I hated the film Wallstreet, while I really liked the mean spiritedness of Glengary Glen Ross. Two very different and unique films that just happen to best describe the soon to be released film,The Boiler Room, which in turn borrows heavily from them both. As The Boiler Room is about a bunch of would be stockbrokers who launder funds to various construction companies or seedy organizations by creating artificial demand on (mostly) non existent stocks, that they then sell to hapless would be investors. Who are all far too stupid and willing to throw away their money to the first smooth talker who comes along. Said smooth talker in this case being, the very talented and always enjoyable to watch onscreen, Giovanni Ribisi. A small time gambler, who runs his own at home casino that caters to the local neighborhood youth. Much to his father’s chagrin, as Marty Davis (played stoicly by Ron Rifkin) just happens to be a well respected municipal court judge. Who is constantly harassing his son to be a better man and not such a fuck up, especially after Giovanni’s character Seth Davis, drops out of college in favor or running the casino full time ( he makes a whole lot of money). Only to be recruited into the fold of crooked stockbrokers by a childhood acquaintance, Jamie Kennedy (of Scream1 & 2 fame), via promises of fast money and power.

Which is exactly what Seth needs to prove to his father once and for all that he is somebody, and not some worthless screw up like his fathers believe him to be. Since his father never has anything positive to say, a recurring and somewhat tiresome theme throughout the film. For Seth is constantly berated by his father for not being good enough, thus setting Seth up for a major fall in the future. When Seth slowly but surely discovers that the company he works for is nothing but a cleverly disguised chop shop, and despite his newly acquired power and wealth. Seth really has nothing to show for all his hard effort, not the much desired respect of his father, nor the love of his would be girlfriend. A very hot Nia Long as Debbie, who is viciously used as a pawn by the FBI in order to get close to Ribisi’s characters. Thus forcing him to testify against his employers and colleagues, or face criminal charges himself. Which is where the film starts to faulter a little bit.

As the entire company has been under investigation for some time now, unbeknownst to the hundreds or so crooked stockbrokers who work there. Including such memorable actors as Scott Caan, who for some reason I always enjoy seeing on screen. As well as Ben Affleck, doing a wonderful turn as the new recruit trainer Jim, in a similar role to he one Alec Baldwin made famous in Glengary Glen Ross. Along side the company’s front man and mastermind business mogul, Tom Everett Scott as Michael, who’s hardly seen at all in the film. Since he only appeared every so often to motivate his employees by telling them how each and everyone of them would become a millionaire within three years of their hiring. That is if they didn’t all get arrested, as the company apparently has to completely abandon it’s base of operations from time to time. If various authorities and/or the FCC happens to get a little too close, as they have been investigated from time to time for dubious business practices.

Dogma: When he’s not being kissed by Ben Affleck at the MTV awards,writer/director Kevin Smith is still trying to get his latest film sold to a distributor – and the conservatives are right behind him in hot pursuit. A Catholic group known as ‘America Needs Fatima’ have been posting flyers strenuously objecting to the movie (have any of them even seen it yet?) and urging people to send in complaints to Disney and the Weinstein brothers. While the cards do make one (and only one) good point – “Freedom of expression does not allow one to attack the rights of others”, their making a pretty big leap of logic to include comedic satire into that. One line it quotes from the film – “The nature of God and the Virgin Birth – those are leaps of faith. But believing a wife never humped her husband – that’s just gullibility”,is that an attack on rights? An insult or joke at the expense of ones beliefs possibly, but an all-out attack on their rights as an individual?. Anyway off my soapbox and back onto the news again and Smith, whose a devout and practicing Catholic if you didn’t know,stands behind his film in comments he gave to Newsday magazine: “When I heard [critics] calling me anti-Catholic I was so * * * and hurt,because, I thought, `Man, I’m doing your job. I’m out there talking up Christ.’ You read their literature and never does it say, `P.S., God bless you.’ It’s mean-spirited. I’ve read the Bible. Nowhere does Christ say, `Go out among the masses and kick – – – among anybody who doesn’t agree with Me”. Affleck also stands by the film telling ‘Entertainment Weekly’ that “It’s a rumination on faith and dick jokes.If you see the movie you understand the tone. It’s a fable. It’s a comic book”. Nevertheless, the ridiculous cries of censorship from right-wing parties sadly look like they’ll continue for quite some time yet, but whatever side of the fence your on over the issue, your opinion will likely be polarized by the excerpt below – the first draft of a disclaimer to air just before the start of the film. I’d like to thank ‘TVs Henry’, EW.Com and the great dudes at News Askew for their help.

“For those of you who are thinking about smiting us over this trifle of a film remember that that’s God’s job, and if the film is truly blasphemous, God himself will kill us and we’ll burn in hell. Thank you. Enjoy the show.”