"Veteran actor Robert Forster is taking a circuitous route to greatness, but he's getting there just the same. Even without Forster, Diamond Men would have had an agreeable charm as the director captures the details of a salesman's life on the road, thanks partly to his memories of his diamond-selling father. But Forster's rich, realistic, heartfelt portrayal elevates Diamond Men even further. He gives this tale of getting old on the job a humanity and a depth of feeling that brings to mind nothing less than the classic Death of a Salesman. No mean feat, that. "

DIAMOND MEN

Polished Forster makes this salesman's life a gem

By Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

(November 9, 2001) -- Veteran actor Robert Forster is taking a circuitous route to greatness, but he's getting there just the same.

Forster has had rare moments of mainstream movie celebrity -- such as his Oscar-nominated turn in Jackie Brown. But most of his memorable later work has been in small, independent films by directors who are mighty lucky to have him.

Lakeboat is one recent example. Now Daniel M. Cohen's Diamond Men is the case in point. Forster plays Eddie Miller, a traveling jewelry salesman near the end of his career. For decades he has driven the byways of central Pennsylvania, stopping at jewelry stores from Lewisburg to Harrisburg and beyond to sell jewelry, swap stories with his customers and play an occasional hand of poker.

After he has a heart attack, Eddie's company says he can't be insured -- and that's important, since he routinely carries $1 million in diamonds.

His young boss wants to phase out Eddie but finally agrees to let the veteran stay on long enough to show the ropes to a new young salesman, Bobby (Donnie Wahlberg).

As you can imagine, the older, jazz-loving, super-relaxed Eddie has little in common with the brash, rock-loving, womanizing Bobby.

But over the course of several days, pushing jewelry through Pennsylvania, Bobby lightens up and learns how to sell.

As Eddie tells him, "When a customer says no, he's asking for a reason to say yes." More important, Bobby learns how to live. And Eddie learns a few things as well. Even without Forster, Diamond Men would have had an agreeable charm as the director captures the details of a salesman's life on the road, thanks partly to his memories of his diamond-selling father.

But Forster's rich, realistic, heartfelt portrayal elevates Diamond Men even further. He gives this tale of getting old on the job a humanity and a depth of feeling that brings to mind nothing less than the classic Death of a Salesman.

No mean feat, that.