Sea of Love (1989)

A detective investigating a series of murders becomes involved with a woman who may be the culprit.

Director:

Harold Becker

Writer:

Richard Price

Stars:

Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin, John Goodman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Det. Frank Keller
Ellen Barkin	...	Helen Cruger
John Goodman	...	Det. Sherman
Michael Rooker	...	Terry
William Hickey	...	Frank Keller Sr.
Richard Jenkins	...	Gruber
Paul Calderon	...	Serafino
Gene Canfield	...	Struk
Larry Joshua	...	Dargan
John Spencer	...	Lieutenant
Christine Estabrook	...	Gina Gallagher / Lonelyheart
Barbara Baxley	...	Miss Allen
Patricia Barry	...	Older Woman
Mark Phelan	...	Murdered Man
Michael O'Neill	...	Raymond Brown

Storyline

Frank Keller is a New York detective investigating a case of a serial killer who finds the victims through the lonely hearts column in newspapers. Keller falls in love with Helen, the main suspect in the case.

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | title based on song | new york city | detective | seduction | 

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Taglines:

In search of a killer, he found someone who's either the love of his life... or the end of it.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Prohibida obsesión

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,017,840, 17 September 1989, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$58,571,513

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$110,879,513

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harold Becker had previously directed two police dramas, both adaptations of Joseph Wambaugh novels, they being The Onion Field (1979) and The Black Marble (1980).

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Goofs

When Terry slams Frank against the mirror in Frank's apartment, we hear the sound of breaking glass, yet later in the scene the mirror appears intact.

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Quotes

Det. Frank Keller: Last time, she walked. Maybe this time I can get prints.
Det. Sherman: Yeah right. What are ya gonna do, Frank? Send your dick to the lab? Man, that'll be a hell of a story in court. "Well, Your Honor, first I whipped it out, then she whipped it out, if you know what I mean."

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Alternate Versions

DVD features three deleted scenes; however, the scenes featuring Lorraine Bracco are not included. The deleted scenes are as follows:

• Keller talking to a man about his dogs on the street.
• Keller and comrades visiting a black family's apartment.
• Keller and Helen at a restaurant.

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Connections

Referenced in So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

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Soundtracks

Another One Bites the Dust
(uncredited)
Written by John Deacon

User Reviews

Lonely Nights

Al Pacino is excellent as the lonely and alcoholic Frank Keller, a veteran New York City cop, hot on the trail of a serial killer. In addition to Keller, and his tough-minded romantic interest, Helen, played well by Ellen Barkin, a third major character is the city wherein the story takes place. Ronnie Taylor's noirish cinematography and Trevor Jones' appropriately downbeat score paint rather a lonely picture of nighttime Manhattan, with all that colorful and flashy neon and the dreary rain. The overall effect is a sense of psychological isolation, alienation, and ... danger.

It's a perfect setting for a story about a series of murders, seemingly tied together by oldies-but-goodies songs. Keller searches for a killer who seems normal, but on the inside is a smoldering volcano. As a murder mystery, "Sea Of Love" works, because of its focus, and because of its restrictive narration. The viewer knows what Frank Keller knows, but nothing more. Clues are very subtle, and lie more in what is not said, than what is said. The ending was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.

I have a couple of problems with the film, neither of which is serious. First, there are several plot segments that seem unnecessary, and could have been edited out. Second, certain scenes involving the victims are confusing.

"Sea Of Love" is a mystery/thriller that I recommend highly. It is psychologically intense, and it has an atmosphere that is suitably sinister. The acting, the music, the cinematography, the script, and the production design are all credible. And I could listen all day to that oldies-but-goodies song by Phil Phillips, from 1959.