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This may be my first post in this forum, though I know many of you from the other venues here at AA.I hadn't seen Gkengarry Glen Ross in many years. I came across it last night while searching on Netflix streaming, and decided to watch it again. I think it holds up incredibly well, and overall I love it. But I had a few observations that I'd like to hear your collective thoughts on.
First, everyone on the internet, and reviewers, seems to describe the Premiere Properties salesmen as "real estate agents" who are selling overpriced junk "lots of land" in Florida, and the salesmen do in fact use the word "lots" in describing what they are selling. But it seems to me that what they are selling are investment interests in a shell development company that itself owns the land it is purporting to develop (but without any real intention of doing so). Likely limited partnership interests, which are sometimes referred to as "units" or "lots" to designate the percentage one is buying (like shares in a corporation). The reason I believe this is the case is twofold: (1) the salesman describe what they are selling as investment opportunities rather than as retirement or vacation destinations and (2) at the end of the movie, the closing song is "Blue Skies". The choice of that song is significant because, I believe, it is a reference to "Blue Sky Laws", which are securities laws passed by the states to protect local vulnerable residents from illegitimate investment schemes (i.e., from purchasing "the whole blue sky"). And Blue Sky Laws do not cover the sale of land itself - only the sale of securities, which would include interests in land development schemes. (That closing song is brilliant for that very reason, IMHO, but maybe I'm being too granular in my analysis?)
Second, I really noticed what a scoundrel Williamson was this time. At first he is portrayed more as an ineffective nebbish who likely got his job because of nepotism and who is under a lot of pressure and constantly bullied by the salesmen, but then you find out that he's proactively evil. He's as overtly dishonest as the salesmen, willing to take bribers and lie not only to the clients, but also to the salesmen (even knowing the Nyborg leads were junk all along after berating Shelly for not being able to close on his leads). The salesmen are really duped by him, thinking he's just a toad while he's actively screwing them. Probably this is obvious to you all, but I guess i had not paid as close attention to his character development before.
Finally, is it just me, or is the whole dialogue between Roma and his dupe at the Chinese restaurant (really a monologue by Roma with the dupe's rapt attention) beyond opaque and anything but convincing? I just didn't buy into that rambling soliloquy leading to anything but aversion. I think that's Mamet being a little too precious here.
Anyway, I realize this is a rambling post, but I dig the film and these three things jumped out at me last night and thought I'd air them out here!
Edit: I obviously have not mentioned a lot of things, including of course Blake's awesome monolog. Just a few specific things that hit me.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Edits: 04/19/15Follow Ups:
It's a great film. Mamet is indeed pretentious but the acting and story are good enough that the dialog works. Ricky Roma's pitch in the bar is not seen in the movie. He makes himself seem like a buddy to James and when he finally gets around to whipping out the sales literature and giving the pitch, the film cuts to a totally different scene. So how would you know whether the pitch is convincing or not? All that matters is it was convincing enough to ensnare James, leading to the subsequent confrontation in the office and classic soliloquy where Pacino lays into Spacey.
I'm not sure if you're reaching a bit on the interpretation of Blue Skies as the score while the credits role. The entire soundtrack featured jazz that straddled the line between new and old. I always thought Blue Skies was a rather odd choice, given the depressing ending of the movie. Since none of the plot addressed government regulations or the Blue Sky law, I think you are grasping at straws. But you're right that the sales force was pitching the land as a real estate investment.
What appeals to me most about this film is the dialog execution by the cast and the minimalist sets. It's long overdue to be released on blu-ray, the import notwithstanding.
The famous scene with what's his name could have been directly taken from this documentary. Loved Glengarry but I found Salesman even better.
I like the film, part of it does irritate me but when a film and/or its characters can stir a strong emotion in me like this then I know it is well done. I don't like Pacino's character for some reason. I love the Simpsons creation of a character based on Lemmon's portrayal of Shelly Levene.
See "The Prime Gig" which is similar where we track a high end, high pressure phone sales crew. Not as good but quite worth watching as I see it.
E
T
One of my favorite Simpson's characters but I always thought he was a composite of all of Jack Lemons rolls.
"Trying is the first step towards failure."
Homer Simpson
I actually think it's one of his better (read: less annoying) performances, at least since GF and GF Part II, but he's still too into himself. That kind of works in the film though, in my opinion, because if you can get beyond who the actor is, then it's a pretty compelling portrayal of a pathologically narcissistic individual.
I just don't buy his "sell" in the restaurant. Unless the point is that the buyer is a closeted homosexual and sort of being seduced by Roma, which is a theory I saw on one discussion board. But I don't buy that theory either, and if it was Mammet's intention, then it's a bit too opaque.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
yep, it is. Very well done and "those types" irritate me so it's a job well done by the writers and Pacino.
E
T
Are any of you in sales? Making a personal connection with your target customer is step one in any successful sales pitch, much better than cold-calling/telemarketing, which is the technique everyone else in the office was using. The character James was in a bar and not with his wife for a reason. He obviously was having problems at home and Ricky Roma was helping take his mind off his problems. It was a totally believable scenario. Whereas the other salesmen were bitter and their confidence was eroded, Ricky Roma was on top of the world and people who exude confidence can often get what they want by force of will. It was simple psychology.
After being in sales a long time I've seen ALL types.
E
T
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Hope you like it more this time! ;-)
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Really, what's the point. It's not required reading afterall.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
I didn't say yours is wrong.
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"E Burres Stigano?"
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No its OK to stir! We all like different things. Just think if we all felt the same way about everything......YIKES!
E
T
WHO doesn't like....glengerry glen ross????
"Somebody was always controlling who got a chance and who didn't. - Charles Bukowski
I thought he was commenting on my post being boring and verbose (which it probably was). I didn't realize he was talking about the movie. Of course there's nothing wrong with liking or not liking any movie.Totally my own fault here.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Edits: 04/20/15
Take it easy young man! I won't have you being so tough on yourself. There is a posting contest this week. First place Atma-Sphere amp and preamp. Second place a used Discwasher brush w/o any fluid and third place you're banned from AA!
E
T
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reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Thanks for the laugh!
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
but it wouldn't be bad to add some detail as to why you don't like it. I'd sure like to hear why. We all have a right to like or dislike something. Language could be an issue for some like many Mammet films.
E
T
I assumed you were referring to my post, not the movie. Some chip I've got on my shoulder!
My apologies.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
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"E Burres Stigano?"
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