"A - B - C. A - Always, B - Be, C - Closing. Always be closing, always be closing."

An office of real estate salesmen are put under increased pressure following an agressive visit from their company's top salesman. They are trying to make the best of some ageing and poor quality leads but all unable to turn any of these leads into a signed deal. When the new "Glengarry Glen Ross" leads arrive and are locked up in the office is the temptation to steal these to much to resist for the struggling salesmen fighting to keep their jobs?

"Put that coffee down! Coffee is for closers."


skyjude review
This truly is the ultimate movie detailing the average day (or night) for a salesman. An awesome cast don't put a foot wrong as they bring to life Mamet's script from the award winning stageshow. Each of the performances really are faultless including a typically brilliant shouting turn from Pacino and a wonderfully incoherent Arkin. Ed Harris is on top form as the dislikeable Moss with Jonathan Pryce and a then almost unknown Spacey quite superb fodder for the rest of the salesmen. It is Jack Lemmon's central role though combined with a startling verbal blast from Baldwin that really etch this film in the memory long after it's finished. Put that coffee down and watch this film.

Top 5 Reasons for watching Glengarry Glen Ross

[5] Laurel and Hardy
Well, not quite. But, the interplay between Dave Moss (Ed Harris) and George Aaronow (Alan Arkin) is bordering on the genius of the classic comedy duo. The bolshier character of Moss stringing along the more vulnerable and naive Aaronow who can only really respond with repeatedly saying "What are you saying?" or "That's what I'm saying". Curiously and pleasantly hysterical amongst the grittiness of the rest of the movie.

[4] Ricky Roma vs John Williamson
An Oscar nominated Al Pacino goes to town on Kevin Spacey whose character has just opened his mouth and blown Pacino's commission and chance to win the Cadillac. A venomous mouthful of abuse that Spacey just has to take on the chin and as good example as any in the movie of the stress the salesmen are all working under.

[3] David Mamet's screenplay
It may be littered with profanities but nothing else would have captured the world of the real estate salesmen Mamet was showing us. A scintillating script that caught everyone's attention from it's early appearance on stage and still made the World sit up when re-engineered for this movie. The definitive take on the life of a salesman.

[2] Blake's speech
The bit everyone remembers and unquestionably Alec Baldwin's greatest ever screen moment. Absent from the stageshow, this really sets up the movie and the pressure the guys have on them right from the start. Salesmen - forget wasting time at any more sales training days and just watch Baldwin's ten minutes of screen time for some sales inspiration.

[1] Jack Lemmon
Amidst one of the all-time great ensemble casts, it is Jack Lemmon who shines in his role as Shelley 'The Machine' Levene. There really aren't enough superlatives to properly describe how good he is in this role but the fact The Simpsons created a character (Gil Gunderson) based on it should give you some idea. In a career as distinguished as Lemmon's it would take something special to be his best but this is a definite contender.


Glengarry Glen Ross quotes

Blake: You call yourself a salesman, you son of a bitch?

Dave Moss: We don't gotta sit here and listen to this.
Blake: You certainly don't pal, 'cause the good news is you're fired.

Blake: We're adding a little something to this month's sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.

Blake: Your name is "you're wanting", and you can't play the man's game, you can't close them, and then tell your wife your troubles. 'Cause only one thing counts in this world - get them to sign on the line which is dotted. You hear me you fucking faggots?

Blake: You got leads. Mitch and Murray paid good money. Get their names to sell them. You can't close the leads you're given, you can't close shit, you are shit, hit the bricks pal, and beat it, 'cause you are going out.
Shelley Levene: The leads are weak.
Blake: "The leads are weak?" The fucking leads are weak? You're weak. I've been in this business fifteen years.
Dave Moss: What's your name?
Blake: Fuck you. That's my name. You know why, mister? 'Cause you drove a Hyundai to get here tonight, I drove an eighty thousand dollar BMW. That's my name.

Blake: What's the problem, pal?
Dave Moss: You - you're such a hero, you're so rich, how come you're coming down here wasting your time with such a bunch of bums?
Blake: You see this watch? You see this watch?
Dave Moss: Yeah.
Blake: That watch costs more than you car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a shit. Good father? Fuck you! Go home and play with your kids. You wanna work here, close. You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? You don't like it, leave.

Blake: And to answer you question, pal, why am I here? I came here because Mitch and Murray asked me to. They asked me for a favour. I said the real favour, follow my advice and fire your fucking ass because a loser is a loser.

Shelley Levene: Get the chalk! Get the fucking chalk! Put me on the board! Put me on the Cadillac board! Williamson! Pick up the fucking chalk! Hey, Rick I closed em! I closed the cocksucker!

Dave Moss: That guy's a fucking asshole. Anybody who talks to that asshole is a fucking asshole.

Dave Moss: Cop couldn't find his dick, two hands and a map.

Dave Moss: Sitting on top of the world. Sitting on top of the world, everything's fucking peach fuzz.
Ricky Roma: And I don't get a moment to spare for some bust-out humanitarian down on his luck lately?
Dave Moss: Oh, fuck -
Ricky Roma: Fuck you, Dave. You know you got a big mouth. You make a close, this whole place stinks with your farts for a week - how much you just ingested. Oh, what a big man you are! "Hey, let me buy you a pack of gum. I'll show you how to chew it." Whooph! You're pal closes, and all that comes out of your mouth is bile. Ooh, how fucked up you are!

Shelley Levene: What the hell are you? You're a fucking secretary. Fuck you. That's my message to you - fuck you and kiss my ass. And if you don't like it baby I'm going across the street to Jerry Graff, period, fuck you. Now, I want you to put me on the Cadillac board and I want two promising leads and I don't want any bullshit and I want them close together because I am going to close them all, and that is all I have to say to you!

Ricky Roma: How was her crumbcake?
Shelley Levene: Hmm? Oh, from the store.
Ricky Roma: Fuck her.

John Williamson: Will you go to lunch? Go to lunch. Will you go to lunch?

Ricky Roma: You stupid fucking cunt. Williamson! I'm talking to you shithead! You just cost me six-thousand dollars. Six-thousand dollars and one Cadillac. That's right. What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do about it asshole? You're fucking shit! Where did you learn your trade, you stupid fucking cunt? You idiot! Whoever told you that you could work with men? Oh, I'm gonna have your job, shithead. I'm going to Mitch and Murray! And I'm going to Lemkin! I don't care whose nephew you are, who you know, whose dick you're sucking on, you're going out! I'll tell you something else, I hope it was you who ripped off the joint, maybe I can tell our friends something that will help them to catch you. Any man who works here lives by his wits. I'm going to be with you in a second. What you are hired to do, is to help us. Does that seem clear to you? To help us. Not to fuck us up! To help men who are going out there to earn a living, you fairy. You company man. You want to know the first rule you'd learn if you'd ever spent a day in your life? You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is. You fucking child.


Production company: New Line Cinema, GGR, Zupnik Cinema Group II