People I Know
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People I Know
Plot
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, and then reveals to Wurman that she owns a device which she's used to record footage of the most public figures who attend the club, including Elliott Sharansky, a billionaire Jewish civic leader (Richard Schiff). That night, a half out-of-it Eli accompanies Jilli back to her hotel room when an intruder barges in and forces an overdose on her, killing her instantly. The next morning, Wurman has only fuzzy memories of what transpired. He decides to focus on his attempts 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, RoviCast
- Al Pacino - Eli Wurman
- Kim Basinger - Victoria Gray
- Ryan O'Neal - Cary Launer
- Téa Leoni - Jilli Hopper
- Richard Schiff - Elliot Sharansky
Credit
Charles McCarry - Art Director, Juliet Taylor - Casting, Laura Rosenthal - Casting, Ali Farrell - Casting, Nellie Nugiel - Co-producer, David C. Robinson - Costume Designer, Jude Gorjanc - First Assistant Director, Dan Algrant - Director, Suzy Elmiger - Editor, Robert Redford - Executive Producer, Kirk D'Amico - Executive Producer, Philip Von Alvensleben - Executive Producer, Terence Blanchard - Composer (Music Score), Christopher Violette - Musical Direction/Supervision, Robin Urdang - Musical Direction/Supervision, Michael Shaw - Production Designer, Peter Deming - Cinematographer, Michael Nozik - Producer, Karen Tenkhoff - Producer, Leslie Urdang - Producer, Andrew Baseman - Set Designer, Michael Barosky - Sound/Sound Designer, Jon Robin Baitz - Screenwriter| People From Space (1999 Film), People Are Funny (1946 Film) | |
| People Like Us (1990 Film), People Like Us (2012 Film) |
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People I Know
| People I Know | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Daniel Algrant |
| Produced by | Michael Nozik |
| Written by | Jon Robin Baitz |
| Starring | Al Pacino Kim Basinger Ryan O'Neal Téa Leoni |
| Music by | Terence Blanchard |
| Cinematography | Peter Deming |
| Editing by | Suzy Elmiger |
| Studio | Myriad Pictures South Fork Pictures |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | October 11, 2002 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States Germany |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $126,793 |
People I Know is a 2002 crime drama film directed by Daniel Algrant and stars Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, and Téa Leoni.
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Contents
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Plot
Eli Wurman (Al Pacino) is a Jewish publicist on the out, but all he knows is how to hustle and cajole, threaten and persuade. The hazy mania of his everyday life is fuelled by a steady stream of prescription drugs and alcohol.
One night, Eli's last remaining "big client" Cary Launer (Ryan O'Neal) -- an actor considering a campaign for political office -- entreats Eli to take care of his latest publicity mess, a dangerous liaison with Jilli Hopper (Téa Leoni), a hard-shelled, quick-tongued television actress with a soft centre and a taste for illegal drugs. The actress takes Eli to a drug-and-sex den, a playground for the rich and famous, where she claims to be looking for a toy.
Jilli is escorted off the premises by security. As she demands to know "Where is my toy?", she finds it and tells the guards, "I got all of you now." Eli is too stoned to understand the exchange.
Eli takes her back to the hotel room, where he takes more pills and passes out right after witnessing what appears to be the actress's murder. In his opiate daze, he cannot be sure. By the next morning, the memory is buried. Eli needs to pull together a charity benefit. He also is tempted to leave New York for good with his former sister-in-law, Victoria. But his work is interrupted by the police who question him and by acquaintances trying to ascertain how much Eli has seen and recalls. Eli finally realizes he is involved in something politically dangerous, and powerful forces are at play to keep his mouth shut.
As he strives to bring together the people he knows—members of the Black and Jewish communities, film stars and media—for the grand fundraiser, it becomes clear that dangerous forces are in play. But will the increasingly befuddled Eli be able to stay ahead of the game? Will he exploit the secret and continue his downward spiral into decadence or will he use the opportunity to change?
Cast
- Al Pacino as Eli Wurman
- Kim Basinger as Victoria Gray
- Ryan O'Neal as Cary Launer
- Téa Leoni as Jilli Hopper
- Richard Schiff as Elliot Sharansky
- Bill Nunn as The Reverend Lyle Brunt
- Robert Klein as Dr. Sandy Napier
- Mark Webber as Ross
Reception
The film received mixed reviews.[1] On Rotten Tomatoes it was given a rating of 43% making it rotten. The consensus being that the derivative plot fails to cohere or draw the viewer in. Empire magazine gave a largely positive review awarding 4 stars out of five and said that ' May be a slow-burn, but despite its lack of success elsewhere, it’s still more than worthy of its long-delayed cinema release. Discerning audiences willing to invest in the characters will soon warm to the downbeat story and Al Pacino’s subdued performance — especially the scenes he shares with Basinger'. BBC said that it was an 'intriguing but deeply flawed thriller'. Time out magazine said that 'With its uncertainties of tone, this is a mess, full of misplaced performances (not least Basinger as Eli's supportive sister-in-law), misfires and moral inconsistencies. But its rebellious spirit is commendable'.
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