Director James Foley, working with a highly resonant screenplay by David Mamet, here brings a palpable cinematic tension to what could have become a dry, theatrical piece.
Rarely moving outside the Chicago real-estate office where four salesmen learn that if they don’t crack the top two in weekly sales for the firm, they will be fired, the film speaks forcefully about decency being snuffed out by desire, good men taking wrong turnings despite their best efforts and the stench of the American Dream gone mad.
Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin and Ed Harris give note-perfect ensemble performances, Alec Baldwin appears in a telling cameo, and there’s a major early role for Kevin Spacey.
Pacino picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ricky Roma in this film. That same night, he was also nominated for Scent of a Woman in the Best Actor category and took home the prize.
Ricky Roma
Al Pacino Shelley ‘The Machine’ Levene
Jack Lemmon Blake
Alec Baldwin Dave Moss
Ed Harris George Aaronow
Alan Arkin John Williamson
Kevin Spacey James Lingk
Jonathan Pryce
Director
James Foley
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