Review of Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) by Itamar K — 19 Aug 2011

When David Mamet directs his own movies, the delivery is too awkward for anything to actually work. James Foley's directorial work, however, while it isn't in any way original or unusual, is solid and subtle enough to let the real strengths of Mamet's play - the characters and the dialog - shine through perfectly, while not feeling too much like a filmed stage play.

The dialog plays out wonderfully and makes this very simple and very minimalistic story, based almost entirely on conversations, fascinating and engaging from beginning to end; and the character study is some of the best I've ever seen, aided of course by the terrific cast.

Al Pacino was the only one to get an Oscar nod out of this, but his performance is not the only great one, and it's not the best; Jack Lemmon stole the show completely, and Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alan Arkin, and Also Alec Baldwin - as a show-stopping one-scene-wonder, a scene that lays the groundwork for his work on the first seasons of 30 Rock - all give a lesson in truly great acting.

Highly recommended for anybody who doesn't need a car chase or a nude scene to enjoy great cinema.