Boiler Room (2000)
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The story
In 1999, Seth Davis, a young man seeking his father's approval, is recruited into J. T. Marlin, a brokerage firm located off the Long Island Expressway. While the firm promises wealth and success, Seth quickly discovers the reality of the high-pressure environment. He begins as a stockbroker trainee, tasked with closing accounts and navigating the intense culture of the firm, which includes lavish parties and aggressive sales tactics. As he rises through the ranks and begins a romance with a colleague, Seth must navigate the complexities of the financial world while trying to prove his worth to his father, a federal judge who views his previous activities with disapproval.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Seth Davis, a young man seeking his father's approval, joins J. T. Marlin, a brokerage firm that uses 'pump and dump' schemes to manipulate stock prices. While Seth succeeds in his role and begins a romance with Abbie Halpert, he learns the firm's illegal practices. Simultaneously, FBI agents are monitoring the firm and attempt to turn Seth into an informant. After his father, a federal judge, discovers the firm's illegal activities and disowns him, Seth decides to take down the firm. He cooperates with the FBI, eventually obtaining a deal to expose the firm's leadership. In a final move, Seth double-crosses his superiors to ensure the firm's collapse and the protection of some investors. The film ends with the FBI raiding the building as Seth walks away from his former life.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ben Younger
- Writers
- Ben Younger · writer
- Cast and characters
- Giovanni Ribisi · Seth Davis; Vin Diesel; Nia Long; Nicky Katt; Scott Caan; Ben Affleck; Tom Everett Scott; Ron Rifkin; Jamie Kennedy
- Genres
- crime; drama
- Themes
- corporate greed; deception; father-son conflict
- Tone and mood
- high-octane; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- financial thriller; con artist; corporate greed
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on the experiences of Ben Younger and loosely based on the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort.
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was noted for its sharp writing and brisk pacing, despite some criticism regarding its ending.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 66% · scale: percentage · review count: 104; CinemaScore · score: C+ · scale: A to F
- Awards and nominations
- Special Jury Prize · Deauville Film Festival · 2000 · win
- Production trivia
- The script was based on a real speech given by a top broker.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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