Sea of Love (1989)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Nicki M

  
  I can remember watching this on tv more than once growing up. Always liked it, but literally have not seen it since I was a teenager. The story is that a killer has been targeting men who answer personals ads. Believing it could be a woman, cop Frank is sent undercover to meet some… More
  I can remember watching this on tv more than once growing up. Always liked it, but literally have not seen it since I was a teenager. The story is that a killer has been targeting men who answer personals ads. Believing it could be a woman, cop Frank is sent undercover to meet some possible suspects by placing an ad himself. He is answered by Helen, and the two get involved. I have to say, it pretty much holds up. The 80's hair and fashion is dated, but Ellen Barkin still looks attractive and really carries the movie in her is-she-psycho-or-isn't-she way. I don't know that Al Pacino and her ever entirely convince as a couple, and some of the sex scenes are more laughable than hot, but you can overlook it, as for the most part, both are good in their roles. Both lonely flawed people, with just a shadow of a doubt over Helen's sanity. You never entirely believe it could be her, but there's just enough coincidences to give pause. Good suspense movie and some nostalgia to top it off. Could not ask for more!

• Chris G

  
  Al Pacino attempted to save his career with the cop thriller Sea of Love which kicked the era of Pacino playing detectives into overdrive. Pacino plays Detective Frank Keller, a burnt out cop whose wife has left him leaving him lonely and drunk most of the time. His begins a homicide… More
  Al Pacino attempted to save his career with the cop thriller Sea of Love which kicked the era of Pacino playing detectives into overdrive. Pacino plays Detective Frank Keller, a burnt out cop whose wife has left him leaving him lonely and drunk most of the time. His begins a homicide investigation into an almost execution style slaying in which the victim is found nude on the bed while a 45 rpm record of "Sea of Love" plays in the background. More murders pile up leading them to a personal column. Keller and his partner Sherman (John Goodman) go undercover by writing an ad and going on "dates" with numerous replies. It's on one of these "dates" that Keller meets Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin) who develops a relationship with Keller and also slowly becomes the investigations chief suspect. Sea of Love is your paint by numbers crime thriller. It's a predictable piece that, even though its characters are well defined and acted, tends to follow a treasure map to the prize at the end- the big reveal. The big reveal is satisfying and when you think about it actually makes sense (as opposed to other films of this ilk). Pacino gives us an OK performance. Certainly not his best, but it's been a lot worse. Barkin is great as the femme fatale, sexy with an attitude. John Goodman plays the sidekick without being the funnyman to Pacino's straight man. Overall this is a slightly above average film that delivers as promised just like the hundreds of other movies before and after it.

• Dean M

  
  What an explosive sexy thriller with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin is extremely hot, just before Sharon Stone in <i>Basic Instinct</i>, while making the first sex scene with Pacino at the wall.

• Ken S

  
  Pretty solid little Serial Killer flick that was Al Pacino's comeback project. Clever characters and getting to look at Ellen Barkin make this a very watchable genre gem.

• Dean !

  
  A great cop thriller. Very steamy, similar to In the cut.

• Paris S

  
  I don't hand out scores this high very often; Sea of Love just happens to be a New York detective thriller done almost perfectly. It's a taut film. Sea of Love doesn't linger, plod, or even give you too much time to laugh at its quick sense of humor- it moves precisely… More
  I don't hand out scores this high very often; Sea of Love just happens to be a New York detective thriller done almost perfectly. It's a taut film. Sea of Love doesn't linger, plod, or even give you too much time to laugh at its quick sense of humor- it moves precisely when it means to. All fat has been trimmed away, and I recommend this film to anyone who wants to be an editor- this film moves, and not once does it double back to hold your hand. This is how you make a suspense film.

• Nicolas K

  
  Seems like a predecessor of "Basic Instinct" only with better actors and a great song. If only the did not play it over and over and over...

• Christopher O

  
  Pacino can play emotionally scarred characters better than any one else and this film is no exception and Barkin is superb as the single mom he trails on the chase for a lonely hearts killer. Complications arise when Pacino falls for the alluring Helen and may put his career and his… More
  Pacino can play emotionally scarred characters better than any one else and this film is no exception and Barkin is superb as the single mom he trails on the chase for a lonely hearts killer. Complications arise when Pacino falls for the alluring Helen and may put his career and his life in jeopardy. Tautly filmed by Harold Becker and also featuring good performances from John Goodman and Michael Rooker. THis is one thriller that delivers suspenfully and competently.

• Deb S

  
  Al Pacino plays a New York detective who discovers that a couple of murders in the neighborhood are linked by a lonely hearts column and, after teaming up with John Goodman, a detective from the other side of town, the pair put an advert in the same column in the hope of trapping the… More
  Al Pacino plays a New York detective who discovers that a couple of murders in the neighborhood are linked by a lonely hearts column and, after teaming up with John Goodman, a detective from the other side of town, the pair put an advert in the same column in the hope of trapping the killer. There's just one complication though, Pacino doesn't count on is falling in love with the suspect. Enter Helen (Ellen Barkin), she initially appears to be a typical "femme fatale" and her meet-me-at-the-market scene was one of the most interesting shots that bring new meaning to late night grocery shopping! I am a huge fan of suspense thrillers and I love Al Pacino and am still hooked on his movies. This film has all the right ingredients for an enthralling thriller where the dialogue is very well-written and sounds authentic, particularly the banter between the cops and the "thrilling climax" plot twist at the ending makes up for it being a bit predictable and slow at times. In some way the plot resembles Basic Instinct, though the story is quite different of course but if you like erotic and suspense then this one is worth renting.

