---
title: "Sea of Love: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sea-of-love/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/sea-of-love"
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sea of Love (1989): what the critics said

Critics' score 72 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics find Sea of Love an entertaining, suspenseful thriller, with the strongest agreement centring on Al Pacino’s performance and his chemistry with Ellen Barkin. The praise goes beyond star presence: reviews pick out the vulnerability and weariness Pacino brings to the detective, and the believable sexual tension that gives the romance weight. Richard Price’s screenplay and Harold Becker’s handling of the mystery also receive credit for keeping familiar material involving.

The reservations concern plausibility, depth and how well the film holds together, with responses ranging from enthusiastic to qualified rather than hostile. Empire finds the ending unconvincing and unsatisfying, while Eye for Film welcomes the unpredictability of a late turn. The Los Angeles Times enjoys the performances but finds the entertainment superficial and formulaic. The New Yorker likewise finds plenty to enjoy, yet argues that Becker’s direction flattens material that could have been more daring.

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1988. 

The review finds the film a suspenseful noir, elevated by Pacino’s performance. It especially praises the depth he brings to the burned-out cop and calls his romance believable.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/sea-of-love-1200427859/)

## Radio Times — Tom Hutchinson

Rating 4/5. 

Hutchinson praises the film as a tough, suspenseful mystery thriller with strong sexual tension. He singles out the plausible erotic chemistry between Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin, alongside Richard Price’s sharp screenplay and Harold Becker’s realistic direction.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-89drlo/sea-of-love)

## Empire — Ian Nathan

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2009. 

Nathan finds the thriller gripping overall, despite an implausible and unsatisfying ending. He praises Pacino and Barkin’s sizzling chemistry and the intrigue Becker sustains along the way.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sea-love-review/)

## Time Out — BC

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review finds the thriller efficient but says Pacino’s return makes it essential viewing. It especially praises several scenes as among the best of his work.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sea-of-love)

## Los Angeles Times — KEVIN THOMAS

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 1989. 

Thomas calls it a slick, amusing diversion that works as superficial entertainment but offers little depth. He praises the chemistry and performances of Pacino, Barkin and Goodman, while noting implausibilities and a familiar thriller formula.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-15-ca-131-story.html)

## The New York Times — Janet Maslin

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 1989. 

The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available from the provided page text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/15/movies/review-film-al-pacino-as-detective-in-love-with-his-suspect.html)

## The New Yorker — Terrence Rafferty

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 1989. 

Rafferty finds the film consistently entertaining but ultimately not daring or cohesive enough. He particularly praises Al Pacino’s subtle, vulnerable performance, while faulting the direction for flattening the material’s highs.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1989/09/18/redeemed)

## Eye for Film — James Benefield

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2009. 

The critic finds the film highly watchable and says its genre-mixing mostly succeeds. He singles out its unpredictability, especially a genuinely surprising late twist.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sea-of-love-film-review-by-james-benefield)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/sea-of-love.md