The Glimmer Man

R

1996

1 hr. 32 min.

Action

List

11%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

38%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A former government operative renowned for his stealth, Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) is now a Los Angeles police detective. When a series of horrible murders occurs in the metro area, Cole is assigned to the case, along with tough-talking fellow cop Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans). Although the two men clash, they gradually become effective partners as they uncover a conspiracy linked to the killings, which also involves terrorism and organized crime.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Aug 15

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent The Glimmer Man on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

A grimy, humorless glimpse of Steven Seagal's direct-to-video future, Glimmer Man fails to shine.

Read Critics Reviews

Kay B

OK so it is not his best movie, but it still was entertaining.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

William D

This is absolutely one of the worst films I have ever seen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

TWMax65

11% on rotten tomatoes?? For real? I really don't think people understand what this movie is supposed to be. It's all about Steven Seagal and the action that we all know he can deliver for the audience. He's smooth, cool, and good at what he does. He may not be the nicest guy in real life but he was great at fight choreography back in the day! This movie isn't meant to make sense with its plot or details, don't worry about it! I liked his partner as well played by Keenan Wayans. Sit back and have fun watching Steven Seagal kick ass and be funny about it! It's kind of funny, this movie literally has the exact same ending as Another 48 Hours. Just watch that and you'll know what I mean. In the end this movie is fair!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/08/23

Full Review

Brian B

I am surprised of this film's low rating. This film is a really entertaining action clip that is held up by the performances of it's too leads and its hardcore violence.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) was once a CIA operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly through the jungle that his victims would only see a glimmer before they died. Having retired from Central Intelligence, Cole–versed in Buddhism and unaccustomed to working with others–has become a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Cole is partnered with tough, no-nonsense detective Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans) who has little patience for Cole's New Age philosophies and "outsider" attitude. Cole and Campbell must set aside their differences when they're assigned to track down a serial killer known as "The Family Man," named for his habit of killing entire households. The Family Man's latest victims turn out to be Cole's former wife Ellen and her current husband Andrew Dunleavy. When Cole's fingerprints are found on Ellen's body, he and Campbell suspect that Smith - Jack's former superior in the CIA - may be connected with the killings. Cole contacts Smith, who (unbeknownst to him and Campbell) has been working with local crime boss Frank Deverell. Cole and Campbell receive a tip which leads them to Christopher Maynard. Maynard insists that the Family Man murders were actually committed by more than one killer. Only the slayings that occurred prior to Jack's arrival in Los Angeles were Maynard's work; more recently, a second party has been massacring households and blaming it on Maynard whom Cole is forced to shoot in self defense. Seeking a lead on the "other" Family Man, Cole goes to the home of Celia Rostov: Deverell's Russian translator and a recent victim of the serial killer. Jack finds out that the Rostovs had tickets to Russia, paid for by Deverell's company. The Family Man makes an unsuccessful attempt on the lives of both Cole and Campbell, blowing up the latter's apartment. It is revealed that the Family Man works for both Deverell and Smith, who have murder contracts out on both of the detectives and also on Johnny, Deverell's own stepson... The film received mostly negative reviews from the film critics. Critic Lawrence van Gelder, writing for The New York Times, did not like the film. He wrote, "Short on suspense, routine in its action and monotonous in its performances, this movie opened yesterday without benefit of press screenings, usually a sign that the distributors have detected cinematic rigor mortis before audiences formally withdraw such life support systems as tickets, popcorn and the glucose drip of spilled Coke." Movie historian Leonard Maltin seemed to agree, giving the picture 1.5 out of a possible 4 stars and citing it as "Tired even by Seagal's fairly-low standards." "The Glimmer Man" is a very generic and stereotypical Steven Seagal action film directed by John Gray. The storyline is not really that exciting (and there´s not a full on solution either in the end) and stupid at times, the violence over the top (what´s new..) and the pairing of Seagal and Wayans is not really working. Trivia: "The Glimmer Man" was originally envisioned as a much larger action picture, similar in scope to "The Last Boy Scout" (1991). Several action scenes were removed to cut down the budget. They included the bombing of a boat owned by Campbell (who lived on a houseboat instead of in an apartment), an encounter between Cole and a SWAT team that has raided his house and the final confrontation and gunfight at the Los Angeles museum.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Glimmer man is awesome, it's funny, it's witty, Wayans and Seagal play well off of each other. Sure, it's not an epic masterpiece, nobody expected it to be, but it sure is a fun and entertaining film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

John Gray

Director

Steven Seagal

Lt. Jack Cole

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Det. Jim Campbell

Bob Gunton

Frank Deverell

Brian Cox

Mr. Smith

Michelle Johnson

Jessica Cole

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

92%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

67%

31%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

92%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

69%

87%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

84%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

39%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Quentin Curtis

Daily Telegraph (UK)

John Gray's The Glimmer Man is strictly for Steven Seagal fans (if there is such a species).

Nov 22, 2017

Full Review

Time Out

Although this slick Seagal action pic won't convert die-hard detractors, aficionados will note that he's both gained weight and lightened up.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Richard Harrington

Washington Post

The plot of The Glimmer Man involves not only the Family Man but Our Evil Secret Government, the Russian Mafia and Rich Powerful Politicians -- the three stooges of action cinema in the '90s.

Jan 22, 2002

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

It may be beneath contempt but, at the same time, it deserves contempt.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...fares best in its briskly-paced (and rather promising) opening stretch...

Rated: 2/4

Apr 17, 2021

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Seagal gives us a fairly good Bruce Lee impression in a film that is more moronic than it should be.

Rated: C+

Jan 23, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A former government operative renowned for his stealth, Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) is now a Los Angeles police detective. When a series of horrible murders occurs in the metro area, Cole is assigned to the case, along with tough-talking fellow cop Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans). Although the two men clash, they gradually become effective partners as they uncover a conspiracy linked to the killings, which also involves terrorism and organized crime.

Director: John Gray
Executive Producer: Michael I. Rachmil
Screenwriter: Kevin Brodbin
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.4M
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now