist for a film trying to be as sharp and truthful about this new generation of 'businessmen', perhaps it's not very far fetched, but Boiler Room's second half is as distracting and ridiculous as any Big Hollywood film. We get a pointless romance with the firm's secretary and an interesting but unnecessary relationship between father and son. Add it all up and Boiler Room turns out to be a well intentioned film with too many half cooked ideas floating throughout. An excellent cast tries hard, but this Wall Street/ Glengarry Glen Ross inspired drama never really achieves anything it sets out to, some intresting ideas rolled up into an adolescant Wall Street do not a good movie make.

It's Wall Street All Over Again...

This movie gives you the chills, it reminds you of the all-time classic "Wall-Street" with Bud Fox & Gordon Gecko. Only this time it is played by Seth Davis as Bud Fox. Boiler Room has an all-star cast with Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, & Ben Affleck... If you haven't seen this film, you are missing out, it is unforgettable and it is one of those keeper DVD's to have in your collection. Take Care - Chad Castorina

Wall Street for Generation X.

BOILER ROOM is a taunt and disturbing film which has young and ambitious men in their 20's who become stock brokers. The brokers call regular business and family men and invest their life savings into a company which will sooner or later fall. The brokers walk away with the money, and a clear conscience. It isn't until one of the brokers, Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi) who realizes that what he's doing is wrong, and begins to have second doubts with his career. BOILER ROOM has Seth working in a small brokage firm in New Jersey, away from the prime time business of Wall Street. In this firm he meets a colorful crew of co-workers. There's Chris Varick (Vin Diesel) a man who is cocky, yet he's like a father figure to Seth. There's Greg Weinstein (Nicky Katt) another broker who's jealous and harsh towards the rookie Seth. There's Abbie Halpert (Nia Long) a beautiful secretary who falls in love with Seth, but for a price. There's Richie (Scott Caan) a short, yet strong muscle and strong minded man who won't put up with anybody's negative comments about his job. There is the firm's president, Michael Brantley (Tom Everett Scott) a man who appears to be very friendly and caring on the outside, yet is very cruel and cold on the inside. And then there is the firm's recruit, Jim Young (Ben Affleck) a man who is vicious at first and is vicious from there on. BOILER ROOM is a captivating look at the lives and jobs that these young people go through. It's a disturbing look to see these trick innocent business men into putting thier life savings into these companies that will go bankrupt sooner or later, including the firm's clients. The movie does move in a steady and fast pace, and director Ben Younger does a very good job keeping the viewer's intrest. The acting in this film is excellent! Giovanni Ribisi does a great job as the main character, a man who tries so hard to please his father with a good job. Nicky Katt is also great as the vicious Greg, a man who's only concern is himself. But the films best performances come from Tom Everett Scott, Vin Diesel, and Ben Affleck. Scott makes a surprising and excellent first time villian. He does have that innocent and friendly face, like his previous films, but he can be a very cold and cruel villain. Vin Diesel does a excellent job as well as the cocky Chris Varick, who does once in a while give a helping hand to Seth. And Ben Affleck has never been more mean than in this film (and I mean meaner than DAZED & CONFUSED!) He's very funny, and scary at the same time. When he tells the new team players the rules and benefits that working at the firm will bring them, you're ready to work in the same office yourself! BOILER ROOM is a very impressive movie! It is a bit like Oliver Stone's WALL STREET, and Sydney Pollack's THE FIRM. But it does stand on it's own, since this is the story of not successful brokers or attorney's but of young men who have no where to really go, but to this firm which seems so promising and great, when it's not. It's almost like the Pied Piper of Hamlen. A very well done film! ****1/2 (out of five)

Worst commentary ever!

I love the extra features on DVDs, especially the commentaries, but this one is just painful. They clearly had nothing to say, but felt compelled to babble aimlessly...."you know"..."or whatever". They made a decent movie. I may even watch it again, but that commentary has to be the all time worst!

More realistic than you may think!

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.

Great stock trading movie that manages to top it;s idol:::Wallstreet

The movie starts out with seth trying to run a casino out of his college dorm room and not let his parents know that he is not going to college anymore. This movie manages to capture the best of Vin Diesal, Scott Caan, Giovanni Ribisi, and Nikki Katt. Nicki Katt I always thought was an underrated actor, but this movie really lets him shine. So Seth hears about a stock company that is a little out of the way, but offers up to 10 times the salary over any other trader. He joins up and the fun begins. Dicoveries of improper procedures has Seth wondering if what he is doing is right. The movie does lose some steam at the end, but still manages to complete a great movie.

Triple X

Vin Deisel wimps out in this movie. At the end when the FBI is gonna raid the office he should kick butt!! He doesn't, so it sucks. The best scene is where the Boss tells one of the Stockbrokers that he can't sit down ever again! He has to stand until he makes a sale hahaha. Ben Affleck isn't as good as Alec Baldwin in Glen Gary GlenRoss. He tries to be, but can't. It just isn't good enough of a performance to equal Mr. Baldwin's. Vin Deisel should shoot people with machine guns in the film. He should shoot Affleck hahaha. Go Triple X!!

Great Performances Makes Boiler Room A Must See!

Giovanni Ribisi has certainly come a long way from his appearances on the old TV series Wonder Years. He is an excellent actor. This story is as much about a father-son relationship as it is about selling stocks illegally. No, this is not a Glengarry Glen Ross, but it is certainly a fine effort. You will not walk away from this film thinking that you just watched a 10, however, I found myself interested throughout. Ron Rifkin is excellent as Marty Davis, a judge and father who loves his son but really doesn't know how to communicate with him. Special moments with Rifkin and Ribisi really elevate Boiler Room to a solid above average rating.

When you've nothing left to sell, sell out!

I just loved it. The first 20 minutes were just brilliant to look at. The pace slowed but that suited the story and the performance were so strong that it more than compensated for its slower moments. The soundtrack is a killer.