• Mike T

  
  A tense, original and intriguing thriller. Al Pacino's performance and character are magnificent, and the story is effectively suspenseful. Ellen Barkin is downright gorgeous in this movie, and an extremely talented actress.

• Stephen E

  
  "Sea of Love" is a slow-moving cop-thriller with Al Pacino playing his usual self. While nothing out of the ordinary, there are still some aspects about "Sea of Love" that are admirable, such as the stylish direction by Harold Becker and the wonderful supporting… More
  "Sea of Love" is a slow-moving cop-thriller with Al Pacino playing his usual self. While nothing out of the ordinary, there are still some aspects about "Sea of Love" that are admirable, such as the stylish direction by Harold Becker and the wonderful supporting cast comprised of key players like John Goodman, Richard Jenkins, and Samuel L. Jackson (in a brief cameo). What's strange about "Sea of Love" is that it doesn't focus so much on thrills as it does on the relationship between the Pacino character and the Ellen Barkin. Most of our time is spent watching them grow closer and the apart. Now, this may make the film feel a bit aimless at times, but nonetheless, "Sea of Love" entertains.

• Doctor S

  
  One of my favorite '80s thrillers, and certainly the best example of one cashing in on the crazy-female-killer-or-is-she? trend started by <i>Fatal Attraction</i> and immortalized by <i>Basic Instinct.</i> This movie easily outclasses both for style,… More
  One of my favorite '80s thrillers, and certainly the best example of one cashing in on the crazy-female-killer-or-is-she? trend started by <i>Fatal Attraction</i> and immortalized by <i>Basic Instinct.</i> This movie easily outclasses both for style, tension, titillation, and mystery while exhibiting grit instead of gloss. Al Pacino is terrific as detective Frank Keller, a sympathetic divorced cop which a strong sense of moral justice, which doesn't mean he always follows the letter of the law. His internal conflicts are fascinating to watch unfold and compare them to our own reactions. He is paired with new partner John Goodman who is also great and tries to keep Frank from making the wrong choices. Ellen Barkin also delivers as the sultry & mysterious femme fatale, earning even higher praise from Roger Ebert in his review: "There can be little doubt, at this point, that Barkin is one of the most intense and passionately convincing actresses now at work in American movies." I have watched this several times because the suspense is so well measured and the characters so well drawn, which is certainly a very rare combination of elements in a thriller.

• matt s

  
  Gotta love the cast of this film noir '80s flick, and it IS steeped in '80s, see the sax solos when Pacino and Barkin are about to bark on. Get it? Anyway, this film is quite good because of its cast. Had anybody else been in this movie it might not be as memorable. That… More
  Gotta love the cast of this film noir '80s flick, and it IS steeped in '80s, see the sax solos when Pacino and Barkin are about to bark on. Get it? Anyway, this film is quite good because of its cast. Had anybody else been in this movie it might not be as memorable. That being said, it's not THAT great. It does have its moments, but the ending and the whodunit-ness of it makes the ending seemed tacked on. I would've liked more reality and banter between Goodman and Pacino.

• Ivan D

  
  Though it's the main motif of the film, the title "Sea of Love" was quite misleading when I first saw it, as it sounds more like an ideal title for a romantic pocket book than for a mysterious thriller. Al Pacino was obviously comfortable in playing the cop protagonist,… More
  Though it's the main motif of the film, the title "Sea of Love" was quite misleading when I first saw it, as it sounds more like an ideal title for a romantic pocket book than for a mysterious thriller. Al Pacino was obviously comfortable in playing the cop protagonist, a common role that he would soon portray heftily after this film's release, squeeze out from it memorable performances after another, and put it end on end as the polar opposite of his gritty gangster roles. "Sea of Love" had a very good first-half that it flowed so effortlessly(with the help of the very entertaining John Goodman) I haven't even noticed that I'm already halfway done. But the latter part which involved the plot's main revelation was quite predictable, not because of flawed writing, but by a critical casting choice that pretty much gave the film away.(SPOILERS)I have nothing against Michael Rooker, but come on, this actor garnered immense cult fame by playing Henry Lee Lucas in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", would you really expect him to just play a naive, good-natured witness in a bit part? The killer instinct in his eyes that gave me nightmarish jitters while watching "Henry" suggested that he would certainly not. Richard Jenkins was quite good as the subdued Gruber(way before anyone thought of him being an Oscar nominee), and a then-unknown Samuel Jackson as a criminal attending the "Meet the Yankees" breakfast, almost two years before his head was blown off by Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas".

• Jonny C

  
  Great Pacino movie, with good characters and a well written story. Great sex scene too.

• alan j

  
  watcheable middle of road fare..Goodman in a bit of a different role..holds your interest for the most part..

• Chosen 7

  
  Good suspense film, nice twist. Great performances.

• Kevin "

  
  Well not the best Pacino movie, but better than the crap he is doing now and above what was coming out for awhile before this movie. Very good acting from Pacino and was nice to see another role from John Goodman. The plot isn't really anything new, but the performances seem to… More
  Well not the best Pacino movie, but better than the crap he is doing now and above what was coming out for awhile before this movie. Very good acting from Pacino and was nice to see another role from John Goodman. The plot isn't really anything new, but the performances seem to make it refreshing. Al Pacino fans should give it a try. Also, by fan, I mean you knew of Pacino before MTV Cribs.

• Anthony V

  
  The ulitimate cheat ending.

Read all 19 featured audience ratings