The Glimmer Man (1996) Movie Review (A Bit Underrated)

A bit of an underrated (and solid) Seagal flick.
The Glimmer Man is a 1996 American action film directed by John Gray, and produced by Steven Seagal, who also starred in the film.
The film also co-stars Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton and Brian Cox. The film was released in the United States on October 4, 1996.
Seagal plays Jack Cole, a former government intelligence 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.
He now works as a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Wayans co-stars as Cole's partner Detective Jim Campbell.
n the original screenplay which was 114 pages long, Cole was called Calhoun, Campbell was named Leary and Donald Cunningham was called Abraham.
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 an apartment), an encounter between Cole and a SWAT team, who have raided his house, and the final confrontation/gunfight at the LA museum.
Roland Joffé was originally considered to direct the picture.
Brian Cox's character Mr. Smith was originally intended for Steven Seagal's Under Siege co-star Tommy Lee Jones, and he was attached to the film before leaving shortly before filming began. Cox replaced him on very short notice.
Filming was shot on location in and around Los Angeles and California.
After the film was completed, just like they did with his other films he made for them, Warner Bros. conducted additional editing on the film to make it faster and more like a regular Steven Seagal movie. Cut scenes included several comedic and dramatic exchanges between Campbell and Cole and a great deal of Michelle Johnson's scenes, as Cole's wife, Jessica, were cut.
According to Stephen Tobolowsky, Steven Seagal wanted to change the scene in which Cole (Seagal) kills Maynard (Tobolowsky). Due to his spiritual beliefs, Seagal did not want to kill villains in his movies anymore. Tobolowsky convinced Seagal that Maynard would be able to be reincarnated and redeemed by being killed. Seagal agreed and the scene was filmed as written. But months later, Seagal wanted to change the scene to show that Maynard survived the shooting. Tobolowsky was brought in to overdub lines to indicate that Maynard was still alive. But this was not used in the final cut.
According to Keenen Ivory Wayans, one time during production, after waiting for a long time for Seagal to finally show up on the set (He was known for not caring for the time when filming was to start and would always show up very late), Seagal appeared with some script and said how it was the greatest script he ever read in his entire life. When Wayans asked him who wrote it, Seagal responded by saying; "I did."
Seagal wrote two original songs for the film, "Bulletproof" and "Snake", performed by the Jeff Healey Band and Taj Mahal, respectively.
Trevor Rabin, formerly of Yes, composed the score, his first as a film music composer. He has since composed scores for many other films.

[@traviseddings6267]

This did receive D-level reviews when it came out Fall 1996, but it is better than that. The restaurant fight is great, as is the razor blade credit card scene. This is an above-average action thriller.

[@JurassicGodzillaFan]

I enjoy the film. I do think it's a bit underrated. Too bad it flopped and some stuff was cut out.

[@PrestonLions3]

i like this movie i need to earn this movie on blu ray they need to do directors special edition

[@drewmichel8053]

This is an underrated flick. Out of the two films that Steven Seagal did in 1996, The Glimmer Man, to me, is easily the better film. It's well-paced, has good action, and it's nice to see Seagal have a sense of humor. While there are some who complain about the plot being convoluted, it is nowhere near as confusing as the films that Seagal would do later like The Foreigner (I can't wait for that rant). I wish The Glimmer Man was more successful (I know I'm not the only one who thinks that).

[@DeANGELIS4735]

The first time Steven Seagal worked with one of the members of the Wayans family and that's Keenen Ivory Wayans, the creator of the FOX Sketch comedy "In Living Color"

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Trevor Rabin, at the time, was the guitarist/vocalist in the 70's progressive rock band, YES. He had actually brought a few finished songs to the band, including the hit that heralded the bands comeback, "Owner of a Lonely Heart." He was eating dinner at a restaurant in L.A, when Steven Segal, who fancied himself a bit of a musician, asked him for guitar lessons. Since both men were multimillionaires, it would have been silly for Trevor to ask for $20.00 for the lesson. Instead, he said, I have been thinking of getting into scoring films. Steven replied: I have just completed a movie that needs some music. It is called "The Glimmerman." And the rest, as they say, is history!

[@c.j.meredith2085]

I didn't realize this wasn't on Blu yet. I really enjoy this flick.

