Saturday, December 1, 2012

Boiler Room (2000)


Hard edged, Madoff-esque Thriller


How can you not bet on a movie that manages to reference The Notorious B.I.G., Microsoft Network and the New York Stock Exchange all in the first two minutes, and still make sense? That's exactly what Boiler Room does and why it's undeniably the definitive representation of young men at the start of the modern 21st century chasing the classic greed-driven American dream.

Ben Younger's debut succeeds wonderfully at what many consider Fight Club failed (I don't think so though) to do when it became bogged down in trite anarchy, and that's show how young men struggle to survive in a society that judges them by how much money they make and what kind of cars they drive. 

For college dropout Giovanni Ribisi, that means becoming a stockbroker, "the white boy way of selling crack rock," for an off Wall Street brokerage firm that recruits young men weaned on gangster rap (constantly pounding the soundtrack) and movies like Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross

Ribisi learns that the firm makes millions selling fake stocks over the phone to wealthy, unsuspecting targets. Details of the game can be hard to follow for non-stockplayers, but a smart, accessible script propels the story along with rapid-fire scenes like foul-mouthed recruiter Ben Affleck promising $3 million within three years and energetic sales pitches that are so much fun to watch. 

The two main leads Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Afleck no doubt give memorable performances, ably supported by a stellar young cast including Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Tom Everett Scott and Scott Caan so you'll still watch it even if  stock broker cinema is not your taste! 

Boiler Room also smoothly introduces a new set of terms like "don't pitch the bitch," the firm's rule about not selling to women because they nag you every time the stock moves. It's one of many crowd-pleasing moments, including a ferocious homophobia comeback and of course a great cast, that makes Boiler Room an awesome, crime tinged high finance thriller. 

Free Video link - Streaming and Download - VeeHD

1 comment:

  1. Agreed! Boiler Room is an intelligent drama filled with sharp dialogue and great performances. It is a treat to see Giovanni Ribisi NOT play an absolute half-wit for once.

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