What is your favorite movie and why?

Mine has to be Boiler Room. Wolf of Wall Street takes all of its terminology and idea from the movie. Boiler Room is just a classic cast, plot and outcome. Margin Call is for nerds, American Psycho is about a psycho not about Wall Street, Wall Street (the real one) is probably the best just because of Michael Douglas. The Big Short is completly misguiding as well as Too Big Too Fail which portrays Hank Paulson as a hero.

:)

 

How the fuck do you drop a chainsaw on someone running down the stairs and hit them?  Unrealistic scene

 

I say that him seeing his kids in the end is real. The totem (spinner) wasn't his therefore wasn't real, the wedding ring was his totem which he had on when he saw his kids. His kids faces could also be a totem, he saw his kids faces in the end :,)

 
Best Response

Incredible, your entire cinematic universe consists only of movies about Wall Street?

Btw, Boiler Room is literally based (very, very loosely) on Jordan Belfort's story.

Anything Christopher Nolan does is genius, along with David Fincher. Really hard to pick a favorite, although Interstellar is certainly a consistent go-to that I could watch again and again and again.

Margin Call is at least 3x as good as Boiler Room, imo.

"When you stop striving for perfection, you might as well be dead."
 

Margin Call - hands down best finance related movie imo as well. But outside of that Interstellar is hands down the most brilliant film I have ever seen. So much detail and intricate physics stuffs. Ive seen it at least 15 times and could easily watch it another 15.

 

I wanted to chime in with Interstellar as well but wanted to wait until the Wall Street movie circus was ended by someone else. Thank you sir.

My favorite changes over time as I see newer and better movies. A few that stand out in my memory: Interstellar, 2001: ASO, The Longest Day, any James Bond that isn't Pierce Brosnan, Downfall, Das Boot, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, anything Hayao Miyazaki does, The Matrix 1, Terminator 1+2, Ajeossi/Man from Nowhere, Infernal Affairs 1+2+3, and so many others. There are just so many good movies from all around the world that one can't really have a single favorite.

On the topic of Margin Call: probably the least bullshit movie about finance, and that's saying a lot because nobody in their right mind would act the way Jeremy Irons did in that boardroom. "THIS IS IT!!" No, it really isn't.

in it 2 win it
 

Saw it, stunning, beautiful. Absolutely one of my favorite films, like everything else he's made.

If you're looking for some Michael Bay schlock or some touchy-feely character development story, this is not it. It's just raw suspense, a massive storyline, the emotion and the feeling comes from the situation as a whole and how all plays out. Can't recommend it enough. Don't read the reviews before you go, they're mostly useless and written by morons.

"When you stop striving for perfection, you might as well be dead."
 

My oh my, you read my mind, word for word.

GoldenCinderblock: "I keep spending all my money on exotic fish so my armor sucks. Is it possible to romance multiple females? I got with the blue chick so far but I am also interested in the electronic chick and the face mask chick."
 
FinBrah:
Top few (no order)

Inception Blood Diamond Titanic The Departed Catch me if you Can The Aviator Total Eclipse Gangs of New York The Man In The Iron Mask Shutter Island Wolf of Wall St (and it has nothing to do with Wall Street, just the debauchery... that shit gets me hyped)

As you can tell from my list I'm a huge fan of Kevin Costener.

Cool!

 

These two movies are my new favorites: The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Midnight in Paris

I have usual favorites, like tombstone, Unforgiven, more westerns. I also have classic favorites, North by Northwest, Braveheart, Seven Samauri, The Great Escape.

I really like actors more than movies, although when an ensemble cast comes together it helps make a movie great. I can watch war movies for days on end. E.g. Dirty Dozen, Black Hawk Down, Heartbreak Ridge etc.

Best Actors: Jeffrey Rush, Daniel Day Lewis, Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, James Coburn, Clint Eastwood, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman. All in all, Daniel Day Lewis is the best actor of modern times.

