CONTAINS SPOILERS BELOW
As a long time Al Pacino fan, I decided to rent this film because the DVD box made it seem like an interesting watch. Too bad it didn't live up to the promise the description on the box gave. On paper, it seems like a great idea for a movie-an Ivy League Southern Boy out of his element amongst the gliterati of the who's who in New York Society. Pacino is outstanding as Eli, a once-idealistic Harvard Law School grad who chooses to spend his time "cleaning up messes" for his famous client (he's a publicist). Too bad his own life is a mess. He's a bachelor who may or may not like women (it was a bit ambiguous at times), a pill popping bundle of nerves, and is plagued with a health problem that takes the viewer on a journey inside his bladder (was this an excuse for the screenwriter to get Al to utter a line about his male anatomy?). From the get-go, you know the character is not long for this world-and it makes you wonder if he's going to go by natural causes or open up his big mouth and invite someone to murder him. As an actor, Pacino is never afraid to take chances, and his work here is excellent as usual.
The supporting cast of Tea Leoni (who steals the movie as a hedonistic TV actress/model), Ryan O'Neal (it was good to see him on screen again, but it was a shame that he wasn't on more) Kim Basinger (as a Southern Bell hot to trot for Eli) and Robert Kline (who knew he could play a menacing character?) was terrific.
The basic premise was interesting, but the story gets caught up in political self-righteousness and loses focus. By the time it ends predictably, you find yourself not caring about what happens to Eli.
Overall, it's not a wasted hour and a half, but it's not one of Al's best films overall. True Pacino fans will want to see it for Al's trademark tirades, and there is one in there that is a doozy. I give People I Know a 6 out of 10.
As a long time Al Pacino fan, I decided to rent this film because the DVD box made it seem like an interesting watch. Too bad it didn't live up to the promise the description on the box gave. On paper, it seems like a great idea for a movie-an Ivy League Southern Boy out of his element amongst the gliterati of the who's who in New York Society. Pacino is outstanding as Eli, a once-idealistic Harvard Law School grad who chooses to spend his time "cleaning up messes" for his famous client (he's a publicist). Too bad his own life is a mess. He's a bachelor who may or may not like women (it was a bit ambiguous at times), a pill popping bundle of nerves, and is plagued with a health problem that takes the viewer on a journey inside his bladder (was this an excuse for the screenwriter to get Al to utter a line about his male anatomy?). From the get-go, you know the character is not long for this world-and it makes you wonder if he's going to go by natural causes or open up his big mouth and invite someone to murder him. As an actor, Pacino is never afraid to take chances, and his work here is excellent as usual.
The supporting cast of Tea Leoni (who steals the movie as a hedonistic TV actress/model), Ryan O'Neal (it was good to see him on screen again, but it was a shame that he wasn't on more) Kim Basinger (as a Southern Bell hot to trot for Eli) and Robert Kline (who knew he could play a menacing character?) was terrific.
The basic premise was interesting, but the story gets caught up in political self-righteousness and loses focus. By the time it ends predictably, you find yourself not caring about what happens to Eli.
Overall, it's not a wasted hour and a half, but it's not one of Al's best films overall. True Pacino fans will want to see it for Al's trademark tirades, and there is one in there that is a doozy. I give People I Know a 6 out of 10.