marcusq22 Some tips for anyone who had difficulty with this film (from a guy who gained an appreciation for it after his first viewing):Don't go into it expecting a traditional three-act structure with rising/falling action and a resounding conclusion. This is more of a "show about nothing" a la Seinfeld (and even Catcher in the Rye). We're basically just following these quirky characters to see what crazy thing they'll do next.Another lens through which you can view this film: I suspect that Mamet penned this story as a form of therapy. It just seems "too real" to be pure fiction. I think it was cathartic for him to write it, and could potentially be therapeutic for anyone else who's had an awful, high-pressure, job.

thejcowboy22 One of the greatest cons of all time is the sale. Convincing someone to buy a product, even if they are just looking or vaguely interested. The art of the sale. I admire my Son cause he has the gift of selling. Starting out as a young car salesman in Rhode Island My son learned his trade by studying body gestures and facial expressions. Went to seminars just to learn how to win over someone's confidence implementing empathy with the customer, staying focused on your goals with a certain responsibility supplementing persistence and optimism despite the numerous rejections. Many intricate parts to the art of the sale but what it takes to sell real estate "BRASS BALLS". Glengarry Glen Ross is such a picture as it takes a look at the underbelly world of sales, Following the lives of four real estate salesmen. Unscrupulous, cunning and crafty but reaching a dead end with empty leads dispensed by the office manager Williamson (Kevin Spacey). The story draws the initial attention to a slumping salesman Shelley Levene (Jack Lemmon) who is on the phone discussing a medical issue about his ailing daughter. Shelley's daughter's illness never goes any further in detail but Shelly needs to close an account for her medical care. Now, in his early Sixties, Shelley Levene was once a dominant force in the real estate game. Shelly, has fallen on hard times and Williamson lets him know it. A meeting is held in the home office as a brash well dressed man enters the Room as he see Shelly pouring coffee and orders him to put the coffee down. "Coffee is for closer!" exhorts the tall stranger who's name is Blake (Alec Baldwin). This scene is worth watching as the revolting Blake tells the dyer realities of not closing a customer with the consequences of losing their jobs. Blake continues his sermon to these frustrated salesmen telling them either they sell these properties and use the leads you already have.Alec Baldwin gives a speech that reminds me of the movie Patton starring George C, Scott with strength and conviction yet arrogant to his audience as Dave Moss (Ed Harris) questions why he wastes his time preaching how great salesman he is to us losers. Blake's brash reply, "Cause Mitch and Murray asks me to." In Blake's hands are the New Leads but he indicates you don't get them. Shelley insists the existing leads are a dead end. Blake drives into high gear as he tells them their wimps and that he could close them himself and make $15,000 dollars tonight on those leads. Meanwhile Rick Roma (Al Pacino) is in a local restaurant/bar trying to sell properties to an unsure, indecisive buyer James Lingk (Jonathan Pryce). Roma does a fine job playing on Lingk's insecurities.Making the sale sound like more of an opportunity than a purchase and done quite eloquently. Shelley desperate due to his daughter's health tries to meet with Williamson to get the new leads Bribing Williamson with money he doesn't have. Williamson tells Shelly forget it; no chance as he leaves Shelley in the rain. In an another car Moss meets with another salesman George Aaronow (Alan Arkin)who seems a bit inexperienced at this sales job as Moss has a plan to have George break in the office and steels the new leads and sells them to a competitor. George wants no part of that scheme. We follow Shelley to one of his potential sales but the persons isn't interested in buying. I felt that scene was important to show the frustration and hopeless downward spiral salesmanship can become. The authenticity of the scene shows a last ditch effort for a sale vanquish in failure. Poor over-the- hill Shelley wearing his Fishing hat and raincoat gives you empathy in the Shelley character as the next morning's events will show. Desperation can drive a man to do anything. Alan Arkin's Character shows a believable lack of confidence and tremendous helpings of paranoia. Pacino and Lemmon work well together in the office scenes as authorities close in on the suspect. Spoiler Alert!!! but worth seeing The climactic ending. Lemmon is verbally pounding Spacey against the ropes and this leads to a dramatic turnabout as the Levene character incriminates himself and Spacey has the upper hand. Shelley breaks down in shame would make Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman look minor by comparison. I felt that Spacey had the best lines in the movie among this all-star cast. This reminds me of the Ray Charles song entitled "BUSTED" as one of the lines was ,"I am no thief but a man could go wrong when he's busted. Shelley's desperation lead him down the wrong path as his best years are behind him in many ways . Sorry realistic commentary by screen writer David Mamet.I give this classic movie 7 sets of steak knives.

