Witness Protection

Witness Protection is another fine example of HBO's strong line of original films (Mistrial, Vendetta, RKO 281). In Witness Protection, Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Bringing Out the Dead) stars as a mob man who has recently had a hit put out on him by his own boss. In order to protect himself and his family he agrees to testify against his boss and enter the witness protection program. After entering the program he soon realizes the stress this puts on his family as everyone begins to take sides against everyone else in a struggle to make it. Sizemore one of the best actors in the business gives a strong lead performance adding to his list of impressive performances. Forest Whitaker (Blown Away, Species) adds a great supporting performance as the man who leads the family into the program. Highly recommended.

I thought that this was just another "made for cable" movie that would be just to watch once and forget. I was very wrong. This movie showed a different view to the unknowing public as to what really goes on in the witness program and it is not what we all think. This movie also had also no dull moments. I tried playing a game with my wife later and called her Joan (as in Joan Cooper) to try to slip her up, and sure enough, it is real easy to tell people things they can use against you. Great movie for all except for anyone under 10. Great job by Tom Sizemore, Forrest Whitaker, Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio and William Sadler, and the 2 actors that played their children. Keep it up HBO.

In Boston, when the mobster Bobby "Bats" Batton (Tom Sizemore) is attacked by a killer at home and escapes, he finds that he has fallen in disgrace with his boss since someone has falsely betrayed him telling that he has embezzled money from his funds. Without any alternative, Bobby seeks out FBI chief Sharp (William Sadler) to get protection to his family and him. Bobby accepts to snitch his boss; in return, his wife Cindy Batton (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), his teenage son Sean Batton (Shawn Hatosy), his little daughter Suzie Batton (Skye McCole- Bartusiak).and him will receive new identities and be relocated to Seattle. Along the next days, they move to a safe house to be trained in their new lives by Agent Steven Beck (Forest Whitaker) that shows that they are completely broken and without professional qualification. Meanwhile the family lives the drama to adapt to their new lives. Will they succeed?

"Witness Protection" is a HBO TV movie with a different approach of the witness protection program showing how does it works and how families are affected. In crime films, the procedure are shown in a shallow way; but this film uses the family of a mobster with wife, teenage son and little daughter to disclose the problems faced by the in their new location. Supported by great cast and direction, the most impressive are the odds to be successful, depicted when Agen Steven says 50% and his partner calls him optimistic. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Proteção à Testemunha" ("Witness Protection")

This is a movie which should be seen by anyone who thinks that the "witness protection" is a free ride for criminals. Very well done by everyone, it shows the gut wrenching changes that must be made by the "witness" and his/her family.Entertaining and disturbing it should be seen by all.

This movie is the kind that TV airs by the dozen late in the evening. It is not advertised as something special, just a nice thrill to entertain you before bedtime.

However, it is a very solid, well turned story, showing another side of the gangster/new identity tale that we have seen many times before. We get under the skin of a family forced into assuming a new identity. A son has to give up his access to a famous college and a daughter has to give up her friends at school and learn a whole new family history. Grand parents are said goodbye to, never to be seen again. All the difficulties of assuming a new identity are well described and explored in this film, and the acting is no-nonsense, to the point and convincing. Forest Whitaker is (as always) perfect in his role, but in fact all actors contribute convincingly to the story.