“Always be closing.”
synopsis
Desperate salesmen compete in a cutthroat office where only top performers survive.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Ferocious dialogue and theatrical intensity. Corporate Darwinism at its most brutal.
A strong drink and no children nearby.
Absurdist's Corner
Motivational speeches as psychological warfare.
fun facts
The blistering “Always Be Closing” speech was written specifically for the film version by David Mamet and performed by Alec Baldwin—it does not appear in the original stage play.
Al Pacino earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as Ricky Roma.
Jack Lemmon reportedly drew on real-life anxieties about aging and career decline for his heartbreaking portrayal of Shelley Levene.
Much of Mamet’s profanity-laced dialogue was preserved almost word for word—rare for Hollywood adaptations of stage plays.