Boiler Room Critique

MGT 1102 ± ETHICS MOVIE REVIEW

The Boiler Room

Behnoush Sorkhpar Maximilian Smith Evgenia Suvorova Ryan Levenberg Sheena Shaikh

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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1.0 OVERVIEW OF PLOT ³There's an important phrase that we use here, and think it's time that you all learned it. µAct as if¶. You understand what that means? Act as if you are the fucking President of this firm. Okay?´ Jim Young (Ben Affleck)

The Boiler Room story is told through the eyes of Seth Davis, a college dropout who is seeking the approval of his by-the-book judge father. Seth prides himself on the underground gambling business he runs out of his apartment in the suburbs of Queens, New York which after the urging of his father and a new employment prospect at a brokerage firm, Seth reluctantly shuts down. Seth¶s fortunes seem to change when he meets a successful man who promises him a lavish lifestyle and his first million within three years if he comes to work at the brokerage firm, J.T. Marlin.

Primarily to appease his father, Seth decides to visit J.T. Marlin to pursue what he thinks is a legitimate career as a stock broker. The story traces Seth¶s humble beginnings as a junior associate, learning the ropes of the ruthless business world to his quick progression as one of the fastest learning, results oriented employees at the firm. Seth finds that he is beginning to become part of the firm¶s brotherhood but starts to question the unusually high commissions that J.T. Marlin is able to pay its brokers. This hesitation continues throughout the movie, as he uncovers more evidence related to dishonest business practises. Seth goes through a moral battle in which he tries to deny the harm that the firm is causing regular people in favour of his ego and lifestyle.

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2.0 ETHICAL CONCERNS 2.1 Corporate Governance

In a corporation, the ethical environment and the company¶s system of values begins with the Chief Executive Officer....