THE EYEWITNESS
US, 1980, 102 minutes, Colour.
William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Plummer.
Directed by Peter Yates.
The Eyewitness is the work of writer Steve Telic and director Peter Yates, who succeeded so well with Breaking Away. They are best when drawing characters in environment, an odd couple with dreams and ambitions: William Hurt is credible as the ex-Vietnam veteran janitor-hero; Sigourney Weaver (Alien) has beauty and vigour. Christopher Plummer is suave again. James Woods is believable as the racist, gambling, vagrant-friend. The offbeat finale in a riding school is a reminder of Yates' action flair (Bullet, Murphy's War, The Deep). This murder has all kinds of relevant social issues attached, but the slow pace and the extraordinary coincidences undermine the overall impact.
1. The appeal of the murder mystery? Puzzle, clues, motives, character development, coincidence, solution? The quality of this mystery?
2. New York backgrounds, locations, office buildings, the Vietnamese, the Russians, ex-Vietnarn veterans? Contemporary New York melting pot of nationalities, business interests, the media? The special effects, stunt work? The use of darkness and light? The climax in the riding school?
3. The murder in itself - the range of suspects, Aldo and his hostility, Daryl and his discovery of the body, the dealings of the Vietnamese and the background of the war, the links with Russian migrants? How ingenious was the solution?
4. Daryl as hero - the ordinary American, the quiet young man (with glasses)? His background of Vietnam, his skills, videotape and admiration of Tony, his motor bike? His relationship with his family? With Aldo and his girlfriend? His idolising Tony and the opportunity to meet her, the wisecracking interview? The danger because of his presenting himself as eyewitness? Threats? The rescue of Tony, the growing liaison with her? His attitude towards the Vietnamese - pleading for Aldo's job? The entanglement with Joseph - the fight in the apartment? The meeting of the family and the deception by Joseph? The heroic climax? How well delineated a character? Symbolic character?
5. Toni as heroine - her work, intensity, skills at interviewing, compiling and editing her programmes? Her musical talent, background of her wealthy family? The relationship with Joseph? The decision to marry him? Her encounters with Daryl, the interviews, her puzzle by his interest, her setting up meetings with him to discover the truth? Falling in love with him? The Vietnamese and the kidnap? The visits to his apartment? The challenge of her parents? Her seeing Joseph and discovery of the truth? Her decision to help him and send the police to the building?
6. The background of the Jewish refugees? Politics, money, dangers in Russia? Go-betweens and the difficulties of manipulation and blackmail? Toni’s piano playing? Society background and feeling for the migrants? Joseph and his being committed to the cause? His interest in the crime? Replaying the tape? The mysterious attack on Daryl and the truth about Joseph? His discussing the problems with Toni's parents? His deception on the phone, his henchwoman? The final confrontation and his death? The commitment to a cause and the willingness to kill innocent bystanders for a cause in the name of humanity?
7. How well delineated were the issues about war, migrants, human rights, murder?
8. The character sketch of Aldo - his friendship with Daryl, being sacked from his work, his racist attitudes, memories of the war, stubbornness? Being in the wrong place? His hope about his sister and Daryl? Borrowing money, pursued by the Mafia? Daryl protecting him?
9. The encounter between Daryl and Aldo's sister and the mutual relief at their not loving one another?
10. The sketch of Daryl's parents - the alcoholic father, his being disabled and attacking his son, the clashes with his mother? His final visit to his son?
11. The sketch of the police - black and white, surveillance, detective work?
12. The slow pace of the film, the emphasis on character development and interaction? How credible the story? The development of the murder mystery genre? Social observation?
