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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“People
I Know”
|
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Thriller
|
| Video: |
1.85:1 |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
Surround 5.1 |
| Languages |
English,
French |
| Subtitles |
English,
Spanish |
| Length |
100 minutes
|
| Rating |
R |
| Release Date |
7/20/04 |
| Studio |
Miramax
|
| Commentary:
|
Director
Dan Algrant |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
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Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Deleted scenes
|
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Al Pacino,
Kim Basinger, Ryan O’Neal, Tea Leoni, Richard Schiff |
| Written
By: |
Jon Robin
Baitz |
| Produced
By: |
Robert Redford
and Michael Nozik |
| Directed
By: |
Dan Algrant |
| Music:
|
Terence Blanchard
|
| The
Review: |
When we first meet publicist Eli
Wurman (Pacino) we get a sense of his importance by the pictures
on his wall; we see ex-presidents, actors, leaders from other
countries and well known personalities. It’s clear that he’s
the go-to guy when it comes to salvaging careers or advice
in dealing with the public. When bailing his client’s actress
girlfriend (Leone) out of jail, Wurman finds himself sucked
into a scandal that ultimately leads to him witnessing a murder.
Wurman, unfortunately, doesn’t recall the murder itself. With
a stunning performance by Pacino (with a faux southern accent)and
great support from a stellar cast, “People I Know” recalls
thrillers like “The Parallax View” (the post of which is seen
during one sequence of the film)where nobody knows anything
and if you do you’re either lying or dead. ---
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| Image
and Sound: |
A top notch
transfer marred only by some minor digital blemishes, it’s clear
that the producers knew the right people to take this to for
translation to DVD. The production doesn’t look like a candy-floss
colored film like one that Tim Burton would make but, instead,
as a look more in common with films like “And Justice for All”
with the dull, flat colors one would expect to see from a film
as dark and as sinister as this thriller turns out to be. The
5.1 sound mix makes solid use of the surround features enfolding
you in the world we’re viewing. |
| The
Extras: |
We get
deleted scenes but not much else in the way of extras.
|
| Commentary:
|
The commentary
track by director Algrant gives a sense of what he and writer
Baitz were trying to accomplish with this slow building thriller.
In trying to recall the great conspiracy films like “The Parallax
View” or even “The Manchurian Candidate”, Algrant eschews the
rapid style cutting so prevalent in the thrillers by people
like Tony Scott or Michael Bay. Instead, his film builds slowly
and has more in common with a gourmet meal than a fast food
order. |
| Final
Words: |
A detailed,
thought provoking thriller with elements of a character study,
“People I Know” will capture your attention with its finely
detailed character portraits and the mystery-thriller at the
heart of the film. You need to, however, give it a chance to
build. As I mentioned before, thriller shouldn’t always be made
like fast food burgers. Sometimes slowly cooking them insures
a better, tastier film and allows the film’s to develop with
more detailed multidimensional characters. Ultimately, the end
result is more satisfying just take a look at any of Hitchcock’s
thrillers. “People I Know” will resonate with you long after
you’ve finished watching the film. |
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