Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010)

An in-depth look at the rise and fall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, including interviews with the scandalized, former politician.

Director:

Alex Gibney

Writer:

Alex Gibney

Stars:

Eliot Spitzer, Alex Gibney, Hulbert Waldroup

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alex Gibney	...	Himself - Narrator (voice)
Eliot Spitzer	...	Himself - Former Governor, New York
Hulbert Waldroup	...	Himself - Painter
Lloyd Constantine	...	Himself - Former Spitzer Advisor
Peter Elkind	...	Himself - Author, Rough Justice: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer
Darren Dopp	...	Himself - Spitzer Communications Director
Zana Brazdek	...	Herself - Formerly of Emperors Club VIP
Natalia	...	Herself - Former Escort
Ashley Dupré	...	Herself - Escort (archive footage)
David Brown	...	Himself - Former Spitzer Staff Lawyer
Noreen Harrington	...	Herself - Former Executive, Stern Asset Management
Wrenn Schmidt	...	Angelina
Kenneth Langone	...	Himself - Chairman & CEO, Invemed Associates (as Ken Langone)
Hank Greenberg	...	Himself - Former Chairman and CEO AIG (as Maurice 'Hank' Greenberg)
Richard Beattie	...	Himself - Legal Counsel to the Independent Directors of AIG

Storyline

Documentary on the rise of Eliot Spitzer, first as Attorney General and then Governor of New York and his subsequent downfall due to a sex scandal. Spitzer had a hard driving, take no prisoners approach to prosecuting criminals. When he focused his efforts on Wall Street, he came up against some very powerful men. The chink in his armor was an escort whom he met regularly. When the fact that he spent time with a prostitute became public the knives came out so to speak, and Spitzer found himself isolated, resigning the Governorship. At one point, Spitzer recounts the story of a friend who gave him a t-shirt with 'Hubris is Terminal' printed on the front. A fitting epitaph somehow for his political career.

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Plot Keywords:

greed | governor | new york governor | attorney general | hubris | 

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Taglines:

You don't know the real story.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual material, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Untitled Eliot Spitzer Project

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,962, 7 November 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$187,540, 23 January 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E IndieFilms,Jigsaw Productions,Wider Film Projects

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When former Eliot Spitzer escort 'Angelina' did not wish to appear on camera, the director hired actress Wrenn Schmidt to portray her.

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Connections

References New York, New York (1977)

User Reviews

Terrific movie, though mistitled

This is not a movie about a client of prostitution, the title notwithstanding. Obviously the title was chosen to "sell" the documentary, and my guess is that it has failed in its purpose. This is a truly terrific film about power politics. If you don't know much about the inner workings of government at the highest levels, this movie will go a long way to educate you. If you do know, this will likely confirm your experience. It is also hugely instructive about the brilliant Eliot Spitzer who was and is clearly dedicated to furthering the public good. The loss of his public service is a huge loss for American consumers. His responses to questions about his foolish indiscretions are forthright; that doesn't mean he fully understands why he did what he did-- who can? People are imperfect. They goof up at the worst possible times. The important questions that the film raises and that go unanswered have to do with how, in a country that processes millions of checks and money orders each month, were his (for $10,000 or maybe less) "singled out" for investigation? =