Have an Account?
| Register Now
Movie Poster

Remove ads with our VIP Service Facebook logoTwitter logo
Boiler Room
A 19-year-old college drop out joins the inner circle of the boiler room, where twenty-something millionaires are made overnight. His curiousity about the background of the operation leads to a...  View more >

Starring Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nicky Katt...  View more >

Add Movie to Favorites

Seen It?

How would you rate this movie?
[--- See Now! ---] [--- Good ---] [--- Wait for Rental ---] [--- Stay Away! ---]

Reviews Summary


Please Note: Reader Reviews are submitted by the readers of The BigScreen Cinema Guide and represent their own personal opinions regarding this movie, and do not represent the views of The BigScreen Cinema Guide, or any of its associated entities.

[--- Wait for Rental ---]by  
Feb 19, 2000
So many potentially good movies ruined by terrible endings the Boiler Room is no exception.

Why would anyone making a cake buy the ingredients, mix the batter, preheat the oven and not put the mix in the oven?

Save some money wait for the rental!
[--- See Now! ---]by  
Mar 2, 2000
At one point in "Boiler Room," a group of young, impressionable stock brokers are gathered around a television set, their eyes ferociously focused on the motion picture "Wall Street." Each one takes a turn reciting dialogue from the movie. It's a bold sequence, inviting comparisons to that and similar well-made films; but it is also a brilliant storytelling technique, showing how
the minds of these young money-hungry brokers are shaped by images and characters protrayed in movies like "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."

While "Boiler Room" pays homage to those earlier pieces of work, it is not a cheap imitation, but a brilliantly written, superbly acted drama which surrounds the viewer with the lightning-like tension occupying the air inside the boiler room of J.T. Marlin - a firm specializing in chop shop stock broking. There is a great deal at stake here, where the fast-paced voltage takes on a life of its own.

The movie stars Giovanni ("Saving Private Ryan","The Mod Squad") Ribisi as Seth Davis, a college dropout who sacrifices his education for an illegal gambling ring in his apartment. He makes decent money, but is about to be thrust into a world where millionaires are made overnight. J.T. Marlin's recruiter (Ben Affleck) is a case in point. At twenty-seven, he's made enough money for several lifetimes of retirement - a point he conveys masterfully to the young, unsure faces surrounding the table. He also explains that despite his rather young age, he is ancient in this business. (The fact that he hasn't reached thirty and has already taken the role of a recuiter is very revealing.)

Soon Seth in smack dab in the middle of the boiler room, making calls, delivering pitches, and ultimately selling stock to those who really don't need nor want it. His natural ability on the job catches the attention of the firm's associates, most notably Chris (Vin Diesel) - a master broker who sees much of himself in the young trainee. He also captures the attention (and affection) of the firm's receptionist (Nia Long) who seems aware of the shady
dealings at J.T. Marlin yet remains loyal, clinging to an $80,000 a year paycheck which helps take care of her live-in grandmother. But there is a growing animosity at the firm, as Seth's arrogant mentor, Greg (Nicky Katt) becomes increasingly jealous of the hot young rookie.

More complications arise when Seth, driven by an insatiable curiosity, stumbles upon information which leads him to the truth behind the money factory known as J.T. Marlin.

All of these elements alone would make an intriguing film, but writer/director Ben Younger doesn't stop there. He has also incorporated a surprisingly powerful subplot involving Seth's rocky relationship with his father (Ron Rifkin), a judge who lives his life in disbelief over what his son has elected to do for a living. The character of the father is not a one-dimensional buffoon so often displayed in movies, but a decent-yet-flawed man who desperately loves his son to the point where he is unable to show how he feels. Plus, his inability to accept his son's actions is understandable - here is a man whose job is directly related to upholding the law, and his son would rather run a gambling ring than go to college. It's a tricky situation for the character, and Rifkin hits every note perfectly as he must ponder some rather dubious courses of action.

The masterful performances by the young stars decorate the movie like a Christmas tree. Giovanni Ribisi, a brilliant actor who has shined in supporting roles throughout his young career, holds the center of the film with the confidence unmatched by most any other actor. Every note is played to perfection, even in scenes which, in the hands of a lesser performer, could have been marred by too much sentiment. His crumbling self-esteem is the result of dangling at the end of his emotional rope, and the scene when he finally breaks down and cries in front of his father is so authentic, is rips away at the heart. He's not defiant, but rather throws himself at his mercy.

The other performances ring out with brilliance as well, especially from the inevitable superstar Vin Diesel (who can currently be seen in "Pitch Black") as Chris, the broker who emerges as Seth's closest friend. He is not really a bad man, but rather one who is defined by what he makes rather than who he is. The same holds true for all the inhabitants of J.T. Marlin. Money may not be the root of all evil, but it certainly brings out the ugly side in the arrogant Greg, embodied nicely by Nicky Katt. His self-centeredness is the direct result of the field of work he's in. Tom Everett ("That Thing You Do","One True Thing") Scott is surprisingly effective as Michael, the head of J.T. Marlin. His boyish face masks a contemptuous view of anything not associated with the almighty dollar. And Taylor ("The Last Days of Disco") Nichols turns in a solid performance as a tragically weak-minded man whose libido seems controlled by the fast-talking voices on the other end of the phone.

The idea for "Boiler Room" came to director Younger while he was looking for extra money between film production jobs. He did an enormous amount of research and the results light up the screen. A mastery of the material is demonstrated here which lifts the film above the standard Hollywood fare. "Boiler Room" is an involing movie that can survive any comparisons
thrown at it. It is filmmaking at its best.

--Michael Brendan, "Mad Dog" Film Reviews (www.maddogreviews.com)
[--- Wait for Rental ---]by  
Mar 8, 2000
I hate the idea of telling people they should "wait until rental" to see a particular film. How hard is it to go to a theater compared to going to the rental store? Sure renting is cheaper, but it's not the experience the filmmakers usually indend for.

That's why I hesitate in saying "wait for rental" in reguards to "Boiler Room." Do I recommend seeing this film? I'm torn in that respect as well.

"Boiler Room" starts out extremely strong. The setup is well organized and acted, but around the half-way point in the film, it becomes so uneven I became frustrated.

If "Boiler Room" looks new and exciting to you, then I would recommend checking it out. But, for those of you who are looking for something consistent and new, I'd recommend films that are done much better and contain many of the same ideas as "Boiler Room" -- such as "Donnie Brasco" and "Rounders."

(**1/2 stars out of ****)
http://www.homestead.com/flickspicks/home.html
Jul 21, 2003

Looking for more opinions?

Check out our Featured Movie Reviews for Boiler Room.




New Movies - Box Office - Favorite Movies - All Movies
Coming Soon - Search



Home - About Us - Feedback
News Headlines - Theaters - Movies - Reader Reviews - Movie Links
Your Account - VIP Service

The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a service of SVJ Designs LLC. All graphics, layout, and structure of this service (unless otherwise specified) are Copyright © 1995-2024, SVJ Designs. The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a trademark of SVJ Designs. All rights reserved.

'ACADEMY AWARDS®' and 'OSCAR®' are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Find Us on Facebook
Find Us on Instagram