Boiler Room (2000)

[Guestx]

They're such different movies.

I'm not sure which I'd say was better but I definitely enjoyed Boiler Room more because of Ribisi, he was fantastic. Leo was better but I couldn't relate to him.

The thing with Wolf is that, despite all the zaniness that is constantly going on in it, there are moments where I start to get a bit bored. It might actually be a bit too long.

This is not the case with Boiler Room. I am locked in the whole way through and every moment of the film is on point.

 

[gspieler]

He's def a good actor, but Vin Diesel always seems like the same character to me, even in BR and SP Ryan. Maybe its his monotone voice, or his stoic facial expressions, idk.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

It's the Glengarry Glen Ross for Generation X/Y.

no it isnt

 

[tripnastic]

For the people comparing it to Wolf of Wall Street and some of the scenes similarities, it's because it was loosely based around the legal case against Jordan Belfort at the time.

So Jordan hadnt written his bio yet, but stories about him and his firm came out during the legal case against Stratton Oakmont, and were used to inspire the way the operation in Boiler Room worked, and the super charismatic leader they all worshipped.

The film is based on interviews the writer conducted with numerous brokers over a two-year period, and is inspired by the firm Stratton Oakmont and the life of Jordan Belfort, whose autobiography was later adapted into Martin Scorsese's 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiler_Room_(film)

 

[Guestx]

no it isnt

Really? I think it's a very apt description. What is it exactly that you disagree with?

 

[MMA since 1993]

One of my favorite films.

I haven't been able to find it on blu ray at the local movie store.

 

[Madmick]

Really? I think it's a very apt description. What is it exactly that you disagree with?

Yeah, I'm kind of curious, myself. Ben Affleck even talked about how his character was a pure homage to Alec Baldwin on the DVD commentary, IIRC.

 

[KnightTemplar]

It's the Glengarry Glen Ross for Generation X/Y.

no it isnt

Really? I think it's a very apt description. What is it exactly that you disagree with?

Yeah, I'm kind of curious, myself. Ben Affleck even talked about how his character was a pure homage to Alec Baldwin on the DVD commentary, IIRC.

Because the films are driven by different emotions. Boiler Room is all about Greed. It's no coincidence that Wall Street is the favorite movie of the main characters; they are fanatical in their adherence to Gecko's, Greed is Good philosophy. As Affleck points out in his speech, he's a senior citizen by the standards of the company, and he's only 27. Most of the major characters are high on the perceived invincibility of youth. They believe they can have anything they want, that they are Alpha Wolves in a world of Sheep.

By contrast, Glengarry, Glen Ross is driven by Fear. The main characters are not young men with their whole lives ahead of them. With a very few exceptions, they are losers. Old men with their best years behind them. They know they are not going to become millionaires. They are just trying to keep their heads above water. It's easier to identify with guys who are doing a job they don't like and aren't even that good at, just to keep the wolf from the door, than a bunch of young douche bags who, right up until the end, are living pretty good lives.

Glengarry, Glen Ross is far more intense, emotionally involving film because of this. And the performance of Lemon, Pacino, Spacey, Baldwin and Harris are of a far higher caliber.

Finally, there is no happy ending in GG. Boiler Room ends with the main protagonist finding some form of redemption, both legal and moral. His father will not face legal action, the firm is about to be raided by the FBI and the poor schmuck who lost his life savings gets his money back. Even Vin gets his Vader on and returns to the Light Side of the Force just in time.

By contrast, Glengarry, Glen Ross ends with shattered dreams and lives. Pacino loses his sale, Harris will probably lose his job and Lemon will almost certainly end up in jail. While his daughter is in hospital with a life-threatening condition. This is fiction rooted firmly in reality: in the real world, you can give your all and it still won't be enough. Some fights you just can't win no matter how hard you swing. And if you fall, people are just as likely to trample on you as to help you to stand again.

 

[Guestx]

Yeah, I'm kind of curious, myself. Ben Affleck even talked about how his character was a pure homage to Alec Baldwin on the DVD commentary, IIRC.

Yeah. I guess you could argue that instead it's really Gen X/Y's Wall Street, but BR really has more in common with GGR than it does Wall Street. Although there are of course similarities to both movies so perhaps in a sense both statements are true.

 

[Guestx]

Because the films are driven by different emotions. Boiler Room is all about Greed. It's no coincidence that Wall Street is the favorite movie of the main characters; they are fanatical in their adherence to Gecko's, Greed is Good philosophy. As Affleck points out in his speech, he's a senior citizen by the standards of the company, and he's only 27. Most of the major characters are high on the perceived invincibility of youth. They believe they can have anything they want, that they are Alpha Wolves in a world of Sheep.

By contrast, Glengarry, Glen Ross is driven by Fear. The main characters are not young men with their whole lives ahead of them. With a very few exceptions, they are losers. Old men with their best years behind them. They know they are not going to become millionaires. They are just trying to keep their heads above water. It's easier to identify with guys who are doing a job they don't like and aren't even that good at, just to keep the wolf from the door, than a bunch of young douche bags who, right up until the end, are living pretty good lives.

That's some good insight and I think a lot of what you say is true. BR to GGR is obviously not a 1:1 comparison. In some ways, yes, the movies are very different.

