'Boiler Room': Low Heat By Desson Howe Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, February 18, 2000

Giovanni Ribisi plays a high roller headed for a big fall in "Boiler Room." (New Line)

Writer-director Ben Younger's debut movie fairly hums with it, as performers Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel and others attempt to do for stockbrokers what Tom Cruise and his "Top Gun" costars did for air jocks.

Seth Davis (Ribisi), a New Yorker who has been running an illegal, back-room casino in Queens, thinks he's living fairly large. But a late-night gambler called Greg (Nicky Katt) tells him otherwise. In no time Greg invites Seth to make real money at J.T. Marlin, a high-pressure, fly-by-night brokerage firm (known as a "boiler room" for its intensity) that recruits young bucks to sell bogus stocks to unsuspecting customers over the phone.

"You will make a million within three years of your first day at J.T. Marlin," says a head recruiter (Ben Affleck) who appears to be modeling himself simultaneously on Michael Douglas's Gordon Gecko in "Wall Street" and the Alec Baldwin character in "Glengarry Glen Ross."

Seth signs up. And proves a fast study. It doesn't take him long to learn the lingo of stocks and the art of cold-call persuasion. In no time, he's high-fiving with the senior brokers, including fast-talking Chris (Diesel) who encourages Seth to live for his fat commissions (known as "rips") and not ask questions. Seth also strikes up an affair with Abby (Nia Long), the company's self-assured receptionist who makes good money herself – and has some history with Greg.

As you might imagine in any movie about rapid success in America, things get real good before they get . . . real bad.

The performers' collective intensity is the movie's only asset. "The Boiler Room" is about instant, rockin' gratification. As the pale, hollow-eyed and determined Seth, Ribisi is highly credible, as he climbs from questionable height to height. And Diesel has an exciting presence about him.

But the movie's false notes are impossible to ignore. For starters, Younger imposes what he thinks is a hip-hop style on the movie, including hardcore rap songs on the soundtrack, jump-editing and a small circle of white brokers who touch their crotches and talk "black" all the time. And he introduces a hackneyed subplot, in which Seth is desperately trying to gain the love and approval of his stern father (Ron Rifkin as a walking, talking morality machine) who is a judge, a stern one.

Apparently, there's bad blood between them. It seems when little Sethie broke his leg long ago, Daddy didn't hug him. Slapped him instead. It's been downhill ever since. As for the romance, why Abby would be instantly attracted to the seemingly malnourished Seth is a mystery. And why, after introducing us to the idea of a multiracial liaison, does the movie bashfully cut to the next morning as soon as they start making love? What is that about?

Ultimately, the movie can't justify itself. What do we really need to know – what mind-searing insight can be obtained? – about these characters? Why plumb the shallow depths of people whose deepest philosophical issue is: Lamborghini or Ferrari 355?

"Boiler Room" is like a cold call to your home that momentarily captures your attention. But as soon as you hear what's being sold, you slam down the phone. Sorry, no sale.

BOILER ROOM (R) – Contains endless obscenity.