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Al Pacino stars as a New York detective working with John Goodman to solve a series of murders — all men shot in the back of the head, face down on their beds, presumably by a woman out for revenge. When they determine the men have all used poetry in personal ads to attract dates, they create their own fake ad to obtain fingerprints from all the women who respond. As they wait for the prints to be identified, Pacino falls in love with one of the women, a single mother played by Ellen Barkin. The two begin a heated but volatile affair until Pacino begins to fear that he may well be sleeping with the enemy.
Written by Richard Price (Ransom, The Color of Money) and directed by Harold Becker (Malice, Mercury Rising), Sea of Love is a precursor of sorts to 1992’s sensational Basic Instinct. Both films feature male detectives falling in love with female suspects who may or may not be the killer they’re looking for. Sea of Love isn’t as violent or visceral as Basic Instinct, but it does try to compete in the area of provocative sexuality. There are a few kill scenes in which the male victims are forced to hump their beds until their brains are blown out. The love scenes between Pacino and Barkin get pretty steamy, too.
The film is ultimately not as exciting or stylish as Basic Instinct, but viewers looking for a more grounded story and characters may prefer Sea of Love. Pacino and Barkin have real chemistry as they navigate their hot-and-cold relationship, and the film features a lot of terrific supporting players. In addition to the always-welcome John Goodman (Roseanne, Always), the film also features Michael Rooker, Richard Jenkins, William Hickey, and John Spencer. The mystery plot may seem predictable through the first and second acts, but Sea of Love keeps a surprise in store for the climax that most viewers will not see coming. Trevor Jones’s brooding score also contributes to the film’s sultry, world-weary vibe.