 

Its hard for me to pick one so I'll mention a few and state my reasons. First if you haven't watched Up In The Air I HIGHLY recommend it (your girlfriend will like it as well).

Its about a man (George Clooney) who works for a downsizing firm. His job is to fly around the US telling people they've been let go and doing it in such a way that there are very few if any complications. In comes a hot shot bad ass from Cornell who wants to "revolutionize" this process and do it via a Skype-like program.

Why did I enjoy this and continue to watch it over and over? Its a nice dose of comedy and seriousness and it made me reflect on the characters. George Clooney reminds me of myself...someone who is so focused on work and this one goal that he can't have any meaningful relationships (for me ANY relationship because at least Clooney can bang Vera Farmiga).

I also enjoyed Gran Torino because Clint Eastwood's character reminds me of myself. I've become bitter and very conservative due to the world around me changing. I sympathize with Eastwood's character and find myself drowning in nostalgia about the Good Ol' Days (90s and early 2000s).

Lastly I enjoy some Westerns such as the series with Clint Eastwood. "For A Few Dollars More" is one of my favorite and the music makes you want to hop on a horse and shoot someone.

Oh and one more to add to the list, Falling Down. HIGHLY recommended and underrated Michael Douglas flick. Ok one more, American History X.

 
C.R.E. Shervin:
Agreed, Falling Down is underrated. "What ever happened to the customer is always right".

The whole McBurgertown (or whatever it was called) scene is glorious. For anyone who hasn't seen this movie check out the following clip: [Burger Scene - Falling Down](

)

 

You cats already mentioned three of my top ten of all time -- No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood, and Children of Men. All three are characterized by existential and/or good vs. evil themes, absolutely mind blowing cinematography (especially in the case of Children of Men), great storytelling, and sparse original instrumental soundtracks.

My all time favorite though is Blade Runner. Packs all of the above characteristics, plus is a rare case of the movie being far better than the book it's based on ("Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Phillip K. Dick). And to this day I'm still floored by the pre-CGI special effects every time I watch. Probably Ridley Scott's crowning effort overall, even from a completely objective standpoint.

Can't wait for Blade Runner 2049. Normally I avoid sequels to movies I love because they tend to ruin the original for me (see also George Lucas), but in this case I'm making an exception since Denis Villeneuve (who directed another of my top ten, Sicario) is directing.

Edit -- I've never seen Falling Down but need to. Anyone know where I can catch it online, or do I need to just buy it on DVD?

 
Greg Weinstein:
I love No Country For Old Men but I will never understand the ending.

The thing with No Country for Old Men IMO is that its a philosophical movie. What makes it unique is that it isn't a clear-cut start, middle, and end and is rather up the situation that the characters are in. Its also more or less about various concept such as free will and a critique of the old Sheriff who is a traditionalist and doesn't understand his place in the world.

There is too much to write about this move and I can't do it justice so read the following (SPOILERS AHEAD): No Country for Old Men Explained

 
DickFuld:
A few of my favorites: Goodfellas Empire Strikes Back Pulp Fiction

Yes! Goodfellas was amazing, Yoda is an outstanding character and Pulp Fiction is as classic as it gets

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick at his best. In addition to the wonderful cinematography and score, the philosophical underpinning is quite interesting: is it truly moral to do "good" if you had no free will in the matter? Is it better to have free will and allow people to do "bad"? Without free will, one might be viewed as a simple machine, hence, a clockwork orange.

 

I count Limitless as a Wall Street movie so that's my first pick.

On another note, can't wait for the War Dogs movie to come out.

