Sea of Love
Encyclopedia
Sea of Love is a 1989 thriller film about a New York City
detective trying to catch a serial killer
who finds victims through the singles column in a newspaper
. It stars Al Pacino
, Ellen Barkin
and John Goodman
.
The movie was written by Richard Price
and directed by Harold Becker
. It is credited as the film that pulled Pacino out of his slump of film failures that occupied much of the 1980s. It was also Pacino's first film in four years.
Frank Keller (Al Pacino
) is an alcoholic. His wife ran away from him and remarried one of his colleague detectives. Frank is angry and aggressive. He investigates a murder of a man in Manhattan
, shot dead while face down naked in his bed while listening to a 45rpm recording of "Sea of Love"
. Keller has three clues - a lipstick-smeared cigarette, a want ad the dead man placed in a newspaper and a perfect set of fingerprints.
A second man dies in the same manner in Queens
. Detective Sherman Touhey (John Goodman
) from that department suggests that Frank and Sherman collaborate. Both victims put rhyming ads in the paper looking for dates. They track down Raymond Brown (Michael O'Neill
), the only other man with a rhyming ad. He's a married man and admits placing the ad, but swears on his children's lives that he threw away all the letters and never saw anyone.
Frank has an idea - place their own rhyming ad in the paper, take any women who respond to a restaurant and take the prints from their drinking glasses. Frank's boss (John Spencer
) thinks it is a bad idea and does not approve the idea. He changes his mind when Raymond Brown also turns up dead in the same manner as the other two murder victims.
Frank has dinner with several women, while Sherman — posing as a waiter — puts their glasses into evidence bags. One of the women, Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin
) snubs Keller and leaves before she takes a drink. Keller bumps into her again at a market, but this time, Cruger is more friendly. Frank takes Helen to his place, against his better judgement and advice from Sherman not to do so. They start getting passionate when Frank panics finding a gun in her purse, but it turns out to be just a starting pistol
. Frank and Helen begin a relationship.
Keller has a chance to obtain Cruger's fingerprints on a glass, but decides to wipe the glass clean. Their relationship becomes rocky when Cruger discovers that Keller is a cop.
Cruger's ex-husband Terry (Michael Rooker
) breaks into Keller's apartment and threatening him with a gun, makes Frank lie on his bed and show him how he made love to Helen, just as he had done with his ex-wife's other three boyfriends. Frank overpowers Terry and tries to call the police, but the killer lunges at him and, in the struggle, Terry is accidentally thrown through the window and plunges to his death.
Frank and Helen reunite. She forgives him, and they resume their relationship.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
detective trying to catch a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who finds victims through the singles column in a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. It stars Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
, Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
and John Goodman
John Goodman
John Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
.
The movie was written by Richard Price
Richard Price (writer)
Richard Price is an American novelist and screenwriter, known for the books The Wanderers and Clockers.-Early life:...
and directed by Harold Becker
Harold Becker
Harold Becker is American film director and producer from New York.-Biography:After studying art and photography at the Pratt Institute, Becker began his career as a still photographer, but later tried his hand at directing television commercials, short films and documentaries...
. It is credited as the film that pulled Pacino out of his slump of film failures that occupied much of the 1980s. It was also Pacino's first film in four years.
Plot summary
New York Police detectiveNew York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
Frank Keller (Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
) is an alcoholic. His wife ran away from him and remarried one of his colleague detectives. Frank is angry and aggressive. He investigates a murder of a man in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, shot dead while face down naked in his bed while listening to a 45rpm recording of "Sea of Love"
Sea of Love (song)
"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Phillip Baptiste and George Khoury. Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song, and Phillips' version failed to chart there...
. Keller has three clues - a lipstick-smeared cigarette, a want ad the dead man placed in a newspaper and a perfect set of fingerprints.
A second man dies in the same manner in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. Detective Sherman Touhey (John Goodman
John Goodman
John Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
) from that department suggests that Frank and Sherman collaborate. Both victims put rhyming ads in the paper looking for dates. They track down Raymond Brown (Michael O'Neill
Michael O'Neill (actor)
Michael O'Neill is an American actor.With a career stretching through three decades, he usually portrays senior law enforcement or military officers. He is perhaps best known for his role as Special Agent Ron Butterfield, the head of President Josiah Bartlet's Secret Service detail, on The West Wing...
), the only other man with a rhyming ad. He's a married man and admits placing the ad, but swears on his children's lives that he threw away all the letters and never saw anyone.
Frank has an idea - place their own rhyming ad in the paper, take any women who respond to a restaurant and take the prints from their drinking glasses. Frank's boss (John Spencer
John Spencer (actor)
John Spencer was an American film and television actor. He was most widely known for playing White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on the NBC political drama series The West Wing, which earned him an Emmy Award in 2002.-Early life:Spencer was born as John Speshock, Jr. in New York City, and...
) thinks it is a bad idea and does not approve the idea. He changes his mind when Raymond Brown also turns up dead in the same manner as the other two murder victims.
Frank has dinner with several women, while Sherman — posing as a waiter — puts their glasses into evidence bags. One of the women, Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
) snubs Keller and leaves before she takes a drink. Keller bumps into her again at a market, but this time, Cruger is more friendly. Frank takes Helen to his place, against his better judgement and advice from Sherman not to do so. They start getting passionate when Frank panics finding a gun in her purse, but it turns out to be just a starting pistol
Starting pistol
A starting pistol or starter pistol is a handgun or electronic toy weapon that is fired to start track and field races, as well as competitive swimming races at some meets. The loud report of the gun going off is a signal to the athletes to begin the event. Usually a cloud of smoke can be seen...
. Frank and Helen begin a relationship.
Keller has a chance to obtain Cruger's fingerprints on a glass, but decides to wipe the glass clean. Their relationship becomes rocky when Cruger discovers that Keller is a cop.
Cruger's ex-husband Terry (Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
) breaks into Keller's apartment and threatening him with a gun, makes Frank lie on his bed and show him how he made love to Helen, just as he had done with his ex-wife's other three boyfriends. Frank overpowers Terry and tries to call the police, but the killer lunges at him and, in the struggle, Terry is accidentally thrown through the window and plunges to his death.
Frank and Helen reunite. She forgives him, and they resume their relationship.