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Boiler Room

Boiler Room

List Price: $12.98
Your Price: $9.74
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: There's no such thing as a no-sale call.
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Gen X Wall Street
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Modern Day Wall Street
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Gen X Wall Street
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "Gecko"
Review: 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!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Giovanni Ribisi is totally awesome!!
Review: GREAT GREAT MOVIE, you definently gotta get your hands on this dvd. I really enjoyeed Vin diesel & Ribisi in this movie.I have to say I really didn't know what was going to happen till the end of the movie. It's about a guy that makes a lot of cold calls selling pretty much fake stock. Well I really don't want to give away the whole movie but, you really should rent or purchase this one. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Dull half-hearted copy of "Wall Street"
Review: Uninspired 2nd go around of the basic plot of "Wall Street", which was one of Oliver Stone's least successful efforts. Besides a weak,unoriginal script, "Boiler Room" is marred by miscasting and a really out-of-place musical score. Hip-hop and rap music is just fine when it's part of the story as in "Eight Mile" but it's forced and inappropriate here. There is nothing to connect this type of urban music with the very suburban and city types of stockbrokers and telemarketers depicted. It's very jarring.

Giovanni Ribisi (Seth), an idiosyncratic charcter actor anyways, looks as pale as a vampire. His oddness does nothing to define his character, a young man who is drifting into criminal gambling as a business even before drifting into selling fake stocks. A lot of sentimental business transpires between him and his harsh father, a federal judge (Ron Rifkin) and this is about as entertaining as watching your family fight over dinner. It does absolutely nothing to propel the plot or even to explain why Seth -- from a priviledged upbringing -- has turned to the type of illegal business dealings you might associate more with someone from a poor background.

There is an opportunity to see Vin Diesel, pre-stardom, and actually wearing a suit. He's low key here, which is a pleasure. Instant stardom has done nothing to mature this actor's style, but he was initially an appealing and different presence. Bennifer...ooops, Ben Affleck has a small role as a huckster, the "Gordon Gecko" of the film, inspiring the troops in the small chop shop, and he does a good job of capturing the salesman's smooth patter and dead eyes. When he says he is "smiling ear to ear" (as a result of his huge success), in fact his expression is blank and souless -- perfect. But he is in only a couple of brief scenes.

The director pays homage to "Wall Street" by having the characters gather together at one of their big expensive (empty) houses and watch it on TV, while Diesel and Affleck effortless spout whole pages of dialogue from the film. I seriously doubt young brokers today are so hung up on a film from 1987! A time when they were probably in grade school! This is the DIRECTOR'S pet movie, not the characters and it's a clear sign that things are not going to progress in an original or entertaining way.

"Wall Street" was not a good enough movie for a director to be aping (or the characters). It was a pretty lame, trite flick and was only watchable for Michael Douglas (Gecko) who singlehandedly revived his career from his Oscar winning role and became a major Hollywood player. Because of this, I consider "Wall Street" one of those rare films that sucks but is watching for a single great performance.

Not so "Boiler Room". There is nothing here but shallow, boring homage to a mediocre film. You learn nothing about the one-dimensional characters, nothing about the stock business, nothing about the laws against this sort of thing...you are just marking time. You have better things to do. This is a movie you can safely leave on the video store shelf.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Who Was the casting director in this film?
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Boiler Room; Affleck, Diesel and Giovanni Ribisi
Review: Giovanni Ribisi gives an excellent turn here as an entrepreneur--albeit, illegal activity--turned legitimate, or so he thought. Terrific activity between he and his father. The relationship between he and the secretary at the firm is terrific as well. Affleck and Diesel are both stand-outs in this film. This is a terrific ensemble of talent placed into a nice script. One to watch!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Worth a look
Review: I very much enjoyed this movie. However, I have a particular interest in the market, and this may have clouded my judgement a little. It is a very dark movie, and will keep you on your toes. I could see why some didn't like the movie, but fans of heavy, cerebral movies (fight club...) should enjoy this.


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