DVD Review: Glengarry Glen Ross

[Guest TSMAdmin]

Glengarry GlenRoss: 10-Year Anniversary Special Edition

"SMELL MY DESPERATION~!!! I neeeeed those leads!!!"

 

But first things first,

 

I GET MAIL, TOO, YOU BITCHES !!!

 

This one came via SNAIL mail just last week:

 

Mr. Polk,

 

Man, are you skilled in the art of turning a phrase! Your mature wordplay, your impeccable grammar and entertaining down-home colloquialisms often brighten my many long and dreary days inside. When first reading you I often pointed out to my ‘co-workers’ (we ALL read you in here) that you must be the only real professional writer with any formal training at TSM. You are the backbone of the site, sir and it’s obvious that your fellow writers draw inspiration from your work. Seeing your picture in your most recent Velocity recap (of which we are also rabid fans), I thought you looked awfully young to be as proficient with the english language as you are. So I guess my real question is: would it be too much trouble to send me an autographed glossy of yourself to hang on my cell wall? And would you mind getting together for drinks once I am released? Reading your excellent DVD reviews make the daily anal rapings seem to almost fly by. Almost.

 

See ya 2008 !!!

 

- Cleophus James (Prisoner #01-5713-KY9042, North Augusta State Correctional Facility)

 

address withheld despite multiple requests to publish it in hopes of securing new ‘pen pals’

 

To say that I am flattered would be an understatement, Mr. James. Thank you for all the kind words. I’m sorry that I don’t write as much as I once used to, as personal life commitments often keep me away from my computer for extended periods of time. Ironically, when I finally do seat myself in front of my computer, it is to complete a paper of some sort for my English and Journalism classes. I am actually 26-years-old (27 on April 3rd for anyone who wants to send me much-deserved gifts) despite my young features. I think my Native American grandmother’s blood prevents me from growing an abundance of facial hair, which makes me look about 17. (which can be rather advantageous when you cruise high school parking lots as much as I do)

 

In summation, TWO (2) 8.5 x 14 in. glossy photographs (of me in a state of undress) are already in the mail and on their way to you. Never let it be said that I don’t bend over backwards (and quite a few other directions in those photos, you'll see) to please my most loyal fans. Take note, non-believers, it could be YOU getting naked pics of me next time. Just write in! What are you waiting for? DO IT NOW!

 

Screenplay by David Mamet based on his play

 

Directed by James Foley

 

Released by Artisan Home Entertainment and New Line Cinema

 

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

 

Rated R, 100 minutes

 

November 7th was my last DVD review (Brotherhood of the Wolf, for those inmates keeping track) so I guess I’m about right on schedule for this one. Everyone has that one movie that they believe is notoriously slept on (“overlooked” or “underappreciated” for the laymen in the room). Not enough people know the joys of Office Space, Rushmore or Election as far as I’m concerned. There are other titles that were or are STILL begging for a DVD release: the Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Back to the Future trilogies or The Godfather trilogy, for instance. Glengarry GlenRoss falls into both of these categories. It is a severely underrated masterpiece and one that hadn’t, until now, been released on DVD. But now, thanks to Artisan Home Entertainment, that wait is over.

 

The Movie:

 

Glengarry GlenRoss introduces us to the world of cutthroat real estate sales. At Premier Properties things are not going so well. The four lying con-men a.k.a. salesmen in their employ, with the exception of one, aren’t really doing the job their name implies. Sent out each night to sell acres of property that are likely either wet, weed-filled marshes or dustbowls covered in cactus, these dream-sellers just can’t seem to get their clientele to commit to a purchase. Sales are in such a slump for these men that one night their boss, John Williamson (Kevin Spacey) introduces a “motivational speaker” brought in by his bosses for an impromptu “strategy session”.

 

Blake: "What's my name? FUCK YOU, that's my name!!!"

 

Blake (Alec Baldwin), the speaker, informs the men in a none-too-friendly or tactful manner that their jobs are now on the line. They either “close” (sell some property) or walk. He announces the start of a new office contest. The top closer at the workplace wins a Cadillac El Dorado. Second place: a set of steak knives. Third place and below? *channels Vince McMahon* "You’re fired." He then teases them with a stack of new “leads”, (cards with the names, addresses and phone numbers of prospective clients), the Glengarry leads. These are considered premium leads and he won’t give them to this motley crew of losers. “Because to give them to you would be throwing them away.”

