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Al Pacino,
Al Pacino,
Kim Basinger,
more...
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Dan Algrant,
Dan Algrant
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Miramax
: Drama, Politics and Social Issues
: 100 min.
: English, French
: English, Spanish
see additional details...
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A powerful behind-the-scenes man in politics and show business finds himself skidding into a very public scandal in this taut drama. Eli Wurman (Al Pacino) was raised in the deep South, attended Harvard Law School, and has devoted his spare time to progressive political causes since working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. However, Wurman now makes his living as a press agent and PR man, and while he's near the top of his profession, years of overwork, constant smoking and drinking, and ceaseless tension are taking their toll, leaving him on the verge of collapse, with only the prescriptions of his friend Dr. Napier (Robert Klein) keeping him on his feet. One of Wurman's biggest clients is Cary Launer (Ryan O'Neal), a fading film star with political aspirations who, after attending a disastrous Broadway opening, asks Wurman to do him a big favor -- bail Launer's girlfriend, Jilli (Téa Leoni), out of jail and keep an eye on her. Wurman manages to get Jilli out of the stir, but she insists upon being escorted to an exclusive sex and opium den for a night of heavy drinking and drugging. Unfortunately, the lack of sleep and sheer exhaustion wipes away most of Wurman's memories of the evening. This turns out to be especially problematic when Jilli is found dead in a hotel the next morning. Meanwhile, Wurman is trying to set up a political fundraiser, but has a hard time getting the right A-list celebs to appear, just as many of New York's power brokers aren't especially interesting in working with Wurman or Launer. In the midst of this chaos, Victoria (Kim Basinger), who was married to Wurman's late brother, arrives in New York and urges him to leave the city and his career behind while he still can. People I Know was screened in competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Commentary with the Director
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| Some "People"!
by talltale
July 22, 2004 - 8:48 PM PDT
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8 out of 8 members found this review helpful
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| Looking for something cynical? PEOPLE I KNOW may just be the most asocial, alienated and misanthropic movie I have seen in.... gee, can't remember when. It sports a priceless performance from Al Pacino (quiet, harried, sad--until he does one of his amazing "galvanize the whole f-ing room" moments, even if his southern accent slips now and then), and it has a terrific ensemble cast. If these are not reason enough to give it a try, then see it for its unusual "take" on power, marketing, liberals, conservatives, blacks, jews, public relations and a whole bunch else. OK: this is not a great film, but it dares to confront modern political/cultural life from a cynical and sad perspective, and that's worth a lot. Kim Basinger gives her usual one-note performance (a nice note, but still in the single range) and Tea Leoni is tart and sleazy. Screen-writer Jon Robin Baitz has a lot of fun and funny things to say (even if he does insert a whopping bit of needless exposition regarding how a certain character died), Dan Algrant does a nice directing job, and Terence Blanchard offers up some good music. This one never saw theatrical exposure, probably because Miramax figured people wouldn't know what to make of it. Well, smart audiences will figure it out for themselves--and YOU ought to be among them. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 5.84)
25 Votes
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