Boiler Room

What kind of people work in "boiler rooms," shady brokerage firms that use high-pressure sales tactics to push marginal stocks, create artificial market inflation and leave a sad trail of ruined small investors in their wake? Directionless college dropout Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi) runs a small casino out of his Queens apartment, making a tidy profit and enraging his father, a judge (Ron Rifkin). In walks Greg (Nicky Katt), a brash high roller who works for shady investment firm J.T. Marlin (that its name sounds like J.P. Morgan is no coincidence). He sets up Seth with a sharp-dressed recruiter (Ben Affleck), and Seth is thoroughly hooked by the promise that he'll...