[@themoviebuff6196]

A very underrated 90s action classic!!! A must watch for lovers of the buddy copy genre!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾💯💯💯👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@MegaPorkchopexpress]

The one and only Seagal moive that i watched in the cinema and remember enjoying it

[@takethesky8478]

I had a dollar for everytime you held up that DVD case I'd..... well, I'd only have about 20 dollars but $20 is $20!

[@holidaystyles7952]

underrated one the better buddy cop films could of seen them making more sequels if it made money wayans and seagal were really good together maybe get a directors cut someday with the extra scenes

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Fun fact: Greece's son, is the drummer for the pop band "Grouplove."

[@JoeDredd2012]

1:40 Well bro I caught this film on cable last I treated myself to Seagal double feature on Cinemax on demand watching both this film and ''Under Siege 2'' and had fun with that sequel and then saw this film I actually didn't mind it especially the opening score by Traver Rabin dough my only problem with the film is I wanted to see more of Seagal&Keenen back and fourth because I liked these 2.

[@alexanderdahoola8188]

Also. Interesting trivia. For a brief while (though he also injured himself and was later replaced) future director of the John Wick movies Chad Stahelski has apparently worked on this movie. Although due to his injury he did not do too many stunts. Interesting. So it's possible also that maybe Mr Stahelski saw this film too and it also partially inspired him to direct the John Wick movies. 😅

[@devinharbert6071]

Loved Glimmer Man it’s one of my Favorite Underrated Buddy Cop Films

[@jackcraven2266]

Just like Hard To Kill, this is not one of Seagal films that i like to re-watch a lot, but i don't mind The Glimmer Man and just like lot of his other films, it is a fun watch, specially when i have nothing else to watch. I personally wouldn't put it right with Seagal's first few films, but it's still definitely much better than anything Seagal did in last 17 or so years. I too wouldn't mind checking out deleted scenes from this one, but i would prefer to see original cut of Out For Justice lot more. I'm guessing that Warner Bros. just started losing patience with Seagal due to his ego and the fact that each of his films turned out to be bigger and bigger box office bombs, which is why they started messing with the films he was in more and more, which explains what happened to this one, and of course probably why his next film had even worse case of studio interference.

[@ChattinBoxingWYB]

Definitely Seagal's Most Underrated's Film and one of my Favourites along with Out for Justice, Marked for Death, Hard to Kill and Under Siege.

[@androlibre9661]

Always thought this was Seagal's last good movie

[@2H2521]

Andro Libre Definitely one of the last, but I think “Exit Wounds” was his last good movie.

[@androlibre9661]

@@2H2521 yeah but.....Exit wounds was the beginning of bad Segal fight scenes although it was a good movie. This was the last of the Segal that I liked

[@devinharbert6071]

My favorite Wayans Films Mo Money, Major Payne, Glimmer Man, White Chicks, Scary Movie, Little Man, Colors, And A Low Down Dirty Shame

[@DeANGELIS4735]

Do you think you could do Most Wanted (1997) starring Keenen Ivory Wayans Jon Voight Jill Hennessey Paul Sorvino Wolfgang Bodison Robert Culp Simon Baker Denny and Eric Roberts

[@ramboraph4life]

Sorry but I only do paid requests. thanks though.

[@DeANGELIS4735]

@@ramboraph4life okay

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Trevor NOT greece. Damned autocorrect!

[@JoeDredd2012]

16:26 Fun fight scene that really put a smile on my face LOL! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHbJpIN3nN9mjLs 28:04 Cool end fight bro kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYDTYYObia52nNk 28:59-29:26 That last scene between them made me laugh LOL Another fine job on on the review the problems I also had with this film is that I wanted more of Seagal&Keenen fun back&fourth because I'm very greedy lol. The pacing and the plot didn't bother me re-watching it again the fight scenes are a lot of fun I really wish the plot could've just been those guys going up against a serial killer I would've loved that but all&all this film is underrated especially if you compared this film to all of the direct to dvd/video on demand films he's done!

[@JoeDredd2012]

11:35 Yeah this looks very laughable especially the bad A.D. voice overs LOL! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJrWiXqDgpubeNk Of course this scene comes to mind when thinking this bad movie LOL! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHKqkHihesiinKs