THE GLIMMER MAN

THE GLIMMER MAN ($35) is an entertaining action film with a lot of comic overtones. Steven Seagal and Keenen Ivory Wayans are teamed as a pair of Los Angeles police detectives assigned to find a serial killer who crucifies his victims. Wayans street wise detective plays well off of Seagal’s character who has achieved spiritual enlightenment through Buddhism. But as it turns out, Seagal’s character wasn’t always spouting eastern wisdom. His past association with the shadier side of the US government gives him a special insight into solving this crime. While THE GLIMMER MAN populated with stock villains, they are easily overlooked because Steven Seagal and Keenen Ivory Wayans really work well together. Their comic rapport is the heart and soul of THE GLIMMER MAN. Seagal’s teaming with Wayans actually enhances the action star’s rather shaky acting abilities, giving his screen persona a genuine sense of humor. I found THE GLIMMER MAN to be Seagal’s most satisfying film, and hope that the two will re-team for another film project. Bob Gunton, Brian Cox, Michelle Johnson and Nikki Cox fill out the cast of THE GLIMMER MAN.

Warner Home Video has given THE GLIMMER MAN a great looking Letterboxed transfer. The film is presented in its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the image appears well composed throughout. The transfer of THE GLIMMER MAN also features nicely saturated color and good detail. The digitally encoded Dolby Surround soundtrack has a solid, but not too flashy mix. THE GLIMMER MAN is also Dolby Digital (AC-3) encoded; the first such Sony DADC pressing that I’ve encountered. The pressing itself had some modest speckling, but otherwise was quite satisfactory. THE GLIMMER MAN isn’t art, but it’s a fun film and an enjoyable Laserdisc.

Note: The Dolby Digital soundtrack on THE GLIMMER MAN has a synchronization problem and has been recalled by Warner Home Video. Since this is the first Sony DADC pressing which I have encountered with Dolby Digital sound, I would imagine that Sony hasn’t worked all the bugs out of their mastering system.

Laserdisc reviews are Copyright © 1997 THE CINEMA LASER and may not be copied or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher.
THE CINEMA LASER is written, edited and published by Derek M. Germano.