Sea of Love (1989)

Director:

Harold Becker

Writer (WGA):

Richard Price (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

In search of a killer, he found someone who's either the love of his life... or the end of it.

Plot:

Frank Keller is a New York detective investigating a case of a serial killer who finds the victims through the lonely hearts column in newspapers...

Plot Keywords:

Title Based On Song | Hitchcockian | Erotica | Police | Serial Killer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Det. Frank Keller
Ellen Barkin	...	Helen Cruger
John Goodman	...	Det. Sherman
Michael Rooker	...	Terry
William Hickey	...	Frank Keller Sr.
Richard Jenkins	...	Gruber
Paul Calderon	...	Serafino
Gene Canfield	...	Struk
Larry Joshua	...	Dargan
John Spencer	...	Lieutenant
Christine Estabrook	...	Gina Gallagher / Lonelyheart
Barbara Baxley	...	Miss Allen
Patricia Barry	...	Older Woman
Mark Phelan	...	Murdered Man
Michael O'Neill	...	Raymond Brown

Runtime:

112 min | USA:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

According to the documentary included with the DVD, included in the final cut of the film is a scene where Al Pacino's character gets rudely bumped into on 5th Avenue while trying to court Ellen Barkin's character. According to the director this was an unscripted moment caused by a real New Yorker and not an extra. Pacino incorporates the moment into his performance and continues without missing a beat.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Mirror bending as if it was made of rubber, when Helen's husband is pushing Frank against it.

Quotes:

Det. Frank Keller: What's she gonna do, shoot me? We're in a restaurant!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heat (1995)

Soundtrack:

SEA OF LOVE

A fine thriller, and a great movie with great acting.

This is one great movie, not only a thriller which it is also. Sometimes a movie will come out so that watching it will be like reading a good book. This is one of few. Excellent script, great acting and directing and photo – and the additional point in introducing Barkin's character far into the film makes for a much more convincing narrative. Both Pacina and Barkin have always been great actors, and here they are at their best, perhaps because of a certain tension between them – one cannot decide if they are friends personally or hate each other, or perhaps they create the ambivalence just because they are superb actors. Anyway, I don't know if this one got any major awards, but it sure should have. Besides Barkin is one hell of a woman, and I supposed that Pacino is one hell of a man.