Persons Unknown (1996)

When former cop and current security expert Jim Holland has a one night stand with Amanda after getting in her way roller-blading. That introduction turns out to be a well thought out plan ... See full summary »

Director:

George Hickenlooper

Writer:

Craig Smith

Stars:

Joe Mantegna, Kelly Lynch, Naomi Watts

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Mantegna	...	Jim Holland
Kelly Lynch	...	Amanda
Naomi Watts	...	Molly
J.T. Walsh	...	Cake
Xander Berkeley	...	Tosh
Jon Favreau	...	Terry
Channon Roe	...	Lewis
Christian J. Meoli	...	Prancer (as Christian Meoli)
Antoni Corone	...	Vixen
Jimmy Ortega	...	Comet (as Jim Ortega)
Michael Nicolosi	...	Blitzen
Sonny Carl Davis	...	Jimmy
Don Blakely	...	Marty
Brian J. Williams	...	Mott
Brent J. Williams	...	Old Man

Storyline

When former cop and current security expert Jim Holland has a one night stand with Amanda after getting in her way roller-blading. That introduction turns out to be a well thought out plan by Amanda and her sister Molly, to obtain security codes to office of a client. The girls and their cohorts rob his client and stash the loot. All the while, detective Jim has been following them and he grabs the money for himself. Then his conscience gets the best of him and he falls in love with Molly. His client turns out to be drug dealers and he's forced to risk his life to protect Molly and Amanda.

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Plot Keywords:

alcoholic | robbery | ex cop | corruption | morality | 

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language, some drug content and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Astathmitos paragontas

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Promark Entertainment Group, Spectacor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stun gun that Cake (played by J.T Walsh) asks for and receives from Jim Holland (played by Joe Mantegna) has the fictional brand name "Hickenlooper" printed on the box. George Hickenlooper is the director of the film.

User Reviews

Worth seeing simply for the nicely-played love story.

The plot of this film is rather weak, and too many of the supporting characters come across as cliches rather than real people. (If I never see another killer in a long, black raincoat on a hot day, I'll die a happy man).

But Naomi Watts and Joe Mantegna both beautifully transcend this material, in a wonderful, understated love story. The usual histrionics of a paralyzed woman in love are left out, and instead we get some genuine, gritty dialogue, and the sense that there are two real people reaching out to each other. She is no blushing, helpless cripple, and meets him head-on, as when she asks him if he's one of those men who're drawn to women in wheelchairs, or who only get turned on by women who can't feel sex. Both actors put their all into this scene, without overplaying it, and draw you right into their story.

The ending is adult, rather than trite, and avoids most of the usual cliches; unfortunately, not all.

I found this an absorbing movie, and highly recommend it for a snowbound afternoon.