PEOPLE I KNOW

MOMENTUM PICTURES

RELEASED 13 February 2004

Delayed two years for not wanting to appear insensitive as much of the film is shot in and around the World Trade Centre, ‘People I Know’ sees Al Pacino plays former all-star publicist Eli Wurman. Wurman is a onetime mover and shaker who is at the end of his rope, and his career. His last major client, Cary Launer (Ryan O'Neal), is an Oscar-winning actor who has Wurman clean up his messes for him; in this case, Wurman has to get drug-addled television host Jilli Hopper (Tea Leoni) out of jail and back to California. But a detour leads Wurman into a secret sex-and-drug den filled with the rich and powerful, and also gets him involved in murder.

There isn’t much to like here, from the generally selfish characters to Al Pacino’s over-baked ego trip. It’s endlessly talky and less than thrilling. Kim Basinger has a supporting role.

TWO OUT OF FIVE