Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) – J. Foley

It’s an acting masterclass from Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, and Alec Baldwin using a script by David Mamet (based on his play) and directed by James Foley. Aside from Spacey (the office manager), they all play real estate salesmen, mostly down on their luck. Alec Baldwin (a high-flyer from the head office) is brought in to threaten them to start closing deals – or else!  Lemmon seems to be in the most dire position, with a sick daughter in the hospital and out of funds.  Only Pacino has been selling and he has Jonathan Pryce on the hook as the film unfolds.  But when the premium “Glengarry” leads are stolen, the office falls apart as everyone is suspected.  Although only Pacino received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, everyone here is given some choice dialogue in that emphatic (and highly profane) Mamet style.  It’s gripping…and sad.  These guys are busting their butts in order to convince people to invest their hard-won savings in some highly doubtful get-rich-quick property schemes.  Clearly, they’ve got to sell their souls (as Baldwin seems to have) and be ready to exploit others without feeling in order to climb the ladder of success.  Such is capitalism.