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

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:

The apprehension of criminals by arranging a "Meet the Yankees" breakfast was based on an actual event.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Frank enters Mackey's apartement the second time, he leaves the door wide open. When Gina arrives it is closed.

Quotes:

Det. Frank Keller: Last time, she walked. Maybe this time I can get prints.
Det. Sherman: Yeah right. What are ya gonna do, Frank? Send your dick to the lab? Man, that'll be a hell of a story in court. "Well, Your Honor, first I whipped it out, then she whipped it out, if you know what I mean."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heat (1995)

Soundtrack:

SEA OF LOVE

Lonely Nights

Al Pacino is excellent as the lonely and alcoholic Frank Keller, a veteran New York City cop, hot on the trail of a serial killer. In addition to Keller, and his tough-minded romantic interest, Helen, played well by Ellen Barkin, a third major character is the city wherein the story takes place. Ronnie Taylor's noirish cinematography and Trevor Jones' appropriately downbeat score paint rather a lonely picture of nighttime Manhattan, with all that colorful and flashy neon and the dreary rain. The overall effect is a sense of psychological isolation, alienation, and ... danger.

It's a perfect setting for a story about a series of murders, seemingly tied together by oldies-but-goodies songs. Keller searches for a killer who seems normal, but on the inside is a smoldering volcano. As a murder mystery, "Sea Of Love" works, because of its focus, and because of its restrictive narration. The viewer knows what Frank Keller knows, but nothing more. Clues are very subtle, and lie more in what is not said, than what is said. The ending was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.

I have a couple of problems with the film, neither of which is serious. First, there are several plot segments that seem unnecessary, and could have been edited out. Second, certain scenes involving the victims are confusing.

"Sea Of Love" is a mystery/thriller that I recommend highly. It is psychologically intense, and it has an atmosphere that is suitably sinister. The acting, the music, the cinematography, the script, and the production design are all credible. And I could listen all day to that oldies-but-goodies song by Phil Phillips, from 1959.