Boiler Room Review
by Jeff Bogart (alienjeff AT aol DOT com)February 25th, 2000
Boiler Room, starring Giovanni Ribisi, Tom Everett Scott, Ben Affleck, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Nicky Katt, Scott Caan, Ron Rifkin and Jamie Kennedy. Rated R for language and mild violence. Directed by Ben Younger. 2000.
* * *1/2 out of five
Reviewed by AlienJeff
Most will agree that Boiler Room is an obvious combination of Wall Street and Glengarry GlenRoss. The film even mentions the two on several occasions. And while the obvious is that this isn't as equally good as the other two (especially the latter), it's a awkwardly balanced yet ultimately fun film that uses some information already used in film before, in a new... unique fashion.
Giovanni Ribisi (The Other Sister, The Mod Squad) starts off as a young man living in the slumps, running an illegal casino out of his apartment, who is given the opportunity to work as a trainee to become a stock broker at a nearly invisible (yet very succesful) business place. I have seen him in many different roles, from comedy as Phoebe's "long-lost" brother on "Friends" to a mentally challenged man in love in The Other Sister. It's interesting to watch him seemingly challege his abilites, and, with exception, he proves himself to have much potential as a rising star in Hollywood.
His performance here is one of the hilights of the film, even as it declines in entertaining appeal, even as the film strays into an all-too conspiracy territory that feels very forced. That being said, I'd like to elaborate. Watching the trailers for Boiler Room, I interpreted it as a comedy. Perhaps this is a lone, rush judgment on my part. But regardless, it is much better described as a thriller with a bundle of comic relief.
Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, DOGMA), who's role in this is commonly compared to that of Alec Baldwin's in the infamous Glengarry GlenRoss (though in complexity, there's no likeness), provides a few of the film's highest points as the rough, 27-year-old veteran of the job. Being a, quote-un-quote, "senior citizen" in the office. He sprays dialogue and wit about in his few on screen moments ("Anyone who says money is the root of all evil, doesn't f**king have it."), his dialogue being the film's best scripted sequences. He utters his lines as steadily as water flowing from a faucet. Smooth and effective, in essence.
In the first portion of the film (action prior to the first major revelation) is found to contain interesting camera angles edited in an arousing to the senses sort of way. I'd credit the editors for this facet. Cutting extremely fast back and forth between countless objects, though not a new idea, is used in a fascinating atmosphere around the film's overall tone. Also, the use of constant rap music adds a certain MTV, pop-culture tone to it, also creating a more fast-paced and exciting texture.
Though little can be said for the plot. Little originality here. Though this doesn't neccesarily hurt the film too much, but it quite obviously it does not help. Going from comedy to thriller is a steep step and one hard to handle. Generally speaking.
When watching the film there will be times where you feel some dialogues are forced into the scene to attempt to add an impact, at other times you'll be bored. But for the most part, and at most times, you'll be reasonably interested in the action at hand and will be enjoying yourself. That's what this film is. An enjoyable movie going experience. Nothing great. Nothing classic or memorable. Simply an arguably good time with a cool punchline.
Final Verdict: B-
556 words.
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