If anyone has ever done sales before, they have probably heard their boss quote or play clips of Glengarry Glen Ross in a meeting or through an email. The movie is centered on a group of real estate salesmen. It shows how their business can be cut throat, ruthless and unfair, but results are expected. ABC always be closing. This is the mantra of a sales manager. You want coffee? Coffee is for closers. You want time off? Vacation is for closers? You want good leads? You get the idea.
This movie is a study of old fashioned masculinity. The relationships and characters in the movie show how men can be very mean to each other, but also bond through being mean to each other and a shared misery. The two main scenes of the movie are in a bar where teasing, barbs and harsh language are used to commiserate and celebrate, the other scene is at the office where harsh language is used to drive a point. A wolf pack could be used to describe the sales office, there is a definite pecking order and the only way to get ahead is to be better than the guy in front of you. The alpha sets the rules and if you do not like it, leave. Close sales or your fired.
One of the best scenes is when the new leads are given out and a sales “incentive” is given. First place a new Cadillac, second place steak knives, third place your fired. The problem that they have is they feel the leads are bad and the good leads (Glengarry) are only given out to the friends of the managers or pay the manager for them. This is a common complaint in many offices. It may or may not be true, the sales person blames the leads, the manager blames the sales person for not making enough sales.
The bottom line is Glengarry Glen Ross is a fantastic movie, with a stellar cast. Made in 1992, the themes can still be seen today. From the viewers standpoint there can be identification of familiar situations and people that they work with now made. If you have never seen this movie, watch it now.
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SeanSpeak 