Glengarry Glen Ross

[Paul Anilprem]

Has anyone watched this movie?
It came up on Netflix suggestions for me. The title didn't make any sense to me but I was intrigued by the amazing cast (I wonder how the director/producer signed up so many A+ grade actors for the same movie) so I decided to see it. I am glad I did. Simple yet amazingly engaging story.

I am willing to bet that the number of words spoken in this movie is greater than any movie ever made

[fred rosenberger]

The movie is actually based on a Broadway play by David Mamet. He is known for his quick, slightly unusual dialoge. It's actually referred to as "Mamet speak". If you liked this, I'd recommend some of his other words as well, such as "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" (filmed as "About Last Night..."), "American Buffalo", or "House of Games".

[marc weber]

Yes, this is an excellent film, with extraordinary performances -- especially from Jack Lemmon.

(If you're up for a challenge, try reading Mamet's novel, Wilson: A Consideration of the Sources.)

[Paul Anilprem]

Thank you, Marc and Fred. I will check these out.

[Joe Ess]

It's worth it for this speech alone (not safe for work!).

[dennis deems]

Paul Anilprem wrote:I wonder how the director/producer signed up so many A+ grade actors for the same movie

Actors who are serious about their craft LOVE to work with a David Mamet script because so much is subtext and it gives the actor a lot to do; also because the architecture of his scenes is rock-solid.

[dennis deems]

fred rosenberger wrote:The movie is actually based on a Broadway play by David Mamet. He is known for his quick, slightly unusual dialoge. It's actually referred to as "Mamet speak". If you liked this, I'd recommend some of his other words as well, such as "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" (filmed as "About Last Night..."), "American Buffalo", or "House of Games".

Another good Mamet film is "The Spanish Prisoner".

[marc weber]

Dennis Deems wrote:... Actors who are serious about their craft LOVE to work with a David Mamet script because so much is subtext and it gives the actor a lot to do...

That's exactly right. There are certain projects that actors will do anything to work on without all those zeros at the end of their check.

(For example, I would happy to work with Guy Maddin for free.)

[marc weber]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/theater/david-mamet-has-flop-and-hit-on-one-broadway-block.html

[Wendy L Gibbons]

oh what a dissapointment i was expecting a thread about scothish scenery.

[dennis deems]

How amazing would it be to see Pacino live in this play? Wish I could go see it.

[marc weber]

I appreciate bad reviews, but some reviewers are unnecessarily cruel -- seemingly more interested in demonstrating their own cleverness than saying much worthwhile.

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/theater/reviews/glengarry-glen-ross-by-david-mamet-with-al-pacino.html

[Paul Clapham]

Wendy Gibbons wrote:oh what a dissapointment i was expecting a thread about scothish scenery.

No, that would be Hamish Macbeth -- nothing like David Mamet at all.

[Pat Farrell]

This thread drove me to watch the movie. I agree, the cast is amazing and the acting is superb. But I found that I didn't enjoy it. I didn't find any of the characters that I could relate to, they were all selfish jerks with questionable ethics.

The Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross_(film) talks about the famous actors who fought to get even small parts in the movie.