Some thoughts on Glengarry Glen Ross (Spoilers, but then we've all seen this, right?)

Posted by JoshT (A) on April 19, 2015 at 20:43:54

This may be my first post in this forum, though I know many of you from the other venues here at AA.

I hadn't seen Gkengarry Glen Ross in many years. I came across it last night while searching on Netflix streaming, and decided to watch it again. I think it holds up incredibly well, and overall I love it. But I had a few observations that I'd like to hear your collective thoughts on.

First, everyone on the internet, and reviewers, seems to describe the Premiere Properties salesmen as "real estate agents" who are selling overpriced junk "lots of land" in Florida, and the salesmen do in fact use the word "lots" in describing what they are selling. But it seems to me that what they are selling are investment interests in a shell development company that itself owns the land it is purporting to develop (but without any real intention of doing so). Likely limited partnership interests, which are sometimes referred to as "units" or "lots" to designate the percentage one is buying (like shares in a corporation). The reason I believe this is the case is twofold: (1) the salesman describe what they are selling as investment opportunities rather than as retirement or vacation destinations and (2) at the end of the movie, the closing song is "Blue Skies". The choice of that song is significant because, I believe, it is a reference to "Blue Sky Laws", which are securities laws passed by the states to protect local vulnerable residents from illegitimate investment schemes (i.e., from purchasing "the whole blue sky"). And Blue Sky Laws do not cover the sale of land itself - only the sale of securities, which would include interests in land development schemes. (That closing song is brilliant for that very reason, IMHO, but maybe I'm being too granular in my analysis?)

Second, I really noticed what a scoundrel Williamson was this time. At first he is portrayed more as an ineffective nebbish who likely got his job because of nepotism and who is under a lot of pressure and constantly bullied by the salesmen, but then you find out that he's proactively evil. He's as overtly dishonest as the salesmen, willing to take bribers and lie not only to the clients, but also to the salesmen (even knowing the Nyborg leads were junk all along after berating Shelly for not being able to close on his leads). The salesmen are really duped by him, thinking he's just a toad while he's actively screwing them. Probably this is obvious to you all, but I guess i had not paid as close attention to his character development before.

Finally, is it just me, or is the whole dialogue between Roma and his dupe at the Chinese restaurant (really a monologue by Roma with the dupe's rapt attention) beyond opaque and anything but convincing? I just didn't buy into that rambling soliloquy leading to anything but aversion. I think that's Mamet being a little too precious here.

Anyway, I realize this is a rambling post, but I dig the film and these three things jumped out at me last night and thought I'd air them out here!

Edit: I obviously have not mentioned a lot of things, including of course Blake's awesome monolog. Just a few specific things that hit me.
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Topic - Some thoughts on Glengarry Glen Ross (Spoilers, but then we've all seen this, right?) - JoshT 20:43:54 04/19/15 (24)

RE: Some thoughts on Glengarry Glen Ross (Spoilers, but then we've all seen this, right?) - Jazz Inmate 11:57:23 04/27/15 (0)

Did you see Salesman by the Maysles brothers? - Plinko 17:54:25 04/23/15 (0)

Also See - Awe-d-o-file 10:47:13 04/20/15 (5)

Doesn't Gil get a lick? - dancingseamonkey 11:11:14 04/21/15 (0)

Sadly, it's just "Pacino being Pacino" I think - JoshT 10:52:57 04/20/15 (3)

it's a pretty compelling portrayal of a pathologically narcissistic individual. - Awe-d-o-file 11:27:35 04/20/15 (2)

GMAFB...he's playing a salesman on a hot streak - Jazz Inmate 12:17:22 04/27/15 (1)

RE: GMAFB...he's playing a salesman on a hot streak - Awe-d-o-file 17:26:24 04/28/15 (0)

I lasted 5 minutes... nt - oldmkvi 07:57:11 04/20/15 (14)

OK, it was years ago. I'm going to watch the whole thing as Penance! nt - oldmkvi 14:58:27 04/20/15 (1)

I'm sorry! - JoshT 06:26:14 04/21/15 (0)

OK, but why would you bother to say so? - JoshT 08:51:53 04/20/15 (11)

It's called sharing a different point of view. - oldmkvi 08:59:05 04/20/15 (10)

I respect your opinion but I had the 180 degr opposite reaction, after 5 minutesI was hooked!^ - Road Warrior 12:51:00 04/20/15 (0)

I just found it SO disagreeable! Didn't intend to stir things up so much. nt - oldmkvi 10:45:32 04/20/15 (1)

RE: I just found it SO disagreeable! Didn't intend to stir things up so much. nt - Awe-d-o-file 11:29:12 04/20/15 (0)

RE: It's like saying: "I don't like pizza" - Eldragon 10:39:45 04/20/15 (4)

Mea culpa - JoshT 10:44:57 04/20/15 (3)

RE: Mea culpa - Awe-d-o-file 10:49:49 04/20/15 (2)

THAT was funny !!! Thanks. (nt) - reelsmith. 16:02:34 04/20/15 (0)

LMAO! - JoshT 10:55:23 04/20/15 (0)

Sure - Awe-d-o-file 10:38:00 04/20/15 (0)

Sorry, I guess I misread your post - JoshT 10:14:23 04/20/15 (0)

Thnx for stirring up some memories, a great movie. It's high time to pull out the dvd and re-watch^ - Road Warrior 07:36:29 04/20/15 (0)

Some thoughts on Glengarry Glen Ross (Spoilers, but then we've all seen this, right?)

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