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

This was where I first knew Naomi Watts would be a star...

Around 1997 while flicking through cable channels I caught the pier scene in this movie and was instantly hooked. The blonde actress in the wheel chair had an incredible presence even just in profile. I did not know who the actress was but immediately wanted to. I checked and she was Naomi Watts (Jet Girl from "Tank Girl" ?). From that moment I was certain that she was destined to become a star. And it sure looked that way in 1997 as a rising young ingenue.

But then for three years her career lost all momentum and sank into a series of minor roles in forgettable movies punctuated by huge gaps of unemployment before David Lynch pitched her that fast ball over the middle she had been waiting for (at precisely the moment she was set to give up and become a yoga instructor) in "Mulholland Drive" that she hit out of the ballpark.

This is a good, solid, noir film of three people who have screwed up their lives with carelessness and substance abuse desperately seeking another chance. I would like it on DVD. It holds up well with levels revealed with each viewing (the subtleties of the scene where Joe Mantegna first buys the sisters lunch...).