Review of The Thing Called Love (1993) by Jennifer A — 23 May 2008

Reviews of Glengarry Glen Ross and The Thing Called Love....

[b]The Thing Called Love (1993) - 4.4/10[/b].

Director - Peter Bogdanovich.

Starring - River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Sandra Bullock, Dermot Mulroney, KT Oslin, Anthony Clark.

The story of four aspiring singer/songwriters, [i]The Thing Called Love [/i]is most notable for being the last film River Phoenix made before his untimely death. Samantha Mathis, River Phoenix, Sandra Bullock and Dermot Mulroney are the aspiring singers who land in Nashville hoping to make it big. They all end up at the Bluebird Cafe, run by Lucy (KT Oslin), which is a known showcase for young and emerging talent. The four singers meet different fates and fall in love. The film also features cameos from some well-known country singers.

Instead of creating something like [i]Nashville[/i], director Peter Bogdanovich makes a rather conventional drama that will likely appeal to only die-hard country music fans or River Phoenix completists. I found the entire film uninspiring and rather forced and Peter Bogdanovich is certainly capable of better. Even fans of River Phoenix should be disappointed as his last role was anything but memorable.

[b]Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) - 8.5/10[/b].

Director - James Foley.

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

[i]Glengarry Glen Ross [/i]is the story of a group of hard luck real estate agents put under the microscope by a ruthless sales executive played by Alec Baldwin. He informs the salesmen of a contest where all the losers will be fired. The salesmen won't be giving new leads, instead they must work with the same unproductive one's they have been given before. The salesmen, played by Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris and Alan Arkin, have been with the company for many years and the competition will get cutthroat as they try to save their jobs.

[i]Glengarry Glen Ross[/i], an adaptation of a David Mamet play, is certainly one of the finest scripts to hit the big screen in the 1990's. It's intense dialogue and brutal honesty is rather refreshing in an age of tepid scripts that rely on unearned sentimentality. This isn't a film that relies on visuals, instead it's a rather brutal character study of desperate men. A script as good as this is an actor's dream, and Foley assembled a rather impressive cast. All of the actors are in top form and each has an opportunity to shine. It's incomprehensible that more of the cast didn't recieve the recognition they deserved as it is one of the best acted dramas of the 90's. Only Al Pacino was recognized by the Academy (a nomination for best Supporting Actor) but several, especially Jack Lemmon, were worthy of recognition.

[i]Glengarry Glen Ross [/i]isn't a film that's going to appeal to the mindless masses. It's not interested in looking pretty or making it's audience feel good. It's interested in being real, taking a very dark look at corporate mentality and desperate men. Those who appreciate brutally honest, well-written scripts and fine acting will embrace this film. Others probably not.