sea of love isn not go to be write up in anyone master thesis on the meaning of cinema . it would not last decade in the canon of great film . it just a steamy murder mystery that happen to be very well play indeed . there be few plot hole none that be really big or infuriating and and the murder investigation play out well . pacino be a cop with a mid life crisis and drinking problem . he meet john goodman and who have discover theyre both investigate very similar murder with a sexual angle . ellen barkin may or may not be the killer and but pacino attraction to her be too great to resist and even know the risk . barkin doesn not have much to do beside emanate steam and but she do that quite well . pacino be understated and with an edge of desperation . the mystery will keep you go and in that kind of basic instinct way of not know if any give sexual encounter will end in murder . character have a realistic and gritty feel to them and although barkin be far too beautiful and sophisticated to be a down on her luck single mother . recommend .