Word: pacino
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Other than witnessing Pacino's versatility, Baldwin's corporate intensity, Harris' moral indignance and Lemmon's superbly pitiful side-stepping, "Glengarry Glen Ross" is better seen as a stage production. And it's best seen after you've had enough sunshine to combat the film's dour undercurrent...
...sells us on the idea that life stinks when you're at the bottom. The mud of American society is filled with salesmen. They make little money, fight insanely hard for it and go home with no pride at the end of the day. Pacino, in the role of Roma, has made it to the top of this dung heap...
...indisputable master of earthly hell and knows it; wherever he goes, Pacino manipulates, sells and scrounges. If one ever wonders where Roma gets his incredible powers, she need look no further than the devil himself. Only Satan could inspire treachery like Ricky Roma's: He won't go back on a sale even if it means it will cost the customer his marriage; he feeds the egos of co-workers in order to maintain their tenuous loyalties; Roma even sits back when the co-worker he adored just five minutes ago is pegged by the police...
...other characters in "Glengarry Glen Ross" make it easy for Pacino to be bad: Jack Lemmon fills the role of Shelly Levene, an overworked, unconfident shadow of a "great" salesman ten years past his prime. Lemmon simpers and croons to customers, selling his soul to regain an irretrievable glory. In the end, he makes a good feast for Roma when the sleazy real estate sales company that puts a roof over both their heads crucifies...
...fact that director James Foley sticks too close to play format deprives "Glengarry" the possibilities that film give it. Instead, only the mighty but topically depressing performances by Lemmon, Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin and Pacino keep us interested. We receive no alternate stimulation by movement, day-light or more than the five principal actors...