Glengarry Glen Ross

David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross," an adaptation of his award-winning play, boasts a powerhouse cast — Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce — so, it's only natural that the film would be loaded with powerhouse performances.

But how you take to Mamet's exploration of the unsavory characters in this ensemble tale is going to be largely a matter of taste. Mamet uses wall-to-wall profane and vulgar language, and in this case, there isn't a single person (save Pryce, as a victim) to care about.

These characters are the guys who send out those solicitations that promise you a "prize" if you call "now" to inquire about real estate (in this case, Florida parcels). Since Mamet's salesmen are based in New York, they have no intention of letting prospective clients see the land before buying it, and they will use any form of deception to fleece the suckers they refer to as "leads."

The company these men work for is a faceless corporation and the office manager (Spacey) is younger and obviously doesn't like any of his employees. One evening he calls a meeting, which all but hot-shot top-gun salesman Ricky Roma (Pacino) attend.

From the main office, a brusque, tough-guy executive (Baldwin) sets up the film's premise as he lays out the latest contest — first prize is a Cadillac, second is a set of steak knives and third prize is that everyone else is fired.

This, of course, sends these already desperate men into foaming fits. Shelley "The Machine" Levene (Lemmon) goes out and tries the hard sell, Roma turns on the charm to make a client of an unhappy man (Pryce) he meets in a bar and Dave and George (Harris and Arkin) go off on a complaining binge, capped by Dave suggesting that they rob the office for the "hot leads" the manager is keeping under lock and key.

The next day, the office has indeed been robbed and the police are sure it's an inside job. But even while they are being grilled, none of these men can stop "closing."

The first half of the film focuses primarily on Levene and the second on Roma, with the rest of the ensemble in support. And this is a real showcase for a terrific gathering of actors.

Mamet adapted his own play here and under the direction of James Foley ("After Dark, My Sweet," "At Close Range") the presentation is stagey and dark.

"Glengarry Glen Ross" is rated R for considerable foul language.