{"id":8227,"date":"2009-07-14T08:56:59","date_gmt":"2009-07-14T15:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8227"},"modified":"2023-09-13T22:09:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T05:09:01","slug":"eyewitness-1981","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8227","title":{"rendered":"Eyewitness (1981)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Whoever killed Long is a hero in my book.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster-189x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-56348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster-189x300.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster-644x1024.png 644w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster-80x128.png 80w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster-170x270.png 170w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Poster.png 705w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA janitor (William Hurt) stumbles upon the murdered body of a Vietnamese businessman in his office building, and hopes that his &#8220;privileged information&#8221; will give him access to a beautiful television journalist (Sigourney Weaver) he&#8217;s had a crush on for years.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Christopher Plummer Films<\/li>\n<li>James Woods Films<\/li>\n<li>Journalists<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Fans<\/li>\n<li>Peter Yates Films<\/li>\n<li>Sigourney Weaver Films<\/li>\n<li>William Hurt Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nWhat does an underground movement to smuggle Jews out of communist Russia have to do with obsessive fans, Vietnam vets, horses, motorcycles, and a hated Asian businessman who&#8217;s found by a janitor late one night with a telephone cord wrapped tightly around his neck? Screenwriter Steve Tesich &#8212; who also wrote the script for director Peter Yates&#8217; highly regarded cult film, <em>Breaking Away<\/em> (1979) &#8212; manages to weave these seemingly disparate plot elements into a most unusual &#8220;murder mystery&#8221; thriller, one which unfolds in completely unanticipated ways. What&#8217;s most refreshing about Tesich&#8217;s script (in which red herrings abound) is its character-driven focus: as the movie progresses, we learn more and more about each of the characters, who are gradually revealed to be more complex and nuanced than we originally thought. Indeed, it&#8217;s difficult to say too much about <em>Eyewitness<\/em> without giving away spoilers of one kind or another, given that so much of what happens exposes new character motivations. Young Hurt and Weaver are both excellent: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-1536x827.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver-502x270.png 502w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-Weaver.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; as is the cast of supporting players &#8212; including Christopher Plummer as Weaver&#8217;s pro-Israel boyfriend:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-1024x550.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-1024x550.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-1536x825.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer-502x270.png 502w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Plummer.png 1807w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; James Woods as Hurt&#8217;s co-worker and friend:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-1024x547.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"342\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-1024x547.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-1536x821.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods-505x270.png 505w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Woods.png 1817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Pamela Reed as Hurt&#8217;s long-time girlfriend: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-1024x540.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"338\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-1024x540.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-1536x810.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed-512x270.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Reed.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the final climactic scene in a stable is most creatively staged. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-1024x547.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"342\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-1024x547.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-1536x821.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable-505x270.png 505w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Stable.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>William Hurt as Daryll Deever<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-1024x539.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"337\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-1024x539.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-1536x808.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt-513x270.png 513w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Hurt.png 1845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sigourney Weaver as Tony<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-1024x543.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"339\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-1024x543.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-1536x815.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver-509x270.png 509w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Eyewitness-Weaver.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Steve Tesich&#8217;s character-driven screenplay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s a good, unusual little thriller, and worth seeing once. Listed as a Sleeper in the back of Peary&#8217;s book.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0082353\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/02\/27\/movies\/william-hurt-in-eyewitness.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/eyewitness-1981\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review (spoiler alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/64155\/eyewitness.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Whoever killed Long is a hero in my book.&#8221; Synopsis: A janitor (William Hurt) stumbles upon the murdered body of a Vietnamese businessman in his office building, and hopes that his &#8220;privileged information&#8221; will give him access to a beautiful television journalist (Sigourney Weaver) he&#8217;s had a crush on for years. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Christopher Plummer Films James Woods Films Journalists Murder Mystery Obsessive Fans Peter Yates Films Sigourney Weaver Films William Hurt Films Review: What does an&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8227\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8227"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91575,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227\/revisions\/91575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}