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"BOILER ROOM"
(2000) (Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate None Extreme None *Minor
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild None Minor Heavy Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Moderate Mild Moderate Mild Mild


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: A college drop-out joins a maverick, but successful brokerage firm where he not only learns the ropes of becoming a millionaire, but also that such money doesn't come without strings attached.
PLOT:
Seth Davis (GIOVANNI RIBISI) is a 19-year-old college dropout who runs a small backdoor casino out of his apartment, much to the chagrin of his judge father, Marty Davis (RON RIFKIN). Although he's making money, he's not making as much or as fast as he'd like, so when he meets higher roller Greg Weinstein (NICKY KATT), an arrogant broker for the brokerage firm of J.T. Marlin, he's instantly intrigued.

Greg agrees to get him an interview at the Long Island based firm, where Seth meets Jim Young (BEN AFFLECK), the enthusiastically cocky head recruiter, as well as the other fledgling recruits. Herded under Greg's protective wing, the recruits learn the biz of making hard stock sales over the phone, and Seth soon stands out, impressing Greg's chief rival, millionaire Chris Varick (VIN DIESEL).

Although he's flying below the radar of the firm's boyish leader, Michael Brantley (TOM EVERETT SCOTT), Seth becomes more proficient as he nears getting his broker's license. This doesn't sit well with Greg, who's jealous of the up and coming star, especially when he starts dating the firm's receptionist, Abby Halpert (NIA LONG), a woman Greg previously pursued.

Even so, Seth's father is pleased that his son finally has a legitimate job. Yet, when Seth becomes curious about how the firm can pay such high commissions on each sale, he begins to uncover some rather unsavory and illegal activities within the firm. As one of his clients, Harry (TAYLOR NICHOLS), begins to panic over the portfolio Seth manipulated him into buying and the FBI begins snooping around, the young man begins to question whether the ease and speed of making money is worth the associated risk.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Some teens may be drawn to it, as might those who are fans of anyone in the cast, but otherwise this doesn't seem like a film that would have much appeal to most kids.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For strong language and some drug content.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • GIOVANNI RIBISI plays a college dropout who runs an illegal mini-casino out of his apartment before joining a brokerage firm and becoming proficient at making manipulative sales calls over the phone. He does become suspicious of the firm's activities, however, and uses strong profanity and sleeps with Abby.
  • VIN DIESEL plays one of the senior brokers, a master manipulator and current millionaire. Although he's certainly full of himself, he does take Seth under his wing and teaches him the ropes, but is aware of the firm's illegal activities. He also uses some strong profanity.
  • NICKY KATT plays his chief rival at the firm, an arrogant and jealous man who's not a good boss and uses plenty of strong profanity.
  • BEN AFFLECK plays the firm's head recruiter and motivational speaker, a man who touts the benefits of greed and wealth. He also uses plenty of strong profanity.
  • TOM EVERETT SCOTT plays the young man who runs the illegally operating brokerage firm.
  • RON RIFKIN plays Seth's father, a judge who initially doesn't condone his son's various illegal endeavors, but eventually tries to help him out of his latest jam. He also uses some strong profanity.
  • NIA LONG plays the firm's receptionist, one of the few women working there. She ends up sleeping with Seth, briefly uses some profanity and then finds herself having to deal with the FBI.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    Here's a quick summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity is rated as extreme due to the enormous amount of cussing that occurs, while plenty of colorful phrases and some sexually related comments are also uttered. A sexual encounter is implied, but not seen, while a painting and statue briefly show some female nudity.

    A minor character comments on and briefly appears to snort cocaine, and later repeatedly punches a man at a bar. Most of the characters have bad attitudes (greedy, cocky and disrespectful of others) and work for a firm that's illegally operating and bilking their unsuspecting clients out of their money. A father and son don't get along due to the latter's illegal behavior. Beyond that, some drinking and smoking also occur.

    Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may wish to see it, we encourage you to take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in the film.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • In voice over narration, Seth quotes a rapper talking about "slapping crack rock."
  • Brokers and trainees drink on a bus trip, with one appearing to have snorted cocaine. When they arrive at their destination, they have more drinks and someone makes a comment about "nose candy" (cocaine).
  • Seth, Greg and another young man have beer in front of them.
  • People drink at a party.
  • A bunch of the guys drink beer while watching the movie "Wall Street" on TV.
  • Abby and Seth have drinks in a club as do others.
  • The brokers drink beer in a restaurant.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • None.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • We learn that Seth has been lying to his parents about still being in college (he dropped out).
  • Seth runs an illegal mini-casino out of his apartment.
  • Greg uses the term "chink" to refer to some unseen Asians, while later some disparaging remarks are made about "guineas" and their financial habits.
  • Greg and Chris throw ethnic slurs at each other and obviously don't get along.
  • A recruit is disrespectful to another one in Jim Young's introductory group meeting.
  • Seth has the rules of the firm explained to him that include "we don't pitch the bitch" (meaning they don't call or sell to women because they'll continually harp/complain about any given stock's performance, etc.).
  • Some other men in a bar make fun of our brokers.
  • Greg, upset that Abby won't see him anymore, tells Seth that he thinks she's a "whore."
  • We learn that the firm is operating illegally (with the help of a corrupt SEC regulator who shreds records at night) and that most of the veteran brokers know about it.
  • The brokers and several gay men at a table next to them exchange disparaging barbs.
  • Greg develops a bad/jealous attitude toward Seth.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • None.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Cartoon Rifles: Carried by figures seen on wallpaper in Seth's room.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Get the f*ck out of here," "Shut the f*ck up," "What the f*ck?" "Let's get the f*ck out of here," "What the f*ck are you doing?" "I don't give a f*ck," "Holy sh*t," "You even suck big fat rhinoceros d*ck," "Laid" (sexual), "Nigger," "Chink," "Dumb ass," "Screw up," "Bitch" (for both a woman and man), "Pain in the ass," "Balls" (testicles), "Slut," "Nuts" (crazy), "Half-assed," "Whore," "Idiots," "Sucks," "Geek," "Putz," "Loser," "Moron," "Pissed," "Go to hell," "Pissed off" and "Schmuck."
  • A character makes the gesture for male masturbation with his hand on a bottle.
  • It's possible the film could inspire some teens to try to find ways to quickly and/or illegally make lots of money.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • The film contains just a bit of suspenseful music in a few scenes.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • The film contains a number of rap songs with some lyrics that couldn't be understood, but we did hear several uses of the "f" and "s" words, along with other profanities and slang terms.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 153 "f" words (3 used with "mother" and 2 used sexually), 44 "s" words, 6 slang terms for/using male genitals ("d*ck," "c*ck" and "c*cks*cker"), 4 slang terms for breasts ("t*ts"), 10 asses (1 used with "hole"), 4 hells, 1 S.O.B., 4 uses of "Oh my God," 3 each of "Jesus" and "Oh God," 2 each of "G-damn" and "For Christ's sakes," and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ," "My God" and "Swear to God" as exclamations.
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • After Michael announces to his workers that he has some "entertainment" upstairs in a hotel room for them, a character then makes the gesture for male masturbation with his hand on a bottle.
  • We briefly see a painting on a wall of a nude woman reclined on the floor (bare breasts and possible full frontal).
  • When commenting on a SEC regulator who sits in another room of the firm, Greg jokes, "We think he's actually masturbating now."
  • We briefly see a statue of a nude woman that shows bare breasts.
  • While watching and commenting on the movie "Wall Street," one of the guys asks "Do you think he f*cked (what sounded like) Hannah?"
  • While Jim gives another motivational speech to the recruits, he tells them that they have to "act as if" (and then says as an example, "Act as if you have a nine inch c*ck"). When Seth is the first to pay him some dues, Jim then asks, "Are you last night's erection?"
  • Greg tells Abby, "Don't tell me that's why I'm not hitting it" (sexual reference). In response, she replies, "You were never hitting it."
  • Abby and Seth make out with her sitting on the edge of a table/counter and him standing between her legs. We later see them together in his bed (no nudity or activity), suggesting that they had sex.
  • Chris comments that the only thing another person should be worried about "is getting laid tonight."
  • SMOKING
  • Chris smokes once, while a few other brokers and miscellaneous characters also briefly smoke.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Seth and his father don't get along that well (if at all) throughout the film (with plenty of scenes of them yelling and/or otherwise fighting), which is exacerbated by Seth's illegal card game business as well as him working for a corrupt brokerage firm (his father even tells him in one scene that he never wants to see him again).
  • Abby cares for her sick mother.
  • Harry, one of Seth's clients, gets into a fight with his wife when she questions him buying stock without consulting her first (and we see their young kids sitting on the steps listening to them fight). Eventually, their fighting escalates to the point that she takes their kids and leaves.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • The stock market and how more and more people are now becoming millionaires from it (as well as the overall quest to make quick money).
  • Marty's decision to help his son not get caught despite being a judge and such activity being illegal.
  • VIOLENCE
  • Some of the brokers briefly get into a scuffle with some rivals in a bar.
  • A man repeatedly punches another guy at a bar.
  • Greg pushes Seth to the floor.



  • Reviewed February 8, 2000 / Posted February 18, 2000

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