Themes: Members of the Press, Political Corruption, Conspiracies
Main Cast: Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, Ryan O'Neal, Téa Leoni, Richard Schiff
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
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, All Movie Guide
Bill Nunn - Rev. Lyle Blunt; Robert Klein - Sandy Napier; Mark Webber - Ross; Betsy Aidem - Talia Greene; David Marshall Grant - Tom Silverton; Jon Hendricks - Himself; Shelley Kirk - Benefit Guest; Tirlok Malik - Cab Driver; Brian McConnachie - Jamie Hoff; Ted Neustadt - Man in Sharansky's Office; Joy Philbin - Herself; Regis Philbin - Himself; Paulina Porizkova - Dr. Anna Fahri; Steve Randazzo - Jack Pollan; Rex Reed - Himself; Greg Stebner - Maitre'd; Lisa Emery - Elsa Nye; Ramsey Faragallah - David Fielding; Ajay Mehta - Cab Driver; Peter Gerety - Norris Volpe; Uzi Parnes - Berger; Irina Pantaeva - Summerwear Showroom Receptionist; Ben Shenkman - Radio Announcer; Jonathan Walker - Doorman at Party; T. Scott Cunningham - Crispin; Polly Adams - Mara Samuelson; Daniel Whitner - Lobby Guard #1; Andrew Davoli - Romeo; Frank Wood - Michael Wormly; Michael Graves - Harry Gould; Tina Sloan - Dr. Napier's Receptionist; Mr. Gandosuke - Himself; Patrick Kiernan - Himself; Keith Siglinger - Killer; Laurine Towler - Julia Stone; Geraldine Bartlett - Sarah Niles; Ivan Martin - Serge; Peter Van Wagner - Man in Limousine; Angelique Kidjo - Ms. Thuli Kani; Terry Urdang - Cokey; Sophie Dahl; Roland Algrant - Rolly; William J. Bratton - Mayor Nick Conlin; Eldon Bullock - Washroom Attendant; William E. Corcoran - Lobby Guard #2; Lewis Dodley - Himself; Joe Duer - Michael Von Aelstrom; Juliet Papa - Radio Announcer; Cynthia Santana - Herself; Kaity Tong - Herself; William Hill - Paparazzi
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), 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
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Eli Wurman (Al Pacino) is a 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) entreats him to take care of his latest publicity mess—a dangerous liaison with a hard-shelled, quick-tongued television actress with a soft centre and a taste for illegal drugs (Téa Leoni). The television actress takes him to a drug- and-sex den, a playground for the rich and famous, where she claims to be looking for a toy.
The television actress is escorted off the premises by security, she asks them "where is my toy?", then she realises she has found it. She tells the guards " I got all of you now". Eli is too stoned to understand the exchange. EWli takes her back to the Hotel room, where he takes more pills and passes out right after witnessing the actress' murder.
Back in her room, Eli seems to see something he shouldn't, but in his opiate daze he cannot be sure. By the next morning, the memory is buried. He needs to pull together his benefit, but his work is interrupted by the Police who question him. Eli finally realizes he is involved in something he shouldn't be involved with, 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 Eli exploit the secret and continue his downward spiral into decadence or will he use the opportunity to change?
