Review of Sea of Love (1989) by Alex K — 28 Dec 2016

Al Pacino and Hellen Keller star in a film produced by Martin Bregman, Sea of Love. Pacino is Frank Keller, a New York Police officer that is on the job for 20 years. He is about to come across one of his most complex cases yet. Various men are being killed and they are leaving the record "Sea of Love" playing on the record player. Investigation points to a woman, that is killing men that are leaving an ad in the section of the newspaper.

Pacino and his partner Detective Sherman (John Goodman), decide to set up a sting operation and put up their own ad in the paper. They begin dating several women, and try and finger the culprit. Along the way, Keller comes across the beautiful Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin). Keller begins courting her, despite the fact that she really could be the killer. His instant connection with her makes her believe she cannot be the killer, even though various signs and evidence throughout the movie point to her.

Sea of Love attempts to be a steamy dark crime thriller. The film gets somewhat lost in the romantic entanglement between Pacino and Keller, and gets to be a bit too distracting from the case. Keller and Pacino put up average performances to keep the film afloat. The film noir has more potential than is brought forth on screen. Sea of Love is an average crime drama that could have brought more to the table with some of the names attached.

-12.29.2016.