Rogue Trader
Rogue Trader

Rogue Trader

1999Movie101 minEnglish

Rogue Trader tells the true story of Nick Leeson, an employee of Barings Bank who--after a successful trading run--ends up accumulating $1.4 billion in losses hidden in account #88888.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes39%
Metacritic48/100
Google Users67%
Director: Matthew E. DaviesGenres: Drama, Crime, Biography

Plot Summary

Nick Leeson, a driven and ambitious trader, moves to Singapore to expand his bank's operations. Initially successful, his life spirals out of control as he engages in increasingly risky and fraudulent trades to cover mounting losses. His actions ultimately lead to the collapse of Barings Bank, one of Britain's oldest financial institutions.

Critical Reception

Rogue Trader received mixed reviews from critics. While Ewan McGregor's performance was generally praised for capturing the character's descent, many found the film's pacing uneven and the portrayal of the financial world somewhat superficial. Audiences were divided, with some appreciating the true-crime thriller aspect and others finding it less engaging than similar films.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Ewan McGregor's energetic performance as the flawed protagonist.
  • Criticized for a predictable narrative and a lack of deeper exploration into the complexities of financial markets.
  • Some reviewers found the film to be a competent but uninspired retelling of a true story.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be an interesting portrayal of a real-life financial scandal, with many highlighting Ewan McGregor's strong performance. However, some viewers felt the movie lacked the excitement and depth they expected from a story of this magnitude, finding it a bit dry at times.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Nick Leeson, whose unauthorized trading activities led to the downfall of Barings Bank in 1995. Leeson himself had a cameo in the film as a 'talking head' during a news report sequence.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

My team were young, they were hungry, and they didn't have a clue. I don't have youth on my side, as regards Nick Leeson's quote that headlines this small review, but I was hungry for a good film and I didn't have a clue about what it wo...