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Additional Features
Befitting the film's subject matter, the bonus features on the 10th-anniversary special-edition DVD of Glengarry Glen Ross provide an even balance of topical and behind-the-scenes exploration. James Foley's commentary, like his acclaimed adaptation of David Mamet's play, is concise, articulate, and richly observant on the topics of theme, direction, and rehearsal. The same is true of shorter commentaries by Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, director of photography Juan Ruiz Anchia, and production designer Jane Musky--all are intelligent and generous in sharing their artistic approach to Mamet's rich material. The interview documentary "Always Be Closing" attempts, with adequate success, to draw parallels between the revealing anecdotes of real-life salesmen and a survey of salesmen in drama, from Death of a Salesman to Tin Men and beyond. Pennsylvania filmmaker Tony Buba's short documentary "J. Roy: New and Used Furniture" is a quirky but welcomed inclusion, with its vintage portrait of a small-time entrepreneur. The "Tribute to Jack Lemmon" is touching, funny, and deeply affectionate (Peter Gallagher's anecdotes are particularly amusing; Chris Lemmon's are appropriately moving). Lemmon himself is included in a 1998 excerpt from Inside the Actor's Studio and a Charlie Rose interview. All of these features are well conceived and sharply organized; David Mamet's predictable absence is this DVD's only minor drawback. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com Essential Video
Like moths to a flame, great actors gravitate to the singular genius of playwright-screenwriter David Mamet, who updated his Pulitzer Prize-winning play for this all-star screen adaptation. The material is not inherently cinematic, so the movie's greatest asset is Mamet's peerless dialogue and the assembly of a once-in-a-lifetime cast led by Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin (the last in a role Mamet created especially for the film). Often regarded as a critique of the Reagan administration's impact on the American economy, the play and film focus on a competitive group of real estate salesmen who've gone from feast to famine in a market gone cold. When an executive "motivator" (Alec Baldwin) demands a sales contest among the agents in the cramped office, the stakes are critically high: any agent who fails to meet his quota of sales "leads" (i.e., potential buyers) will lose his job. This intense ultimatum is a boon for the office superstar (Pacino), but a once-successful salesman (Lemmon) now finds himself clinging nervously to faded glory. Political and personal rivalries erupt under pressure when the other agents (Alan Arkin, Ed Harris) suspect the office manager (Kevin Spacey) of foul play. This cauldron of anxiety, tension, and sheer desperation provides fertile soil for Mamet's scathingly rich dialogue, which is like rocket fuel for some of the greatest actors of our time. Pacino won an Oscar nomination for his volatile performance, but it's Lemmon who's the standout, doing some of the best work of his distinguished career. Director James Foley shapes Mamet's play into a stylish, intensely focused film that will stand for decades as a testament to its brilliant writer and cast. --Jeff Shannon
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Goes to show the importance of actors,
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This review is from: Glengarry Glen Ross (Widescreen) (DVD)
This movie has been brought to my attention several days ago and thought I give it a "look-see" At first, it's confusing for some minutes until you figure out the real estate lingo, but once you get past the ordinary phrases used by the businessmen, you love it. Basically the movie takes place in a real estate company on its last leg. During the night, someone breaks into the building to steal the Glengarry Leads. The good leads.This movie kept my attention greatly and Lemmon as Shelly gives an emotional and stirring performance. His facial expressions and his movements add to the whole effect of his character and it showed he could still act in major motion pictures. Arkin as George may have the hardest character to play as he plays a shaky and often on-his-toes salesmen, a good performance. Harris as Moss gets to do most of the screaming in the movie and that's always easy for Harris, he always does a good job. Baldwin as Blake has a short scene but makes an impact and it lasts. You just listen and stay attentive when Baldwin is speaking. It's that good. Spacey as Williamson has to play an embarrassed and often ridiculed office manager but Spacey's performances are always electric. Finally, the Oscar nominated performance of Al Pacino as Ricky Roma is quite possibly my favorite movie character ever. Pacino's usual swagger is there but this time it's there with an attitude. His screen impact is matched by no one in this movie and you'll love this character. With the exception of possibly Serpico, this is Pacino's best performance of his career and should've won the Oscar and probably would've if he didn't win for Best Actor that year. If you don't mind strong language and you love pure acting and dialogue and possibly the greatest cast ever assembled, you'll love this movie. I give my recommendation to anyone who likes Lemmon, Pacino or just fantastic acting in general. This movie should be considered one of the greatest ever but it always gets passed up. Watch it and you'll see why you.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Put that coffee down!,
By
This review is from: Glengarry Glen Ross (Widescreen) (DVD)
If you're looking for car crashes, gun fights and naked people you won't find them here. But if great dialogue and raw emotion hold your interest, it doesn't get any better than this. Every one of these guys should have won an award for their roles in this movie. Not sure if this particular DVD contains the interview with Jack Lemmon that was included after one of the cable TV broadcasts of the film. If not, it should!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Always Be Closing!,
By
This review is from: Glengarry Glen Ross (Widescreen) (DVD)
Most people think of explosions, car chases and action/adventure films as guy movies. Well, maybe, but those are for boys. There's no car chase in this movie, no deaths and no guns. But it manages to hold your attention while telling its story of real estate salesmen. This is the quintessential guy movie. This screen adaptation of David Mamet's Pulitzer-winning play is incredibly stagebound, which was a stroke of genius: thus, the fast-paced dialogue and the desperate, macho facades of the characters become, and stay, the focus. This allows the amazing talents of the cast to flourish. Pacino and Lemmon are untouchable. Ed Harris is outstanding. Having just the four main characters makes the whole thing seem oddly forced at times. Baldwin's slick delivery of his ball-busting speech to the three underachieving salesmen, is a scene to remember. Highly recommended.
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