Memorable, crazy movie

Good concept, poorly executed.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

"Sea of Love" What can I say, it has Al Pacino and John Goodman in a movie with Ellen Barkin and Michael Rooker. It's as if the people who cast the film wanted nothing more than the creation of an easy link when they played Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.Brando was in "The Godfather" with Pacino who was in "Sea of Love" with Barkin who was in "Diner" with Kevin Bacon.Robert Downey Jr was in "Iron Man" with Jeff Bridges who played the Dude along side John Goodman who was in "Sea of Love" with Rooker who was in "JFK" with Kevin Bacon.It is kind of what the movie does best, gives you those links that lets you work around the over used movies like "A Few Good Men." Going through "Diner" is a lot more satisfying than going through "JFK," but sometimes you are just there and might as well take it.Wait, what does all of this have to do with the movie? What do 90s drinking games have to do with Sea of Love? Absolutely nothing, it was just space filler."Sea of Love" is not a bad movie...but it is one that you have seen before. "Jennifer 8" is the same style but with a cooler ambiance. "The Ambulance" is the same sort of movie with a stranger plot.Unless you are a die hard Pacino fan...and who isn't?...you probably came across this movie on WGN at noon on a Sunday.Sunday Manatee is "Sea of Love" with Al Pacino...because you aren't watching cable so we can't afford to give you something premium.It's that type of flick and nothing more and nothing less.

I remember watching this on TV back in the early 90s. It was the first film I saw starring Al Pacino, and I must say I found him likable here.Anyhow, the plot is real good with the exception that the killer - who isn't revealed until the end - didn't have to appear at all earlier in the story, but does, in a minor role.Supporting cast very well chosen.Good directing, even interesting music, for being made in the 80s.There's one thing that bothers me, and this isn't on the account of Sea of Love, but rather another movie: Burn After Reading. I believe that the Coen bros did borrow quite a bit from this picture. Not only Richard Jenkins, who plays the Hardbodies Manager in BAR, but also the dating feature, which is rather crucial to the BAR story, and the peculiar sequence when Pacino discovers Barkin's gun in her bag. He kind of freaks out and starts jumping about, very neurotically. Clooney almost copied this sequence in BAR after realizing that he has shot a guy (Pitt).

'Is everyone in this movie a giant, or is Al Pacino a midget?' I found myself asking halfway through this movie. One google search later and I got my answer. Say Hello to my little friend.Next question: Is the killer the strange looking blonde woman, or is there someone else with too much time on their hands? Al's a cop. He's assigned with a murder case. He falls in Love with #1 suspect. Conflict of morals. But wait! My house-mates thought we would watch this movie and laugh at it's clichedness. In all honesty, it wasn't that bad. The plot twist we didn't see coming (probably because we were too busy trying to find things to laugh at) and Fred Flintstone plays Al's cop partner, and does a cracking job of it to boot.The blonde woman gives Al a pair of shoes. I'm not sure what the significance was, but the director thought it was worth dedicating a few scenes just for them.Al Pacino dresses in Clothes made for a normal sized person. I can see the logic, Big Clothes = Big Person, right? But if you've ever been to Asda on a Saturday morning, you'll know this already- Wearing a size 8 top doesn't make a size 20 girl look any skinnier. And wearing a size L suit don't make Al any taller. He just looks like he's shrunk in the wash. This isn't the peak of Al's career. (how could it be? This guy was in Jack and Jill for chrissake!) But it was in no way the depth of it either (Godfather III)If you're looking for a really OK murder mystery starring Al Pacino , then look no further.

I wouldn't rank this among Pacino's best, nor will I remember it for years to come, like I would other Pacino movies, but for a sexy thriller it does the job. This movie does a good job at keeping you out of the loop, when it comes to the culprit. You're never fully sure what is behind Ellen Barkin's mysterious character, but you can't help but keep watching. Al Pacino plays somewhat of an alcoholic who becomes more and more infatuated with Ellen Barkin as the movie goes along. Let's face it. Pacino can play cards for an hour, and he'll grab your attention. Thankfully, he doesn't phone it in here, and goes full in. I especially liked the scene where he is undercover, interviewing woman at a restaurant to try and find the killer. He was fantastic here, but that shouldn't be any surprise. His chemistry with Barkin was pretty good as well. I touched on Ellen Barkin briefly at the beginning of the review, but I can't understate her great performance, or her enormous sex appeal. Some of her steamy scenes with Al Pacino had me in awe. It was pretty hot stuff. John Goodman is quite good as Pacino's friend, whilst Michael Rooker makes a memorable appearance at the end. I did think the ending was a bit subdued, and it does tend to drag at places in the middle, but overall, I dug it. I recommend it. P.S. Keep on the lookout for Samuel L. Jackson!7/10