Sea of Love (Harold Becker, 1989, USA)

Sea of Love, a 1989 neo-noir by Harold Becker, was conceived as a cinematic comeback for Al Pacino. While Pacino's career in the early 1980s has been re-appraised in recent decades (time has been kind to both Cruising and Scarface), at the time, his career was seen as in a prolonged slump. All of his films in the early 80s received Razzie awards, to give an example. Sea of Love represents a more conservative turn for the actor, as the material is not altogether that controversial - in some respects this film is a standard police procedural / crime thriller.

The New York-set film centers around a police investigation into someone killing men who put "lonely hearts" ads in the newspaper. Pacino's work leads him to meet Helen Kruger (Ellen Barkin), a sexy single mom who seems to be hiding a secret. He also ends up working with a fellow detective played by John Goodman. The chemistry between Pacino and John Goodman is one of the highlights of the film. The chemistry between Pacino and Barkin is less successful, perhaps due to the age difference between Pacino and Barkin. Nevertheless, Barkin is a sexy presence in the film.

The film features an extensive cast including many familiar faces such as Michael Rooker and Richard Jenkins, along with a bit part by a young Samuel L. Jackson. While the film tends to be a bit too meandering in parts and could benefit from a trimmed runtime, overall it is successful. The twist at the ending is perhaps a bit predictable to those paying attention, but there is something satisfying about its old film noir stylings. Sea of Love was both a critical and commercial success, bringing Pacino into a new golden era in his career which would culminate with 1995's Heat.

7/10