best business movies and books

[selkirk]

most of these films are available, ie. amazon, or a dvd, I can get these through zip, and in the future netflix. well worth getting for the most part.

in no particular order, to make the list must be able to get, and be accurate.

1.Barbarians at the Gate 1993 107 min. HBO
stars James Garner, this is a great adaption of what some people believe is the greatest business book ever written. not sure if it is the best but it does make the list.

the film tells the story of the RJR Nabisco and is accuarate except for the bathroom scene where he cannot use the toliet without people trying to pitch him deals for the company. enjoyable for all, including people who do not care for business, the excesses, greed and the games of a market in merger mania.

2. Salesman, is a 1969 documentary from the Maysles brothers. They also did the Rolling stones documentary which is also considered a classic, and maybe the best one concerning rock and roll, another contender is the band, the last waltz.

back to salesman, if you have ever sold anything, then you should watch as these four salesman five including the boss, peddle bibles door to door.
this is often referred as the greatest business documentary ever.
this 85 min film is great just to listen to the people and the sales people and how one struggles near the end.

there is plenty of great lines including when the boss tells the bull "at least you eat like your successful".
do not let the black and white stop you from enjoying this great film.

3. Wall Street
1987 126 minutes
there are some accurate parts and a few that are not, however many people I know that trade or are in the investment businses have seen the film and have it, and can quote from the show again and again.


thanks
selkirk

 

[selkirk]

if anyone has any to add feel free. Trading Places does not make the list, it deals with futures trading but not accurate..., still a funny movie.

dealers among dealers was a documenatary film that was released 14 years ago about the diamond/jewelry trade. a great film but hard to get so not on the list, saw it on the passionate eye, and not wide release...great film.

4. The Corporation
a Canadian documentary released in 2003 145 minutes long. TVO 3 hour version that is the one I saw. also a dvd edition.

- do not agree with this film, basically this film believes most Corporations are destructive to overall society.

it makes the list since it is well done, and though has a left wing point of view towards business, does make some good points... (does leave out some other important arguments).
the film interviews people on the left and others that are pro business and let them have their say.

a well done film that I do not agree with, however makes the list...know someone who is anti business then this is for them, and for anyone who wants to think about the modern issues.

ebert thought it was to long, would agree but overall got good reviews, again well done and worth watching, though this is the one on the list would not watch on a regular basis.

thanks
selkirk

 

[Kid Bro Sweets]

I really like Boiler Room even though i never fully understand how their business worked

 

[IE]

Rogue Trader (1999)

true story of the Barings Bank employee who brought down the entire organization through clever insider trading.

 

[selkirk]

IE that is a film going to look for, saw a small documentary on it, amazing how quickly a large well established institution was effected by a trader and poor managment and safeguards.

KBS boiler room is another film to add to the list, also liked it; the only part is that most boiler rooms would sell to anyone as long as they have a pulse..in the movie they prefer to sell to men. heard an interview who was charged in Canada, Quebec. he believed could sell anything to anyone, by the way he knew a large amount about the law and what province (ie. Canada, and states) were best to operate in and the punishment (for the most part light ) if he was caught. some of the laws have been improved so not sure where they would operate today...

basically (the few I read about, most of the info from victims).

1. the boiler room (selling company, would get a large percentage of stock on a penny stock, would want to buy a large amount of it.....get it..

then sell the stock to investors in small amounts at first, lets say $1000-$10,000

2. as an investor you notice your stock go up maybe a few cents, just what the person told you would happen.

3. since it is working they sell you more and more, larger amounts, they own the stock and are slowly guiding it up..., near the end many of the investors have gains on paper.

4. the boiler room is selling the stock to investors (victims) at higher and higher prices, they convince every investor to buy at higher prices, they own the stock...the boiler room.

5. the trouble comes when the investor want to sell in many cases (thousands, case I read about 80,000-250,000) of stock. many people put all of their savings in the play...when they go to sell there are no buyers and no volume and the stock crashes down...sharply. the boiler room controls owns the stock and sells it, and manipulates the stock price and volume higher. at the end hundreds sometimes thousands investors lose most of their money.

this is just one example of a boiler room.

these two films are worth adding to the list and also trading places should also be put on, though not that accurate still the background is future trading (sped up).

thanks
selkirk

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Thanks Selkirk. I'm going to check them out.

 

[selkirk]

thanks WHN, there are some good films to check out...going to see if I can track down dealers among dealers.

going to check out facebook movie this week.


here are some more
Final Offer, is a 1985 Canadian documentary about the negotiations between UAW the Canadian division and GM in Canada.

This is a great film about contract disputes and watching the two sides, mainly the union negoatiate a new contract. after this they broke away to form the CAW Canadian Auto workers and became one of the biggest and most powerfull unions in Canada. great film and some words I still do not know what they mean...

this award winning film shows how a deal is done.
Can be found in Canada not sure about the US.
78 min long.

Owning Mahowny
2003 104 minutes
this film is about a Toronto bank employee who stole 10 million from the bank he worked embezzled funds from CIBC bank.

he was an addictted gambler, warning if you bet max, on all visiting teams in baseball or all the horses who are number 4 for the max...you have a problem.

good film based on a true story about the biggest bank fraud at the time in Canada.
good cast, the book Stung is great, and is even better than the film, that is a page turner...



well that is the list for now if anyone has anything to add feel free....in a few months, will set one up for books, plenty of great books on business and investing..l..

thanks
selkirk

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I saw Owning Mahowny. It was okay, but I don't remember it being anything special.

 

[selkirk]

WHN it got good reviews, not the greatest film, but a good one, everyone has different opionions...; not a bad list, of the films listed there are some I prefer over others....

should note: CNBC is not worth much but they do some decent documentaries, house of cards, Mcdonalds are two of the better ones...

should note: own a small position on mcdonalds so biased, but told the story how they turned it around.

thanks
selkirk

 

[Kid Bro Sweets]

http://deditv.com/play.php?v=f7e9db0a21bad08e5c6f93e6b073130d

Inside Job - just started watching so no reivew