 

In order to keep their jobs and get their hands on the good Glengarry leads, they first have to close the older leads that they’ve all claimed to have seen a million times already. The old leads are all deadbeats, they say, that they wouldn’t buy a toaster. Too bad. They don’t get the good leads until they close the leads that their bosses “paid good money for.”

 

Moss: Who in the fuck did that guy think he was?

George: I'm pretty sure he told you his name was "FUCK YOU".

 

This competition sets into motion a chain of dog-eat-dog events that redefines the phrase “high-pressure”. The disgruntled Dave Moss (Ed Harris) and sheepish George Aaronow (Alan Arkin) bitch and moan constantly about their lousy leads and how they can’t close them. Finally, they conspire to steal the Glengarry leads and plan to sell them to a competing firm across the street.

 

Levine: "Buy something from me...please!!! I'll sell you my coat and hat, just buy SOMETHING!"

Guy at the door: "Hit the bricks, schlep-rock! Let my door knob hit ya where the good Lord split ya!"

 

Shelley “The Machine” Levine (Jack Lemmon), once the top seller for years at a time at Premier Properties, is in the worst slump of all, constantly trying to cut some sort of deal with Williamson to get his hands on the premium leads. Do you remember the salesmen character from The Simpsons, Gil? Gil is based on Lemmon’s portrayal of Levine. He’s a pathetic loser who just can’t win, even when it seems that victory is imminent. But he never gives up. It’s painful seeing him go on “sits” (visit the homes of potential buyers) and watch him get rebuffed and rejected time and time again, seeing him try to worm his way into their homes and hearts, desperate to sell them something, anything to gain the money to help his daughter who is in the hospital (although it is never mentioned what exactly she ails from).

 

John Williamson (Spacey) and Ricky Roma (Pacino) square off and compare waistlines

 

The only salesman that is actually on a roll is the cocky, fast-talking Ricky Roma (Al Pacino). In fact, while the others were being berated by Blake at the strategy session, Roma was at a bar, selling a potential client (Jonathan Pryce) without the use of a lead. A “cold-call”, as the salesmen call it; just striking up conversation with a complete stranger to sell them property. This is why Ricky is currently number one in the office and a lock for that Caddy El Dorado.

 

The next morning when the men come in to work, they find that the office has been broken in to and that the Glengarry leads have been stolen. Who stole them? Why? The answer is bound to surprise you but that isn’t what this movie is really about. The real story here is the remarkable acting jobs done by all those involved.

 

IMO:

 

Glengarry was originally written as a play and first performed in 1983. The film version suffers from one thing that many movies adapted from plays do. With the minimal changes in sets and locations, it feels like a stage play that just happens to be filmed.

 

This movie is about acting, plain and simple. This is an actor’s movie. Every actor in this has some sort of stage experience and a serious dedication to the craft that shows in their work. While every actor here is a potential scene-stealer, no one here tries to deliberately overshadow their counterparts. Each has their turn at dominating your screen, becoming the lead actor until it is time for them to step into the background and let the next man take over. I laugh out loud when people have the nerve to say that Traffic or even (insert hearty belly laugh here) Ocean’s Eleven contain the best ensemble casts in motion pictures. Every man here is in top form. I’m no fan of ANY Baldwin brother by any means, but Alec Baldwin even proved me wrong here. Baldwin’s turn as the motivational speaker (a part written specifically for the film version) is probably one of the most remembered scenes in the entire movie and with good reason. This is what Ben Affleck aspired to in Boiler Room but couldn’t quite pull off. Every actor here is considered, for the most part, to have turned in the performance of their careers. This is surely the case with Jack Lemmon. Al Pacino received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for this in 1992, the same year he won Best Actor for Scent of a Woman. Watching these heavyweight A-list actors verbally rip each other apart you can see that they are having a good time; like starving men hunkering down over a steaming plate of their favorite foods, devouring the feast before them. The dialogue is biting as per usual with Mamet, the acting top-notch and the direction is more than capable. You’ll soon see why this movie is used as an aid to teach potential salesmen.

 

You won’t see a better movie with better acting. Ever.

 

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This 2-disc set includes a profanity-laced commentary by director James Foley and bonus commentaries with Alan Arkin and Alec Baldwin, Magic Time: a tribute to Jack Lemmon, selected clips from both Inside the Actor’s Studio and The Charlie Rose Show and an original documentary entitled A.B.C.: Always Be Closing.

 

O. R. Polk