After a career slump that plagued him through most of the 1980s, Al Pacino made a stellar comeback in this taut 1989 thriller, playing a weary New York police detective who falls in love with the woman (Ellen Barkin) who i... more »s the prime suspect in the murder case he's investigating. Expertly written by Richard Price and directed by Harold Becker, the story is designed to keep its central characters (and the viewer) in a state of constant suspicion and arousal--an emotional combination that sends dangerous sparks flying between Pacino and Barkin. Their chemistry is intense, and their love scenes are some of the hottest of any movie of its decade. But Sea of Love is not merely concerned with cheap titillation. It's a riveting whodunit with scenes of nail-biting suspense and memorable dialogue that make it as interesting to listen to as it is to watch. Barkin had made a similarly sexy impression in The Big Easy, and here she gives one of the best performances of her underrated career, matching Pacino's excellence scene for scene. The ending's a bit of a letdown because the murder solution comes somewhat out of the blue, but it's the acting and suspense that you'll remember most--qualities that make Sea of Love one of the best films of its kind. --Jeff Shannon« less
Beware - full screen version cropped to fit widescreen
Peggy Vincent | 05/09/2003
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This version (Collector's Edition)
is worse than the previous pan & scan full screen version. Here the studio cropped the top and the sides of the full screen version to make it fit anamorphic widescreen format, so you lose more of the picture than the full screen version.
Universal is deceptive in not saying it is a matted widescreen version Buyer beware!
This is not a true widescreen and doesent even say that the original apect ratio was modified to fit 16x9 tvs."
Holy Cow! Pacino Power!!
Eileen Pizarro | USA | 03/27/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This movie rocks! I was so happy to see Pacino again after a much to long absence. Why is it that we never appreciate a person and their talent when there around more often? Pacino is just incrediable in this movie and his pairing with Ellen Barkin is perfect. They definitely go on that list of dynamic on-screen couples. I also enjoyed Pacino and Goodman as partners, but than again I find that Al Pacino is one of those actors that seems to bring out the best in whomever he's working with. The movie never falters for me from beginning to end. Its intense, exciting, humorous and of course sexy. Everyone involved in making this movie ( especially the director and writer ) should be proud. Sea Of Love is a classic!"
Really scary, really sexy, really really good
Peggy Vincent | Oakland, CA | 12/17/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Damn, this one keeps you on the edge of your seat. Pacino plays a NYPD detective who falls in love with Ellen Barkin, a woman who's the main suspect in a murder case he's investigating. The mix of suspicion, fear, and sexual arousal is enough to keep the most jaded viewer riveted to the screen, wondering who or what will break first. The chemistry between Pacino and Barkin is intense enough to make the love scenes qualify as some of the hottest of the era.
Super-duper in every way. Wow."
The DVD Doesn't Hold a Candle to the VHS in Picture Quality
Peggy Vincent | 01/05/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful film, and sad to say, poorly translated onto DVD. The picture is grainy and washed out. The studio should seriously consider doing a remastering of this in lettebox format so that the video quality is maintained."
Great Movie, Terrible DVD Quality.
Peggy Vincent | 11/30/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Great Pacino film, but the DVD has the worst picture quality I have seen on a DVD! I have both the old video and DVD of this film, I would have to say that the video release has a better picture quality than the DVD! The DVD looks grainy, washed out, faded colors and to top it off it is in full screen, and is single layered. Shame Universal Studio's for putting out a DVD of such substandard DVD quality."