"It is better to have a friendship based on business, than a business based on friendship." - Rockefeller. "Live fast, die hard. Leave a good looking body." - Navy SEAL
 

Oh man that is niche. I didn't believe they'd used real animals until the scene where they gut the sea tortoise. My favorite part is the elysian theme music that carries the film - so late 70's - could just as flawlessly be overlayed on some helicopter footage of under-construction Miami condo towers at sunset

 

"North by Northwest", I am huge Alfred Hitchcock fan. "Dial M for Murder" may be number two and I'd put "The Usual Suspects" or "The Godfather" at the 3rd spot. Funny story how I learned to love "The Usual Suspects". I first saw the movie in my senior year in high school and thought the movie wasn't that special and I had like 10 minutes left of it to watch, but I was in a hurry to get to class so I said fuck it I'll just read the ending on IMDB since I thought it was going to be something obvious, as I didn't like the movie as much anyways. You should've seen the look on my face when I read that ending..... I still to this day regret not having watched the ending on film before I knew what it was

 

Billy Madison is definitely up there.

I also like Patton a lot.

Plus all your stereotypical favorite movies like Godfather, Matrix, Pulp Fiction, etc.

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 

The Usual Suspects.

Dangerous Liaisons (i got dumped by a girl once, who let me crash on her couch that night and popped that movie into the vcr before leaving me to my misery)

 

Some of my favorites at different stages in my life:

Equilibrium; Office Space; Dirty Work; The Count of Monte Cristo; Boondock Saints; Gladiator; Braveheart; American Beauty; The Matrix; Harry Potter (yes, I admit it); Closer; Momento; Artificial Intelligence

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

^^Ha, of course equilibrium would be one of your favorites.

I don't really have a favorite movie just because it really depends on what I am in the mood for at the moment but my go to answer is Heat--absolute classic.

I also enjoy, Thank you for Smoking, Equilibrium, The Dark Knight, Taken--mostly satire and the more gritty movies--something that can be brutal, but also have a message.

Monty--Yuri did not blow up in the industry that quickly, the movie spans over a decade. He was doing alright for himself, but then got really big thanks to his uncle after the fall of the Soviet Union--he had a supplier that wouldn't sell to anyone else.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Gekko21:
^^Ha, of course equilibrium would be one of your favorites.

I don't really have a favorite movie just because it really depends on what I am in the mood for at the moment but my go to answer is Heat--absolute classic.

I also enjoy, Thank you for Smoking, Equilibrium, The Dark Knight, Taken--mostly satire and the more gritty movies--something that can be brutal, but also have a message.

Monty--Yuri did not blow up in the industry that quickly, the movie spans over a decade. He was doing alright for himself, but then got really big thanks to his uncle after the fall of the Soviet Union--he had a supplier that wouldn't sell to anyone else.

even 10 years is fast.... i mean how much was that apartment worth? shit was nice

 

American History X, Dark Knight, Count of Monte Cristo, Shawshank Redemption and Troy. Brad Pitt is just too sexy to handle in that movie.

"Despite a voluminous and often fervent literature on 'income distribution', the cold fact is that most income is not distributed: it is earned." -Thomas Sowell
 

I have never had a favorite movie, but I do have many I like. Basically every movie listed plus

The Ace Ventura movies Dumb and Dumber Pan's Labyrinth was really good (not my typical choice) The Shawshank Redemption would be in the running if I was forced to pick a single favorite Saving Private Ryan Monty Python and the Holy Grail Gran Torino was like a comedy to me V for Vendetta The Princess Bride (classic) Crash A Christmas Story National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Havoc - I recommend this movie. I thought it was great, many critics disagree, curious to see what others think Kids - I haven't seen it in years, but really liked it when I saw it years ago, pretty raw, just like Havoc

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
cphbravo96:
I have never had a favorite movie, but I do have many I like. Basically every movie listed plus

The Ace Ventura movies Dumb and Dumber Pan's Labyrinth was really good (not my typical choice) The Shawshank Redemption would be in the running if I was forced to pick a single favorite Saving Private Ryan Monty Python and the Holy Grail Gran Torino was like a comedy to me V for Vendetta The Princess Bride (classic) Crash A Christmas Story National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Havoc - I recommend this movie. I thought it was great, many critics disagree, curious to see what others think Kids - I haven't seen it in years, but really liked it when I saw it years ago, pretty raw, just like Havoc

Regards

Come on man, the reason you like Havoc is because Anne Hathaway is nude.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

My Top 10

1) Saving Private Ryan 2) Shawshank Redemption 3) The Matrix 4) Goodfellas 5) Independence Day 6) Jurrasic Park 7) Forrest Gump 8) Terminator 2 9) Back to the Future 10) True Romance

"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.
 

