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The Glimmer Man

Play trailer Poster for The Glimmer Man R 1996 1h 32m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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11% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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.
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The Glimmer Man

The Glimmer Man

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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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

Audience Reviews

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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
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Movie Info

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
Producer
Steven Seagal, Julius R. Nasso
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
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround
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