If anything, kind of like I alluded to in my last reply to Mick, BR is like a fusion of GGR and Wall Street, and in that sense it is BOTH movies for a new generation.

 

[soggyfist]

not sure why. everytime I watch the movie, I enjoy it up til the part were he is the room with his dad crying about his daddy didn't love him enough as kid when he fell off the bike and shit. And that when I normally change the channel.

I get that his father was strict on him and all he wanted was gis dad's respect but that part of the movie felt compelety sperate from the other parts off the movie. I know that it was to show Why he was so driven into making money but i just didn't feel it.

Every time I watch BR I go back and forth on whether Seth is being sincere in that scene or playing his father like all the other schmucks he took. My conclusion is a little of both.

 

[CaulderBorn]

one of my favorite movies of all time. I understand the wolf of wallstreet comparison but different movies to me. Wolf is good but i feel the ride of boiler room to be much better.

 

[Guestx]

Every time I watch BR I go back and forth on whether Seth is being sincere in that scene or playing his father like all the other schmucks he took. My conclusion is a little of both.

Oh, I've always interpreted that scene as him being 100% sincere.

 

[Guestx]

one of my favorite movies of all time. I understand the wolf of wallstreet comparison but different movies to me. Wolf is good but i feel the ride of boiler room to be much better.

They are different movies for sure, though they are both (largely, but not completely, in BR's case) based on the same story. Both are great. But I agree with you that Boiler Room is a more captivating, enjoyable experience.

The BR/WoWS rivalry (if you want to call it that) is interesting because it shows (for people like you and me, who prefer BR) that money doesn't make a movie. WoWS had an exponentially larger budget than BR did, and yet it ultimately failed to capture that intangible something that really pulls the viewer in the way that BR, on a mere $8 million, was fully successful in doing.

 

[soggyfist]

Oh, I've always interpreted that scene as him being 100% sincere.

I always found it sincere up until recently. Maybe I worded it a little too harsh. Seth needed the money and he knew how to guilt his father into giving it to him. It feels somewhat disingenuous to me now.

 

[CO68]

Finally, there is no happy ending in GG. Boiler Room ends with the main protagonist finding some form of redemption, both legal and moral. His father will not face legal action, the firm is about to be raided by the FBI and the poor schmuck who lost his life savings gets his money back. Even Vin gets his Vader on and returns to the Light Side of the Force just in time.

By contrast, Glengarry, Glen Ross ends with shattered dreams and lives. Pacino loses his sale, Harris will probably lose his job and Lemon will almost certainly end up in jail. While his daughter is in hospital with a life-threatening condition. This is fiction rooted firmly in reality: in the real world, you can give your all and it still won't be enough. Some fights you just can't win no matter how hard you swing. And if you fall, people are just as likely to trample on you as to help you to stand again.

BR doesn't really have a happy ending either. It's kind of like Goodfellas. He leads an exciting life where he's raking in money until the Feds catch up with them, then he sells his people out to avoid prison, and will then go on to live an ordinary and boring life. There's also an alternate ending that's a bit darker.

 

[Organic Damage]

It's one of my favorite movies. It pays homage to great movies like Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross.





You should check out SubUrbia if you haven't seen it. Not a similar movie, but it has both Giovanni Ribisi and Nicky Katt in it. Giovanni shouldn't have done that Dads TV show... That had to hurt his career, though he had a memorable role in Ted.

Same here, got it on my shelf. I especially appreciate it having worked commissioned sales.

Nicky Katt was a boss on Boston Public. I always wonder why guys like him and Ribisi never made it bigger, but I guess they're better in bit parts than leading roles.

I'll check out Suburbia.

 

[Goonerview]

Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck were good in the movie, too. I enjoyed this movie when I saw it!

 

[Billy Blanks]

Big fan of Boiler Room. One of those movies I can always watch.

Nicky Katt is a very good actor. Been a fan of Ribisi since his cameo on x-files. Anyone remember that? I think he controlled electricity or something.

I've been in the industry for a bit now working bit parts and commercials.

Leading roles in major films/television is usually about who can bring in the viewers.
Casting in general, if the female star looks a certain way, they will want the male to look a certain way.

Leading roles in shorts/low budget films a lot of times is who you know or if your filming your own stuff.

I've known actors who has resumes filled with leading roles. You take a closer look, and it's all films they have shot themselves and made themselves the Lead.

You need to know what your 'hit' is in the industry. I try to follow Kevin Pollock's idea of 'sleeping your way to the middle' instead of 'sleeping your way to the top'. The guys/girls in the middle work a lot with bit parts and continue to work for a long time.

Same here, got it on my shelf. I especially appreciate it having worked commissioned sales.

Nicky Katt was a boss on Boston Public. I always wonder why guys like him and Ribisi never made it bigger, but I guess they're better in bit parts than leading roles.

I'll check out Suburbia.

 

[Kick Strickland]

it is just PACKED with top up-and-coming talent of the new millennium. Just think about how many names this movie had: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck, Nia Long, Nicky Katt, Scott Caan, Jamie Kennedy and Tom Everett Scott. That cast list is just insane. (Did I miss anybody?)

Can't Hardly Wait > Boiler Room for new millennium up and comers