I will say this... before I post what I consider to be my authoritative list (and I warn you, this is going to be a fairly massive post) and it will be an interesting read, I tell you... There have been a ton of good flicks mentioned here. I'm impressed about what has been said so far. I'm glad someone threw out props for True Romance, QT's first script produced.

 

some that first come to mind that nobody has yet said: Gattaca, Get Carter (michael caine version), a shock to the System (michael caine version, comparatively rare and underrated), weather man, leaving las vegas, adaptation, mean streets, bad lieutenant (harvey keitel version) house of games (just for the ending), taxi driver, fingers, some HK action (mostly chow yun fat), e.g. a better tomorrow, ABTII, hard-boiled.

favorite actors: old generation: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel; new generation: Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke

 

Woah, there's just way too much to list here but top of my head:

Alien Aliens Citizen Kane The Beach Snatch Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Drag me to Hell Ferris Buellers day off Godfather I & II Scarface (though it's been getting less and less play time over the years) The Italian Job (original) Thomas Crown Affair (original) Bladerunner Tron Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas The Hangover Dazed and Confused Fractured

WAAYYY too much to list bro...

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis, you can't trust people Jeremy
 
drexelalum11:
Lawrence of Arabia, anyone?

Definitely has one of the best opening scenes in a movie ever.

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis, you can't trust people Jeremy
 

I doubt anyone has ever heard of it, but Bubba Ho-Tep is one of my favorite movies.

A 75 year old Elvis with erectile dysfunction and a black 80 year old JFK who has had a labotomy team up in a south Texas retirement home to take on a soul eating mummy. The plot sounds a little rediculous, but the script is written in a way that makes it seem plausable (you're going to have to watch it to believe me). I cried a little at the end the first time I watched it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281686/

 

Wow, gotta say ppl in finance have awesome taste in movies. Pretty much everything named here is something I've seen and enjoyed.

Jurassic Park Menace II Society Taken American Beauty... Reservoir Dogs Alien Terminator

so many more.

 

Does anyone here use netflix instant? There are some movies mentioned here I have never seen before but definitely want to and others that I would love to see again. Great thread.

"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.
 
DurbanDiMangus:
Terrible. Why do you like that movie? Do you identify with the guy or something. Dude was super weak.

What? The movie's pretty good. I think everyone relates to the dude in some way, i.e. getting dumped. I just thought the movie had a good take to a tired formula.

 

Blade runner.

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
 
El_Mono:
Blade runner.

Blade runner's awesome.

D M:
Marley & Me

Terrible, as a dog lover/owner, I prefer to live in denial about canine mortality lol.

wanderer:
pretty much anything put out by Disney Pixar.

Yeah I agree, really enjoyed watching Up and Wall E.

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis, you can't trust people Jeremy
 
reddog23:
Pirates 2. I'm seriously hoping there's a pirates 3 someday.

I wanna Captain Stagnetti some day....

Great pick my friend.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 

The Devil Wears Prada!

You give me a gift? *BAM* Thank you note! You invite me somewhere? *POW* RSVP! You do me a favor? *WHAM* Favor returned! Do not test my politeness.
 

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Sunt nobis repudiandae sed commodi laboriosam. Maiores aperiam doloribus dolorem illo enim neque blanditiis delectus. Et natus commodi reprehenderit in.

 

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If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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You give me a gift? *BAM* Thank you note! You invite me somewhere? *POW* RSVP! You do me a favor? *WHAM* Favor returned! Do not test my politeness.
 

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