All the drama on Wall Street these days -- from the credit crunch to the housing slump, everything from runs on the bank to rogue traders -- had the Hollywood Reporter wondering recently why Hollywood isn't cashing in on the fun. Given how well most of the serious Iraq War/War on Terror movies have done lately, perhaps moviemakers will be searching for greener pastures. Heck, Gordon Gekko is scheduled to make a reappearance next year in a Wall Street sequel tentatively called Money Never Sleeps.

Until then, with a little help from the Internet Movie Database, here is a list of some of Hollywood's best takes on Wall Street so far.

• American Psycho (2000). Christian Bale stars as a soulless investment banker with a taste for violence and kinky sex. Based on the bestselling book by Bret Easton Ellis.
• The Bank (2001). This award-winning Australian film is set in a corrupt corporate bank, and like Pi features a maverick mathematician who may have found a way to accurately predict stock market fluctuations. Stars Anthony LaPaglia.
• Barbarians at the Gate (1993). This Emmy-winning made-for-television movie is based on the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in the 1980s. James Garner won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the company's CEO.
• Boiler Room (2000). A college dropout joins a small brokerage house and discovers that his new career isn't all it's cracked up to be. This film has been compared to both Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross. Stars Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Affleck.

Continue reading Where's Gordon Gekko gone? Best Wall Street movies

Where's Gordon Gekko gone? Best Wall Street movies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ewan McGregor turns in a fantastic performance as the terrified, brash gambler, and this is definitely compelling cinema. But for investors and followers of financial malfeasance, it's even more interesting.

Leeson's crimes and the failure of Barings Bank were made possible by extremely poor internal controls -- the same problems that led to the collapse of companies like Enron and Worldcom. In addition, a compensation structure that rewarded Leeson's risky gambling with the bank's money, even though it was illegal, was also a key contributor.

Continue reading Movie Review: Rogue Trader

Movie Review: Rogue Trader originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.