TonyMontana96 This film has some of the most original dialogue I have ever heard in the pre-Pulp Fiction era, and David Mamet who wrote the screenplay has ensured each actor has plenty to work with, and they do and deliver brilliant performances. Among the cast is the great Al Pacino, the very good Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin and Alec Baldwin. The story is extremely well structured, it's rather funny at times, the pace is excellent, the characters are all different to one another, they have personality, strengths and best of all, intrigue, you have no idea what they're going to say or what they're going to do, and that is one of the greatest things your film can have, and this particular picture is one of originality, depth and excellence.Mamet's dialogue has energy as well as surprise and his screenplay is rather close to perfect. Al Pacino gives another brilliant performance, Spacey is very good, Lemmon is most impressive, Ed Harris is also really good, as well as everyone else. However Baldwin was most surprising, I have never seen him this good, usually he's just okay, but here he makes the most of his scene with a memorable passage, delivered extremely well, his mannerisms were very good, including one line where he is asked by Harris "Who are you, what's your name", his response "F**k you, that's my name, which was rather funny. The picture also has one or two rather sad moments, where you see the character's thinking about what has just happened, and you care for their character's because there intriguing, complex and most of them; very likable, also exceptional is the direction from James Foley and the look of the picture. Overall Glengarry Glen Ross has plenty of great original dialogue, superb writing, a brilliant story and absolutely outstanding performances from its talented cast.

videorama-759-859391 My father was a salesman for years. Amway, Jojoba, Legal And General, Ocean Salvage, etc. I would go out with him, a few times at night, and I would sit waiting, may'be two hours. on some occasions. He would come out, holding it in his stride. Had he stirred interest in a potential client, or was it a no show. He had me wondering every time. He was a good bloody salesman, in one job that's bloody hard, where patience and perseverance are tested. You get this vibe, of such such utter desperation, all through this film, set in a rundown real estate office, a perfect set piece, where across the street is their watering hole/Chinese restaurant, which took me back to Cadillac Man. At the moment, things are pretty down at Mitch and Murray, this downtown real estate office, in lower area of New York, where jobs are on the line, and it's employees are given an ear bashing and a hard and nasty word from a boss (Baldwin-explosive and intense) outside of this office. He makes a meal of the role, savoring every moment of his screen time. This cameo, we thanks him as much as we did, Matthew McConaughey's in The Wolf Of Wall Street. Yes, it's harder to sell that great sell and speech. The real thing that works here is the utter desperation of these guys, trying to make a buck, where their potential clients, and no so potential ones, who are sucking them dry, especially Lemmon's wonderfully played character, where one feels his desperation, most. He's acting is top pro, done to such perfection and solid conviction, you don't want to tamper with it, in any way. This character has a lot to worry about. That scene with him, sweet talking the husband of a woman client, where minutes later, he practically shoves the door on him, was so sincere and believable, you would see this scenario happening right in front of you. We have a couple of potentials who turn out to be cuckoo. Things have got so bad, some of our employees, hungry for these new leads, these "Glengarry leads" and are willing to steal, where one resorts to just this, but who could it be. Bring on the thriller element. GGR is compelling viewing all the way through, as are the actors brilliant performances, Al Pacino's character, of course, as hotshot Richard Roma, stealing the limelight, where I too, loved Spacey, as the weak minded galah, running the place, where evidently, this guy shouldn't be. You learn too, salesmen can be such backstabbers, towards their colleague's backs. I was much fascinated by Harris's character, as the much angry and jealous, hotheaded employee, with a sort of bullying nature, his great performance was stacked up beside the others. GGR is driven excitedly by dialogue and commanding acting, where the actual movie script, is almost description non existent, but we know we're safe here, when we're in the hands of David Mamet. You'll love the film as much as Pacino's voracious moments, and outbursts. The film has been done solid, thanks to the acting and script, and too done under the wonderful direction and watchful eye of a versatile director, who makes movies, that I like. If you're a talk show host, you should see Talk Radio, if you're in real estate, you should see Glengarry Glen Ross.