Sea of Love (1989)

 

Sea of Love is a sexy, atmospheric thriller, very much in the style of Alfred Hitchcock, with involving characters, steamy love scenes, and surprising plot twists. Frank Keller (Al Pacino), is a lonely, tired, disillusioned, police detective, who has a problem with alcohol. Frank is investigating a serial killer, whom he believes finds victims by using personal ads in magazines, killing them while playing the old record "Sea of Love." In a scene both amusing and touching, Frank and his partner, Sherman (John Goodman) --aided by Frank's father (William Hickey in a lovely cameo) place a personal ad, hoping to lure the killer. Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin), a tough, sexy single mother answers the ad and begins an affair with Frank, despite the fact that she is one of the prime suspects in the case. The suspense builds as Frank, though deeply drawn to Helen, becomes more and more suspicious of her. In a splendidly crafted script from Richard Price, the plot is compelling, with plenty of action, terrific authentic dialogue and superb characterization. Ellen Barkin gives a marvelous performance as an independent, sensual and intriguing femme fatale; John Goodman is excellent as Sherman, giving a likable, shrewd, and subtly comic performance; and Pacino, in perhaps his best performance since Dog Day Afternoon, plays Frank as a man on the edge, reckless and self-destructive, lost and alone. Frank falls in love with Helen, in spite of himself, because of his loneliness and need. Pacino's skill in showing the vulnerability and neediness of Frank explains the somewhat implausible actions of his character in continuing their affair despite the mounting evidence against Helen. Harold Becker directs with great flair, bringing the story believability, without lapsing into false sentimentality.

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Review By Brendon Hanley

This high-quality contemporary film noir depends primarily on the skills of Al Pacino, who delivers a comeback performance as the desperate cop falling for one of his suspects. Pacino had appeared on screen only once since Scarface -- in 1985's flop Revolution -- and Sea of Love was widely considered some of his best work since the mid-1970s. As the femme fatale, Ellen Barkin charges the movie with sexual energy and anguish. Based on his novel Ladies' Man, Richard Price's screenplay is by turns funny, suspenseful, and melancholic as it pays homage to the classic film noir structure. The material is perfectly suited not only to Pacino's performance but also to the appropriately pallid cinematography of Ronnie Taylor.