← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Ed Toner
Thread ID: 7983 | Posts: 3 | Started: 2003-07-08
2003-07-08 17:15 | User Profile
Here is the mysterious disappearance of the movie "The People I Know". The movie is about a Jewish ner-do-well named Eli Wurman, played by Al Pacino. Wurman is a publicist, who has smoothly managed the public lives of the rich, the famous, and the incredibly powerful, throughout his long career. Nevertheless, Wurman is in trouble. Throughout the movie, the scenes shed a very bad light on Jews in their community.
Many are anxiously awaiting to see the movie or to buy it on DVD or VHS.
Wait no more. Without any media coverage, the movie was already released on a limited basis on April 23rd, 2003. It disappeared from the theaters on April 25th. With stars like Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, Ryan O'Neal, I would think there would be a big stink about dropping the film. There must be millions at stake in royalties here. Has someone paid them off?
.
According to Miramax, who distributes the movie, clarified the issue. "People I Know" is no longer playing in theaters, and there are no plans that it will be released on DVD or VHS in the near future.
Explanation? The Israeli's cannot afford this movie in the current political climate. So, perhaps, behind the scenes, they pull the strings and make the movie disappear. Remember also that this movie was recommended by almost all the white civil rights communities. In fact, the National Alliance's radio show promoted it too.
Opinions solocited.
[url=http://entertainment.msn.com/Movies/Movie.aspx?m=532261]http://entertainment.msn.com/Movies/Movie....e.aspx?m=532261[/url] People I Know (2003) R Drama 1 hrs. 40 min.
Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, Ryan O'Neal
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 ... Read moreA 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 stir, but she insists upon being escorted to a decadent after-hours club, and a night of heavy drinking and drugging 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 Hide full summary
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2003-08-10 12:52 | User Profile
Yes,
I too heard about this movie, thinking it might be shown here in the Boston area, but it never was. The closest place it was shown was in a theater just outside New York City. It is a mistery to me why they produced the movie to begin with.
Herbert.
2003-08-10 16:42 | User Profile
From what I've found on the web, the movie was set for limited release last April. I presume that means New York and L.A. Reviews were mixed. Some films are so bad they go straight to video/DVD, but this apparently wasn't in that category. It will be interesting to see if it makes it to the small screen.
For a review: [url=http://www.popmatters.com/film/reviews/p/p...le-i-know.shtml]http://www.popmatters.com/film/reviews/p/p...le-i-know.shtml[/url]