Al Pacino’s Overlooked Masterpiece That Fans Say Is His Best Film

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Al Pacino is famous for his roles in classics like The Godfather, Scarface, and Scent of a Woman, for which he finally won an Oscar. However, many of his fans believe one of his best performances is actually in a less well-known film: Glengarry Glen Ross.

The film Glengarry Glen Ross, which came out in 1992, is based on David Mamet’s award-winning play. It follows a group of real estate agents in New York City who are fighting to keep their jobs. The company motivates them with a harsh incentive: the two best salesmen win prizes – a Cadillac and steak knives – while everyone else gets fired. This creates a very tense and dramatic situation, leading to powerful performances from the actors.

Al Pacino plays Ricky Roma, a charismatic but pushy salesman. While he received an Oscar nomination for his performance, some critics felt his co-stars – Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, and Kevin Spacey – delivered stronger performances.

According to Scott Tobin of The Guardian, the film’s script encouraged the actors to challenge and learn from one another. This created a dynamic environment that resulted in some truly outstanding performances, widely considered among the best of the decade.

I’m a huge fan of this movie, and everyone always talks about how incredible the acting is – The Washington Post even said it felt like a runaway train! It didn’t make a ton of money when it first came out, actually losing a little bit, but it’s really become a beloved cult film over the years. People still rave about how darkly funny and honest it is, especially when it comes to showing the darker side of chasing the American Dream – the ambition and greed that can come with it.

Al Pacino continues to act in movies and TV shows. He recently appeared in the 2025 crime drama Dead Man’s Wire, which was directed by Gus Van Sant.

Al Pacino still expertly mixes big-budget movies with more artistic and challenging roles, solidifying his place as a major entertainment icon. Many consider his performance in Glengarry Glen Ross to be his most powerful and captivating work. Some online fans believe that actors truly shine when they’re challenged by working alongside other talented performers.

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2026-01-24 11:15