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Witness Protection

  • TV Movie
  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Tom Sizemore, Forest Whitaker, Shawn Hatosy, and Skye McCole Bartusiak in Witness Protection (1999)
Home Video Trailer from HBO Home Video
Play trailer1:54
1 Video
13 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
A mobster, suspected of cooking the books, is targeted by the mob boss. His family manages to escape. He cuts a deal with FBI for witness protection program. A rough week follows for the fam... Read allA mobster, suspected of cooking the books, is targeted by the mob boss. His family manages to escape. He cuts a deal with FBI for witness protection program. A rough week follows for the family.A mobster, suspected of cooking the books, is targeted by the mob boss. His family manages to escape. He cuts a deal with FBI for witness protection program. A rough week follows for the family.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Pearce
  • Writers
    • Robert Sabbag(article The Invisible Family)
    • Daniel Therriault(story)
  • Stars
    • Tom Sizemore
    • Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Shawn Hatosy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Pearce
  • Writers
    • Robert Sabbag(article The Invisible Family)
    • Daniel Therriault(story)
  • Stars
    • Tom Sizemore
    • Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Shawn Hatosy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Witness Protection
    Trailer 1:54
    Witness Protection

    Photos13

    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)
    Witness Protection (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Sizemore
    Tom Sizemore
    • Bobby Batton
    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Cindy Batton
    Shawn Hatosy
    Shawn Hatosy
    • Sean Batton
    Skye McCole Bartusiak
    Skye McCole Bartusiak
    • Suzie Batton
    • (as Skye McCole-Bartusiak)
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Steven Beck
    William Sadler
    William Sadler
    • Sharp
    Jim Metzler
    Jim Metzler
    • Jim Cutler
    Greg Pitts
    Greg Pitts
    • Duffy
    Daniel Zacapa
    Daniel Zacapa
    • David Ramirez
    Greg Lipari
    • Hit Man
    • (as Greg Lipari Sr.)
    Leon Russom
    Leon Russom
    • Reedy
    Joanna Merlin
    Joanna Merlin
    • Cindy's Mother
    Harrison Young
    Harrison Young
    • Cindy's Father
    Randy Thompson
    Randy Thompson
    • First Marshal
    Byron Minns
    Byron Minns
    • Second Marshal
    • (as Byron Keith Minns)
    Janni Brenn
    • Airplane Passenger
    Shannon Cochran
    Shannon Cochran
    • Psychologist
    Gregory Cupoli
    Gregory Cupoli
    • FBI Agent
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Pearce
    • Writers
      • Robert Sabbag(article The Invisible Family) (story)
      • Daniel Therriault(story) (teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Skye McCole Bartusiak's debut.
    • Alternate versions
      When showed on Finnsh television it was shown in two parts (50 min & 49 min). it was shown in a wide-screen, approx 1.78:1, format. This version left out little information on top and below and added a little to the sides compared to the version released on DVD in Finland (by FutureFilm)which is 96 minutes and in 4:3 Full frame format.

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Hi, I'm Joan Cooper"
    There's inherent limitations built into most TV movies. They tend to feel just a little closed in, without a lot of focus on cinematography. "Witness Protection" has the sense of being (literally) in a locked room. It provides an opportunity to focus almost completely on the actors and their performances. And there's some great performances, too. The three leads (Sizemore, Mastrantonio, Whitaker) get deep under the skin of their characters. The interaction between Sizemore and Mastrantonio, especially, reaches a level of tenderness and darkness that's totally unanticipated.

    This film works well to director Richard Pearce's ability with actors, but doesn't provide him much in the way of visual opportunity like some of his stunning feature films (Threshold, Country, The Long Walk Home, A Family Thing). But, although "Witness Protection" sounds uninteresting and doesn't look much better, it is a numbing, dramatic punch to the face. There's a ton of depth to the writing here, brought to full bear by the actors. The only off-key note was with young Skye McCole Bartusiak, who is sometimes forced to express levels of emotion that she's not completely capable of getting across. Watch this film, though. You just might get something from it.
    helpful•9
    0
    • SteveSkafte
    • Apr 14, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Skyddat vittne
    • Filming locations
      • Boston, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO NYC Productions
      • TurtleBack Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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