Glengarry Glen Ross

U.S. Release Date: 10/2/92
Running Time: 1:40
Rated: R (Profanity)

Cast: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Jonathan Pryce

Director: James Foley
Screenplay: David Mamet, based on his play
Music: James Newton Howard
Studio: New Line Cinema

Rarely do you find a film – inspired by a stage drama – that is executed so excellently.  Based on the play of the very same name by David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross features three basic backdrops—the office, the Chinese restaurant, and the arduous road of making sales calls.  Elaborate and infatuating is the dialogue; extraordinary and precise is the acting. 

Glengarry Glen Ross quite possibly presents the best team of actors on the silver-screen—doing what they do best, in tandem.  There is not one poorly acted word, line, pause, or movement.  Truly, this picture is an experience that must be seen to be believed.

When the numbers are down at Rio Rancho Properties, the corporate bigwigs point their fingers at each individual sales representative.  Salesmen Ricky Roma (Al Pacino), Dave Moss (Ed Harris), Shelley Levene (Jack Lemmon), and George Aaronow (Alan Arkin) feel the pressure when they meet Blake (Alec Baldwin) and learn of a new cutthroat sales contest.  The contest works as follows:  First Prize wins a Cadallac Eldorado; Second Prize wins a set of steak knives; and, Third Prize gets the can.

The salesmen are given the same old “deadbeat leads” and are told that only closers will receive the highly-coveted “Glengarry” leads.  With their occupations on the line and their merciless boss (Kevin Spacey) down their throats, the salesmen must lie, cheat, and steal to retain their positions.  To further complicate their lives, when a robbery goes down, each member of the sales force will have to answer to the police.

Seven cool-as-a-cucumber thespians comprise this unquestionably talented cast.  Pacino, Lemmon, Baldwin, Harris, Arkin, Spacey, and Pryce are saved for all time as a consummate septet.  When Baldwin says, “Coffee is for closers only,” you are intimidated.  When Pacino speaks (in general), you are enthused.  And, when Lemmon peaks with emotion, you are amazed.

Adding mystique to the superb cast and script is the sexy saxophone score from James Newton Howard.  The jazzy sounds add elements of atmosphere to the dark, rainy, icy, subway aura that the film already exudes.  Without the fitting sounds via Howard, Glengarry Glen Ross would be – to a certain degree – a less-off feature.

Glengarry Glen Ross is a class-act production that is a master course in every aspect—direction, script, score, but most of all acting.  Ask anyone: the film’s foremost forte is found in its phenomenal ensemble cast.  Even so, how can you not love an adaptation of a stage inspiration that is two “fucks” shy of a one-to-one “fuck”-per-minute ratio?

© 2007 Brandon Valentine