Rating: 
Summary: Icing on the cake
Review: Truely icing on the cake is hearing Wayne Shorter
play sax while the credits are rolling at the end...what
terrific style to end on.........
Rating:
Summary: Wanna swing around to the Chink's?
Review: I have never been a fan of Jack Lemmon with the single exception of his stellar performance in the 1955 western "Cowboy" opposite Glen Ford. However, in "Glengarry Glen Ross," Mr. Lemmon's talent shines forth like a supernova. To critics of the film who say real businessmen don't behave this way, I beg to differ. Maybe not in front of customers, visitors or women -- but I speak from over 35 years in the sales field (5 years of it in real estate) when I say that behind closed doors the events portrayed in this film are not as farfetched as the public would suppose. That the events in the film are larger than life, yes; condensed in time, yes. But very real.The credo of most sales organizations in hiring salespeople is this: "If you throw enough s--t on the wall, some of it is going to stick." Maybe they don't use those same words, but the intent is the same. Sad but true. So, if you want to have your spirits fluffed up, buy a Disney DVD. If you want to enjoy a fine, well-written drama with an outstanding cast -- buy, rent or swindle a copy of "Glengarry Glen Ross. I recommend it both for closers and losers.
Rating:
Summary: It's All About The Acting
Review: This is quite simply one of the finest films I've seen. The story is able to be told in its purest form. The actors are allowed to act without interference of any extraneous material. Every performance is first rate, and that Lemmon was virtually ignored at awards time was absolutely criminal
Rating: 
Summary: A fantastic "small" movie about desperation
Review: A fantastic film about desperation in a shady real estate office, Glengarry Glen Ross has a tight script, tight scenes and a superb cast. Never revealing too much, it focuses on character rather then plot. It's a small movie, almost fully taking place in the real estate office (a result, no doubt, from being a David Mamet play adaptation), that doesn't waste it's time on exposition. Instead it jumps into this corrupt real estate world as though the audience already knows all about it, and flushes out the excellent characters. Each and every member of this cast shines, from Kevin Spacey to Al Pacino. But above all Jack Lemmon steals the show. His portrayal of desperate salesman is right on the mark, eliciting a wide range of emotions. He has the most depth, the most feeling, and this is positively one Lemmon's greatest roles. What helps makes this movie work is how each scene is more of a character study through which the plot is moved almost subliminally. You understand what's happening, but the movie never has to overstate the situation, it's clear in the context of the dialog. And though sometimes it seems what characters are saying often doesn't have much meaning, each line directly reflects the character. Each has their own way of lying to and cheating their customers, their own mannerisms and unique reactions. In other words, each character is fully realized as a three dimensional person. Glengarry Glen Ross is a must-see combination of the film noir and con-men genres. It never underestimates its audience and sticks to showing you the characters rather then events. After all, people's reactions to events are often much more interesting then the events themselves. This one's highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic film but where d'ya get this extras from?A morgue?
Review: The sheer joy of Glengarry Glen Ross is watching seven great actors clearly relishing the oppurtunity to work in a truly exceptional film.It's an absolutely compelling and absorbing drama blessed with superb performances.Al Pacino gives his best performance since Tony Montana as slick Ricky Roma,Ed Harris is a dynamic font of rage as Dave Moss,Alec Baldwin is memorably loathsome as Blake but it's the late,great Jack Lemmon who walks away with the film with his superb performance as the weary but energetic Shelley Levene.Glengarry Glen Ross is an incredible movie that everyone of age to see it should see.
But while the film is worth five stars,the DVD is only worth two.Despite the large list of extras,it's actually a big disappointment.The commentary by Jamie Foley is full of long pauses,he doesn't have much to say and is frankly boring.The Jack Lemmon tribute just consists of a bunch of unnoteworthy people telling their boring stories about Jack.A montage of clips from his career would have been a better tribute for the late,great Jack.The clip of him on Inside The Actor's Studio is great though.The "Always Be Closing" documentary is completely bewildering.There's nothing worse than having people bore you with stories that don't go anywhere.That's what this documentary is like.It barely focuses on the film at all,instead it mainly consists of utterly obscure real life salesmen talking about their profession.Alan Arkin is the only guy from the film interviewed on it!The "J Roy" documentary is equally mysterious.It's an ancient,black and white short film about another obscure real life salesman.These two featurettes are boring and a big disappointment.They actually have very little relevence to the film so why were they included?It's not all bad though,Alec Baldwin's scene specific mini commentary is excellent.The others are good too.The Charlie Rose interview with Jack Lemmon is very good and there's a very funny clip of Kevin Spacey on Inside The Actor's studio.Overall though,it's a letdown and the extras have a woeful lack of Pacino.But when the film's good,f**k the extras!
