The Glimmer Man (1996)

Director:

John Gray

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Brodbin (written by)

Release Date:

4 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two good cops. One bad situation.

Plot:

Two cops, played by Seagal and Wayans, are forced to work together to solve a chain of mysterious killings by a killer nicknamed "The Family Man"

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Serial Killer | Black Market | Priest | Russian Mafia

Cast

Steven Seagal	...	Lt. Jack Cole
Keenen Ivory Wayans	...	Det. Jim Campbell
Bob Gunton	...	Frank Deverell
Brian Cox	...	Mr. Smith
John M. Jackson	...	Donald Cunningham
Michelle Johnson	...	Jessica Cole
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Christopher Maynard
Peter Jason	...	Millie's Father
Ryan Cutrona	...	Capt. Harris
Richard Gant	...	Det. Roden
Johnny Strong	...	Johnny Deverell
Robert Mailhouse	...	Smith's Bodyguard
Jesse Stock	...	Cole's Son
Alexa Vega	...	Cole's Daughter
Nikki Cox	...	Millie

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some nudity.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | USA:R (certificate #34859) | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Australia:MA | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Germany:16 (nf) | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Ennis-Brown House - 2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Brian Cox replaced Tommy Lee Jones at very short notice.

Goofs:

Continuity: Johnny Strong, who plays Johnny Deverell, is listed in the end credits as playing "Johnny Deverall".

Quotes:

Jack Cole: It's called a mala. Tibetan pray beads.
Detective Jim Campbell: What do you use 'em for?
Jack Cole: I use 'em to calm my mind and to purify my thoughts.
Detective Jim Campbell: Yeah, I use Jack Daniels!
Jack Cole: See now, we're trying to go to same place. We're just using different technique.
Detective Jim Campbell: Except I don't wear the bottle around my neck!
Jack Cole: That's because you'd lose your job if you did...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

As Time Goes By

Top marks for effort

Neatly crafted action thriller, with Seagal on top wrist-snapping form as a Buddhist cop from New York, with a shadowy past, teamed with Wayans' wisecracking LA cop to investigate the gruesome murders of a serial killer, known as the `Family Man'. The two leads work well together; in typical buddy cop fashion which provides the film with the comic relief it needs to give the audience a break from the serious themes involved.

The script is competently composed; trying to surprise us as best it can with several twists and turns, however, the story is so fully packed with things going on that it's easy for the audience to get lost along the way. However, that is not a problem as Seagal is on the case with his usual array of impressive martial arts and likeable personality, encased in an interesting character. To me, Seagal represents, in a way, a modern day John Wayne, always playing the same out for justice, good guy role and taking no crap from anyone along the way. He is a screen presence that can carry even the most brainless of films, but this film has both brains and brawn. Wayans does very well here too, managing to avoid the typical stereotype of the African-American cop who is simply there for laughs.

The direction is standard but competent in keeping a relaxed balance between the hectic action (entwined with the tense build-ups) and the comedic peace-time goings on. The gorier parts of the film, like the murders, are handled with skill and successfully manage to create an eerie atmosphere rather than simply a gory head-turning occasion.

The Glimmer Man is not a masterpiece by any means but it serves its purpose well as a tense action thriller. It tries hard to be more than it is, but its lack of originality is its biggest flaw but it gets top marks for trying. You can't take anything away with you afterwards, but you can enjoy yourself along the way.