History Film / BoilerRoom

* TheSocialDarwinist:
** In his introductory rant to the trainees, Jim considers those living paycheck-to-paycheck weaklings.

** This is actually what the senior brokers at J.T. Marlin do: promise a young NewMeat with big money, then place absurd requirements on them so they'll eventually be replaced with a new sucker. The lucky few who make it are looked down by management, who is also happily willing to let the trainees be CannonFodder while the senior brokers set up shop elsewhere (under a different name) if/when they're busted.

* HideTheEvidence: One scene shows J.T. Marlin's compliance officer [[DestroyTheEvidence altering records]] to hide their criminality. [[spoiler:Seth's deal with the FBI involves making copies of his client files onto a floppy disk so it can be used as evidence]].
* HiredOnTheSpot: The interview Seth attends is basically just a way for Jim Young to brag about his wealth to potential new hires. All they have to do afterwards is have the courage to call him the next day after getting the spiel about how much they are likely to make, and after being informed of the lack of money they will make and the grueling work they will have to perform during their training probationary period. This is subverted for only two people, a rude job applicant who gets kicked out by Jim after insulting one of the other interviewees, and a trained broker who has already has his Series 7 Securities License. [[spoiler:In a bit of foreshadowing, kicking out the trained broker with the excuse of hiring only NewMeat shows the company is fraudulent, and an outsider who already holds Series 7 could contact the Feds after realizing quickly that the company is just a pump-and-dump scheme. While someone who is trained by the company wouldn't be so knowledgeable to know the scam they are perpetuating upon J. T. Marlin's clients.]]

--->'''Marty''': [[spoiler:Hey. I spoke to Howard Goldberg over at Prudential. You lied again, you unbelievable [[PrecisionFStrike piece of shit]]. You lied to all of us. He told me about J.T. Marlin. It's a chop shop, Seth. You've been selling their shit all this time. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion How many people have you fucked over? Tell me, how many?]] All that bullshit about them wanting you to know how the business works. The great training program, remember? All the profits you made for your customers? Did you do anything for them, Seth? Tell me, did you make them ''any'' money at all? ''[Seth can only look down in shame]'' Oh god. I'm done with you, Seth. This is it. I've had it. [[IHaveNoSon I don't want to see you again]]. I don't want you to come to the house. I don't want you to call. This is ''worse'' than the casino, Seth. You've been stealing. Look at me. ''[Seth looks at him]'' You're destroying people's lives.]]

** This is actually what the senior brokers at J.T. Marlin do: promise a young NewMeat with big money, then place absurd requirements on them so they'll eventually be replaced with a new sucker. The lucky few who make it are viewed suspiciously by management. Plus, management is also happily willing to let the trainees be CannonFodder while the senior brokers set up shop elsewhere (under a different name) if/when they're busted.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: J.T. Marlin overcharges on the fraudulent stock it sells with the brokers getting a "rip" of two dollars for every share sold. While transaction fees are an industry norm, any investor should always see if their broker is "churning" (overtrading on client accounts for the sake of more commissions). Overcharging clients and churning are illegal acts that would get the firm sanctioned and the brokers banned from the securities industry for life.

* ArtisticLicenseEconomics: Seth tells a client that CNBC put a buy reco on Farrow Tech. In reality, CNBC is a TV channel that can only provide economic commentary. They ''are NOT'' broker-dealers and have no authority to recommend a certain stock. Only licensed advisors can do that. However, the client may not be aware of this.

** There's an alternate take on this in the unused ending: [[spoiler:Seth makes the same deal with the Feds and leaves the building, when a customer whose money he stole pulls up in his car and walks in with a concealed gun. He misses Seth himself, but it's not clear if he went postal after their brief run-in.]]

** The brokers at J.T. Marlin are scamming investors of their savings via securities fraud, but project themselves as honest businessmen. Several scenes show the higher-ups altering their records and lining up new office space should the feds shut it down. [[spoiler:In a deal with the FBI, Seth copies the firm's records on a floppy disk as evidence]].

** Deconstructed. The film reveals the ugly side of this scam. The brokers at J.T. Marlin are knowingly robbing investors of their hard-earned savings via securities fraud. Hoping to make a quick buck on the market, the investors in turn are investing in deals TooGoodToBeTrue. The unused ending reveals that [[spoiler:one such client plans a massacre after he lost his life savings and family]]. Seth also applied for a broker trainee role just to earn legitimately and [[WellDoneSonGuy please his father]], but doesn't realize it's a sham [[spoiler:until he starts snooping around]].

* JerkAss: Most of the J.T. Marlin brokers can be jerks at times, but Greg tops the list. He's a rude prick to not only Seth, who was dating his girlfriend Abby, but also to his subordinates. He's also mean and condescending towards Chris and Abby at times.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: J.T. Marlin overcharges on the fraudulent stock it sells with the brokers getting a "rip" of two dollars for every share sold. While transaction fees are an industry norm, any investor should always see their broker is "churning" (overtrading on client accounts for the sake of more commissions). Overcharging clients and churning are illegal acts that would get the firm sanctioned.

* HateSink: Greg, as he's a snooty and condescending JerkAss who develops a negative relationship and a painfully jealous attitude towards not only Seth, but also towards his subordinates, Chris, and Abby at times.

* HateSink: Greg, as he's a snooty and condescending JerkAss who seems to complain over many things and develops a negative relationship and a painfully jealous attitude towards not only Seth, but also towards his subordinates, Chris, and Abby at times.

* HateSink: Greg, as he's a snooty and condescending JerkAss who seems to complain over many things and ultimately develops a negative relationship and a painfully jealous attitude towards not only Seth, but also towards his subordinates, Chris, and Abby at times.

* HateSink: Greg, as he's a snooty and condescending JerkAss who seems to complain over many things and develops a negative relationship and a painfully jealous attitude within and toward not only Seth, but also towards his subordinates, Chris, and Abby at times.