EYEWITNESS (1981, USA, 103m, 15) ***
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
dist. Twentieth Century Fox; pr co. Twentieth Century Fox; d. Peter Yates; w. Steve Tesich; pr. Peter Yates; ph. Matthew F. Leonetti (Colour | 1.85:1); m. Stanley Silverman; ed. Cynthia Scheider; pd. Philip Rosenberg; ad. John Kasarda (uncredited).
cast: William Hurt (Daryll Deever), Sigourney Weaver (Tony Sokolow), Christopher Plummer (Joseph), James Woods (Aldo), Irene Worth (Mrs. Sokolow), Kenneth McMillan (Mr. Deever), Pamela Reed (Linda Mercer), Albert Paulsen (Mr. Sokolow), Steven Hill (Lt. Jacobs), Morgan Freeman (Lt. Black), Alice Drummond (Mrs. Deever), Sharon Chatten (Israeli Woman), Chao Li Chi (Mr. Long), Keone Young (Mr. Long’s Son).
In this convoluted thriller, janitor Hurt is a witness to a murder and takes the opportunity to become involved with Weaver’s ambitious reporter, who is assigned to the case. Despite its many twists, Tesich’s self-conscious script lacks any real surprises, and the plot is underdeveloped. It is left to Hurt and Weaver, who are excellent, and a strong supporting cast to elevate the twisting narrative.
