Desertman84 A powerful behind-the-scenes man in politics and show business finds himself skidding into a very public scandal in this taut drama entitled,People I Know.It stars Al Pacino,Kim Basinger,Ryan O'Neal and Téa Leoni.The movie was directed by Daniel Algrant.Eli Wurman 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 1960's. 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 keeping him on his feet. One of Wurman's biggest clients is Cary Launer, a fading film star with political aspirations who, after attending a disastrous Broadway opening, asks Wurman to do him a big favor which is to bail Launer's girlfriend, Jilli 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. 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 fund raiser, but has a hard time getting the right A-list celebrities 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, 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.There are juicy possibilities in Jon Robin Baitz's script, and with a topnotch director and a little more better elements that they might have blossomed. As it is, despite a couple of nifty gotchas, the movie never quite gets into full stride. Tea Leoni shines as an addicted actress with a flinty vocabulary, but Kim Basinger is less lucky with her plot- device role. Pacino looks as though he's about to draw his last breath in every shot, which is precisely how he should look.With an unforgettable performance this is one of Pacino's best as you won't want to miss a minute of this gripping motion picture despite being deeply flawed thriller due to excess of plot points that fail to coalesce.

leplatypus The movie is about two stories: one is a political murder of a call-girl, the other an upper-class political party. The crossing point is the public relation character played by Al Paccino, as he is the witness of the crime and the instigator of the evening.If the script is terrible without any decent dialogs and the directing void of any sense of drama, the performance of Al is memorable: how many fellows can be as much convincing as a powerful and feared man (as "The Godfather") as here as a little servant (see also "Donnie Brasco").Actually, the big young lion has become a tired old one. This passing of ages is very moving, because it makes the audience ponders about getting old too.But his slowness is only a make-up because he can get back his energy in Church scene.Maybe it is a good thing that the movie is so awful because it put the starlight on Al's talent!

Movie-Jay Don't believe the negative reviews for this film. Every negative review seems to miss the point. This is a character study about an idealist whose lost his way. It's got drugs and hookers and a subplot that could've hijacked this film and made it a simple thriller, but it's so much wiser than that as it follows Pacino instead. He's understated here and shows a more quiet side. We know he can play very mannered characters, and characters with a lot of octane and vitality, but here we're looking at shades of that character he played in 'Insomnia', tired, weary, but still marching on, wanting to do some good with his city. Just look at his scenes when he's trying to get that charity event to go off without a hitch and in that you'll see the heart of this film. Good stuff.

MarieGabrielle I do not agree with the platitude that this is simply about Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This film is very broad in scope, reflecting the complex world of public relations, politicians, actors and disappointments.Pacino is Eli Wurman, a PR man who is having his fill of the world/NYC publicist career he lives in. He complains that he went to Harvard, was one of the protesters who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, and yet his life has now become a sense of loss, and weariness.Robert Klein is very good as the world weary NYC doctor for celebrities, who simply tells Eli to take more Valium. Another mishap occurs when Eli has to rescue a starlet (erratic performance by Tea Leoni). She ends up overdosing, or being murdered, Eli was present but passed out unconscious in the other room. He has acquired a sex tape of her with Oscar winner an aspiring Senator, Cary Launer (well done by Ryan O'Neal as a conceited self-absorbed opportunist).Kim Basinger has a minor role as Eli's sister-in-law, whose husband committed suicide. She naively questions Eli as to why his brother killed himself, Eli simply replies that "people just get tired, sometimes". This clearly shows that Eli relates to suicidal ideation.Overall, an interesting film that is worth a viewing. 9/10.