Rating: 
Summary: Depressing
Review: I missed this film in its original release and only recently had the opportunity to see what all the hype and fuss was about. Frankly, I was surprised and disappointed. Maybe the story held some social relevance in the early 90's, but I found little I could identify with today. What I did find offended my sensibilities. Sure, the first-rate cast members are at the top of their game spewing acid dialogue like explosive rounds from a 20mm chain cannon. I'll give it two stars for that. But real people simply don't behave this way. Civil, reasonable people would simply walk away from the story's abusive environment. I didn't buy into their predicament. The story begins with Alex Baldwin verbally assaulting the staff like the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket. If this happened in the real world today, a couple of hack lawyers would have a field day shutting down the firm and handing out civil law suits ranging from slander, harassment, creating an abusive work environment, blatant age discrimination, and who knows what else. End of story. Roll the credits. But in David Mamet's fantasy world, the liars and cheats swallow this abuse and take out their frustrations on each other, heaping load after load of insults on each other like mud over pigs. There isn't an ounce of compassion or real bonding here. I felt sorry for these losers in an ugly sort of way. The repetition of abuse grows thin until I just wanted to pop out the special edition disc and take a hot shower. So, if your thing is watching an office of grown sadomasochistic men smearing each other for two hours, then go for this. But if you prefer a redeeming value or two in your entertainment, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: PUT THAT COFFEE DOWN!!...
Review: ...Alec Baldwin screams at Jack Lemmon in mid-pour. This is one of the funniest, yet at the same time substantive and serious, movies I have ever seen. This disc is worth owning just for the "Put that coffee down" speech that Alec Baldwin gives the realtors at the beginning of the movie. But there are some nice extras on here, such as a half-hour "Tribute to Jack Lemmon," and who can deny that ol' Jack was one of the great American film actors of the past century. David Mamet is really a great playwright/screenwriter. He shows that you don't need tons of stupid special effects and sensationalist subjects to get everyone's attention. What drives a story are character and memorable dialogue. The genius of Mamet is that he really reaches the average moviegoer who is normally only interested in escapism and bombast, because everyone I've ever shown this film to loves it. It resonates so deeply with everyone, because it touches on something universal. What is funny is that so many people I've met--army recruiters, window salesmen, telemarketing managers, and residential realtors know this film and quote some its funnier lines. "That movie really captures it," my old boss once told me (he was the one who first recommended I see it!) This is the defininitive movie about salesmen in the latter half of the 20th Century. It is a classic of the same rank as Sinclair Lewis' "Babbitt" or Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman." Buy it, put it in your DVD player, sit back and let art flow around you.
Rating:
Summary: A Rarity
Review: In an age where movies are judged by how many things can be blown up and what new visual effects are used, this movie stands to the side and [smiles]. This movie is one of my all time favorites by virtue of its intense dialogue. Each scene depicts men involved in life or death negotiations, alternately sparring with and complimenting each other. It's hard not to be drawn to Ricky Roma's oratory skills or to feel pity for Lemmon's pathetic character. GlenGarry GlenRoss is worth every penny if you value the art of dialogue.
Rating:
Summary: I want the good leads!!
Review: Anyone who has ever been in commission sales will be able to relate to some aspect of this film. Its' brilliant characterizations take from commissioned salesmen that can be found anywhere. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it moves a bit slow and I would have liked to have seen a longer film with the salesmen going on more sales calls. But, it's a brilliant film nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Put That Coffee DOWN!!!!
Review: Coffee's for closers. This is a GREAT movie. Jack Lemmon's Shelly Levine is a modern day Willie Loman. This is one of the rare Hollywood films that actually respects the spoken word. Mamet has a unique style and it really translates well in this screenplay. I love Mamet's stuff and this adaptation of what is probably his best work is just fantastic. The cast is ridiculously good and Alec Baldwin gives one of his best performances in a minor role that Mamet created specifically for this screenplay. I could watch this every night and not tire of it.
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