After a brief absence from the silver-screen that lasted approximately four years, actor Al Pacino returned in the terrifically taut thriller, Sea of Love. Directed by Harold Becker in 1989, co-starring Ellen Barkin and John Goodman, the great Pacino stars as Frank Keller; a New York detective with an ex-wife, an alcohol problem, and a very lonely, and sometimes self-destructive disposition. He seems very committed to his work but continuously battles inner demons as he goes about his daily life. Some of this may sound a bit clichéd; however, Pacino is truly convincing and makes the role all the more dynamic through his portrayal. From subtleties in how he speaks and delivers certain lines, to the way his eyes have that great miles-deep sadness, to the ebbs and flows of real intensity, anguish, and heartbreak – we indeed get to see a real person on screen. Pacino is so gifted in conveying such real emotions.

        The film itself is indeed a crime drama infused with plenty of provocative romance, and some genuine thrills. The plot involves Frank Keller’s investigation of a serial killer who is believed to have found his victims through personal ads placed in the newspaper. What is interesting and certainly so compelling is that Pacino, after placing his own ad in attempt to lure the killer, starts to fall for one of the suspects – Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin). Their romance together certainly embodied “forbidden love” because she is indeed a suspect in Keller’s case, and of course compromises the investigation, and could ultimately not bode well for him or any other potential victims out there. The film keeps us guessing for a long time whether or not she really is the one, as Frank fights with himself on the ethical issues with his relationship with Helen.

        It is this ethical question that haunts the entire film, and provides for some very intense scenes, especially this one scene early on where he finds something rather revealing in her purse (but I shan’t say for you must see it for yourself). In any case, I am a big fan of this film because, yes, it is a crime drama, but it does so much more than that. It is an impressive thriller, it is a romance, a character study, and it even has some rather clever, humorous moments, as well as some tight action sequences. It is by all means, a modern day film-noir, where there is that underlying sense that danger around every corner.

        Overall, this film is a testament to Al Pacino’s ability to bring life, genuine realism, and intensity to the screen. It is a finely-written and intricate crime story but its primary focus is on its main characters. Ellen Barkin is superb as the femme fatale, and I can’t stress enough how brilliant Pacino is in this film. Considering it was released twenty years ago, it doesn’t seem dated by any stretch. It pays a certain homage to the classic film-noir style, while maintaining a relevance and gritty realism of today’s age. Any fan of the genre, and of course any Pacino fan, should absolutely see it.

-Kurt L.

     He was going to take the world back by storm. After a lengthy and hugely successful career, one that was filled with triumph and marred by controversy, was ready to make perhaps one last statement that he was, is, and will forever be the "King Of Pop." His presence in the music world surely has and can never be denied, but his physical presence in today's music world was one of elusive absence. I'm sure that he knew he could it, like he always did. Here we have a memento of what could have been. A dream that was dashed as a life ended prematurely in tragedy. This is it, Michael Jackson's final statement: "This Is It."

     This is a phenomenal film on so many levels. It opens with some touching interviews with his hand-picked dancers who seemed to be on cloud nine that they were getting the chance to perform with the legend on the world's stage. It was bittersweet to see only because these shows will never come to pass. Though, in a way, this film brings some sort of justice to all the hard work that was put in by everyone involved on the project. And what is great is that Michael Jackson genuinely appreciates all of the talent and enthusiasm surrounding him. He often throughout the film acknowledges his extensive team of dancers, technicians, fellow musicians and director Kenny Ortega. It's great to see that Jackson wasn't any sort of tyrant or primadonna among his crew. I didn't think he was anyway, but this film is a proof. Another great element is to see how MJ works with others. He listens to them as if they are his peers, but also is not afraid to articulate his own opinion and instruct others. He was indeed the leader and it was no doubt his word was highly respected.

     One of the most fascinating elements of this film is the knowledge and ability MJ had as a musician. As one of his accompanying musicians said of Jackson in the film, "he understands all of his albums, his music, every tempo, every key." That is  true in every sense of the word. I felt I was able to really appreciate him more as a musician after seeing him in this light. It was MJ raw and uncensored in dealing with his craft. He was so meticulous, but not rediculous. He showed such affection toward his performance, and it is a marvel to witness.

     The best parts of this film are clearly his performances. The rehearsal footage, filmed in HD cameras apparently, captured some terrific moments. You will see a great list of songs and they are performed essentially in their entirety which is simply put, awesome. You'll see some of the obvious ones like "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", but also some other fantastic hits like "Earth Song", "They Don't Care About Us" and "Jam." MJ was never off his game, he danced and sang as good as he ever has before in his storied career. At age 50, he was out-dancing his fellow dancers who were half his age. The obvious question is that, did he look like he was on any sort of drugs? I couldn't detect any hints of it. He seemed quite alert, comfortable in his surroundings, and of course, commanding of the stage.

     Watching the film, I was enraptured by his craft. And this film is a testament to it. It is a service to his fans around the globe, but also a definitive statement on what he was and will be remembered for. There is so much to say about this movie, and all the little things that were in it, and some of the surprises it contained; like new short videos for "Smooth Criminal" which featured MJ in the middle of a machine gun fight with Humphrey Bogart! This film is a marvel. It is pure entertainment, and you may feel a bittersweet sense of what could have been, but let's let the man, Michael Jackson, rest in peace. Let's enjoy and celebrate his craft. This is it, this is Michael Jackson.

-Kurt L.

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