WITNESS PROTECTION

US, 1999, 105 minutes, Colour.
Tom Sizemore, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Shawn Hatosy, Skye Mc Cole Bartusiak, Forest Whitaker, William Sadler, Jim Metzler.
Directed by Richard Pearce.


1999, an HBO production, interesting cast and Witness Protection is often an interesting dramatic theme. The question arises, do we know very much about the Witness Protection process at all. Many audiences assume that individuals and families in danger were told to change their identities and some American government office organised their move to a city on the other side of the country – here, from Boston to Seattle. But, as regards any details, preparation, the suddenness of the transition, awareness of difficulties…This film certainly brings home some powerfully critical issues.

One of the challenges is that the central character, Bob ‘Batts’ Batton, played so convincingly by Tom Sizemore, is a thug, practically no redeeming features except love for his wife (and certainly not 100% on that) and concern for his children though he was often an absentee father, never going to school meetings or his son’s debates. After an attempt on his life in his home, he is pressurised by the FBI to give testimony against his boss. Reluctant, he does record his testimony for court use and, fearing for his life and for his family, he does not give much thought as to what entering the Witness Protection program would entail.

The bulk of the action shows the family travelling to an isolated and secure facility, supervised by Forest Whitaker (in yet another of his sympathetic but strong-minded roles), five days of quite intense training, rethinking, challenge to adaptation, and presentation of the realities of living in the program. They are not going to be supported by taxpayers’ money, Bob, now becoming Bill Cooper, has to find a job and is not qualified and has no references or experience. His financial situation was crooked and, even with the selling of his house and cars, the family is bankrupt. He and his wife will both have to work. The little daughter is five and, while she is persuaded that they have to play pretend so that the bad man will not find them, she is caught up in the moods of the family. The son, a good performance by Shawn Hatosy, is a teenager, losing his friends, losing his school, losing his achievements, at one stage determined to get out and return to Boston despite the risks.

So, a most demanding learning experience for the unprepared family as well as quite an absorbing and challenging learning experience for the audience.

The second stream running through is that of the interactions of the family. Bob is certainly not an ideal husband and father, used to bossing people around, used to luxury in his life. He is not an easy learner, often disruptive, becoming more and more moody, snapping at his daughter, but a huge confrontation with his son, his son rebelling, no holds barred and a swing back, and an even more dramatic and powerful confrontation with his wife, even to physical violence, on her part. Cindy had gone along with her husband in the past, somewhat overwhelmed in her discovering their financial situation and prospects in Seattle. This portrait of Cindy brings home the complexities and subtleties of hers and the family situation. A best performance from Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

So, a screenplay containing powerful sequences about family interactions, tense, sometimes hyper-tense, of a man caught in the consequences of his own irresponsible and selfish actions, but the overwhelming consequences for his wife and children.

1. Audience knowledge of the witness protection program, the facts, those who go into protection, families, reasons, the process to prepare them?

2. From Boston to Seattle via the facility for training? The facility, the family can find inside, the apartment, layout, yet surveillance and security? The musical score?

3. The setting, Boston, Bobby and the attempt on his life at night in his house? The shooting? The criminals, escape?

4. The police, the FBI, Bobby and his reputation? His family? The interrogations, the FBI officer and his severity? Persuasion? Bobby and his testimony, recorded? The hold over him?

5. The agreement to go into witness protection? Giving up his life? Cindy, her support of her husband, agreeing? Sean and Susie? Their ages?

6. The background to Bobby’s life, explanation of his family, childhood, criminals, his decisions, stand over tactics, violence, the comfortable life, infidelities? His having to give this up?

7. The officials, the plane ride, the transfer to the facility, the nature of the facility, the officials at work, desks, computers, surveillance? Steven Beck within this context? His personality? Objective, explanations, yet some compassion? His discussions and conservation conversations? His having to take firm stands? Bobby and his declarations of wanting out?

8. The detail of the five days of training? Coming as the house, the rooms, getting used to it? Meals? Conversations? The pressure to learn the new identity, the choice of names and reasons? The significance of the financial situation, Bobby and his lack of money? The shock for Cindy? His having to find a job, no training, no history? No initial financial support? Cindy and her having to work? The family having to changes lifestyle?

9. Susie, age, not understanding, the moods, the game of pretend, Cindy’s explanation, Susie understanding this, the bad man not to come back? Her drawing, the father ignoring, shouting? The mother’s support? The dependence on Sean?

10. Sean, his age, his life, academic, the debates, friends? Having to leave it all? At first willing? The clashes with his father, the shouting, his needing his father’s attention and love? The dire choice, the risk and going back to Boston? His final choice?

11. Cindy, her past, supporting her husband, despite himself? Her love for her family? The conversations with Beck, his explaining situations? Changing her mannerisms? The confrontation with her husband, the violence, physical, his reaction?

12. The demanding process, the psychological effects, apprehension about the future?

13. The final decision, going to Seattle? The prospects?