Search - Boiler Room (2000) (Blu-Ray) [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Boiler loses steam in the second half

Eugene Wei | Santa Monica, CA USA | 02/27/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."

More realistic than you may think!

Broker since 90 | Chicago, IL. | 03/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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 Gen X Wall Street

mystic80 | Massachusetts | 10/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 May Boil Your Nerves

Dubyac99 | San Francisco, CA | 07/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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!

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