Crime pays until it doesn’t. This lesson is learned by main character at the beginning of Witness Protection, 1999 television film directed by Richard Pearce. Bobby “Bats” Batton (played by Tom Sizemore) considered himself to be one of the most powerful criminals in South Boston, at least until the moment when someone sent masked assassins to his home. After he and his family barely survive the ordeal, he goes to motel where, after futile attempts to patch differences with his partners, reluctantly takes what could be the option left to protect his life and family. He contacts FBI and offers testimony in exchange for starting new life under federal protection and new identity. FBI agents are happy because of his decision, but it is different matter with his family – wife Cindy (played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) would have to sever contacts with all her relatives while teenage son Sean (played by Shawn Hatosy) would have to leave his girlfriend. Only 5-year old daughter Suzie (played by Skye McCole Bartosiak) is looking forward to new adventure. It begins in desert complex where U.S. Marshal Steve Beck (played by Forest Whitaker) tries to teach them not only new identities but also a completely new way of life. And it is much harder than Battons have anticipated. Bobby, who used to live large as mobster, now has to work for minimum wage, while wife has to abandon forget about many things she was taking for granted. In four days of orientation Battons begin to fall apart.
Based on the New York Times Magazine article by Robert Sabbag (who also wrote the script) and produced by HBO, Witness Protection tries to demystify concept of witness protection and getting new identities which began to be extensively used as plot element in many gangster and crime films in last decades of 20th Century. Script tries to tell the story in realistic manner, explaining many difficult challenges those who become federal informants must go through. Film benefits a lot from very good cast. Tom Sizemore, who mostly played supporting but memorable roles, is very good in the complex role and same can be said of Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Shawn Hatosy, on the other hand, is less convincing and young Batton whose character is burdened with too many cliches. Those cliches start to pile on as the film approaches its end, but the finale is actually rather unconventional for this sort of films. Although hardly classic and although it looks like a watered down version of The Sopranos, Witness Protection can be recommended as solid television production for fans of gangster films.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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