Sea of Love

I always love any movie with Al Pacino, Sea of Love is just great movie from back in the day, that I love so much, very sensual and steamy

Seems to me 1989's "Sea of Love,", like the late Rodney Dangerfield, seldom gets the respect it deserves. It's generally mentioned in the same paragraph as those other terrific 1980's romantic thrillers: "Against All Odds," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "Tequila Sunrise," "The Big Easy," "Body Heat," Body Double," and, if you insist, "No Way Out." But "Sea" has its own particular strengths.For starters, the smart script is by Richard Price, New York born and bred, with lots of street cred. Someone on Internet Movie Database states Price was writing this script for Dustin Hoffman, who demanded too many rewrites, so Price gave it to Al Pacino, another New York actor. At any rate, Price had burst into print with "The Wanderers," a novel about young New York gang members, while still a young man. He really gets New York down on his pages, and also in his scripts: this is a real New York, New York movie. It was produced by Martin Bregman and directed by Harold Becker; they undoubtedly add to the richness of the city we see on screen.In its broad outlines, the script is original. Some of the subplots are the usual cop shop stuff that should have been retired by now: the jaded, burnt-out cop looking to retirement; the second generation cop looking to live up to the first; the cop's partner who steals the wife. But the plotting's tight, the ending's unepected, and the movie's very well acted. Al Pacino stars, giving us another New York cop, Frank Keller, who's investigating a serial killer. Ellen Barkin, at her most beautiful, plays the number one suspect and love interest. Their love scenes really could scorch the screen.This movie of the same name, made 30 years later, evidently uses "Sea of Love," an evergreen rock and roll hit, as a theme. The song was written by New Orleans native John Phillip Baptiste, AKA Phil Phillips, who had a hit with it on its first release in 1959. John Goodman brings a lot to this movie: he ably supports the stars, when they've got their clothes on, playing Pacino's new cop partner Sherman Touhey. And when the Missouri-born Goodman delivers an "a capella" version of "Sea of Love," in that New Orleans accent he's entitled to use, well, he just stops the show.This movie has great New York ambiance, a good plot, good acting, a good sound track, Ellen Barkin at her most gorgeous, hot sex scenes, and touches of humor. It stands up to repeated viewings, and like Mr. Dangerfield, it deserves some respect.

When I first saw this movie , way back in years gone by, I actually had to be shushed by my embarrassed wife for laughing out loud in the movie theater at a particular sex scene between Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino.The directors didn't know how else to further supercharge the chemistry between the antagonists/protagonists, so at one point they had her turn him around, and push him up against the wall, where he had this confused look on his face and said something to effect of "what the F"....what was she going to do? What Maria Schneider did to Brando? LOL....Then, things are so hot, that she has to take a breather, and breaks off from him, and paces around the room like a tiger surrounding her prey, before pouncing on him again.....in other words, they just tried too hard and resulted in an over the top mess.but hey, Barkin was at her youngest/hottest at this time, flaming hot, and it was a creditable whodunnit, also with a bit of buddy bonding thrown in with Pacino and Goodman.One of the earliest movies where Michael Rooker played up his patented crazy mofo routine, something he went on to perfect in so many other movies spread out in time from this one, to Guardians of the Galaxy.For someone who has never seen this, a classic example of late 80's Adult erotic thrillers, and for those who haven't seen it in a while, a reminder about why there was so much of a buzz about Ellen Barkin back then.

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Ellen Barkin is not an actor I enjoy. She's obviously permanently stayed this specific character for the rest of her life since it made her VERY famous at the time it was released. She was in a series as a drug boss and was really REALLY hard to bare, and terrifically unattractive in it although that reality has in no way appeared on her radar. The movie is good yet all too predictable. Why 4 stars? Because AL PACINO is FANTASTIC here, as always. If a lesser actor was in his place, this movie would get 2 stars.

You will see a lot of actors in this movie that were just starting out. It is a great movie.

I'd seen this movie years ago and wanted to see if it would still hold my interest today. It does! It's well written and well acted by Pacino and Barkin with a good supporting cast (Goodman, Jenkins, Hickey........).I'd read where then girlfriend Keaton (of Pacino) talked him into taking on this movie and it was good that he took her advice.

Happy to finally find this movie. RAREGood quality and fast delivery. TY

Al Pacino is one of my favourite actors! In this movie, he stars as detective, Frank Keller, who is investigating a series of murders in which the suspect may well be a young woman (played brilliantly by Ellen Barkin), of whom he becomes involved with as the story progresses.Pacino is, as always, brilliant, and he really does play the detective role very well (later on in his career, he is absolutely mesmerising (alongside Robert De Niro) in the movie, "Heat".Also, good performances from Richard Jenkins and John Goodman, and also from Michael Rooker (from the "The Walking Dead" series).I highly recommend this movie - there is also a brilliant piece of music from Sade (the song "Siempre Hay Esperanza"), and this music really sets the mood for the convincing sexual chemistry between the two main stars.

Another one of America's finest screen actors, Al Pacino, stars in this gritty New York based thriller 'Sea of Love' (1989). Pacino like Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman are amongst a handful or two of consummate film actors with a natural charisma that pulls you into whatever films they appear in, and to make you believe in their character and their situation. In this instance, Pacino plays the part of Frank Keller a New York cop who drinks a lot, lives alone after his wife decided to move in with another colleague of his at the police station, and still finds that difficult to accept. Keller is on top form when he masterminds a sure way to arrest dozens of New York's most wanted criminals by staging a sting, and to invite each of them (By way of a golden ticket) to a meet and greet the New York Yankees, at a special event celebration.Against this background there seems to be a serial killer going around killing off a number of naked men, by putting a bullet into the back of their heads, whilst the title music from a 1959 recording of 'Sea Of Love' is being played by Phil Phillips.Frank Keller is assigned to the case and manages to sell the prospect to his boss of mounting another police sting operation whereby he and Sherman Touhey (played by John Goodman) will put in a number of personal newspaper ads for lonely women, and to invite them at various times of the night to meet up at a nearby restaurant, which will be staked out by other police colleagues, and in an attempt to lure the serial killer out.Ellen Barkin plays the beautiful and very sultry female lead Helen Cruger who works by day in a shoe shop, but has Frank Keller having serious doubts over his initial judgement as to whether she is possibly the serial killer.Surprisingly for its rating the film is not that graphic. Nevertheless, this is a good enjoyable thriller that will keep you guessing right up until the end.The Blue-Ray release is good albeit, lacks any additional material that these days you would hope to see for the cost that you have to shell out.

A great old film with a fabulous performance by Al Pacino! I bought the Blu Ray version in the expectation that it would give me much improved definition over the DVD and although there is an improvement, it remains slightly blurred. Whether or not this is connected with the original production or sloppy reproduction, I am unsure. Whichever it is, the picture clarity does not stand up against say John Ford's The Searchers which was made in, I think, the 1950's, or indeed any of the other Blu Ray's I have purchased.The packaging tells us that the film was licensed from Universal by 'Fabulous Films'. Maybe they can shed some light on this.

Terrific, clever and sexy cop thriller - in fact, my favourite of the genre. A genuine original with a great central idea, smart and witty script, superb New York atmosphere and spot-on performances from Al Pacino, John Goodman and Ellen Barkin. The package arrived ahead of time, there were no problems with delivery. So, thanks very much.

Good movie,i was entertained.good acting and the plot keep you interested until the end,i am a big fan of Al pacino anyway.its not a classic like the godfather or once upon a time in America but is good enough to have this film on your collection.