Perfect Witness (1989)
1h 43m | PG-13
An innocent man is thrust into a political power struggle in this drama. After witnessing a mob killing, New York restaurant owner Sam Paxton (Aidan Quinn) reports the crime. Overzealous attorneys (Brian Dennehy and Stockard Channing) put pressure on Paxton to testify in court, but Paxton is in a tough spot when the mob starts threatening his family. Paxton now faces an impossible choice: testify and put his family at risk … or go to jail.
Director: Robert Mandel
Studio: HBO Films
Genre: TV Movie, Thriller
Video: 720p
Cast
Brian Dennehy
as James Falcon
Aidan Quinn
as Sam Paxton
Stockard Channing
as Liz Sapperstein
Delroy Lindo
as Berger
Laura Harrington
as Jeanie Paxton
Joe Grifasi
as Breeze
Reviews
There's little cheer to be found here. It's a story that attempts to throw light on the average Joe six-pack's run-in with organised crime, as well as the daily toll it has on a working-class neighborhood. The acting is good all-round and the subject matter is not stylised or glamorized as is ordinarily the case. For a TV movie, it's of an unusual caliber and the narrative is intense as it is compelling. We're shown different character prerogatives and this as a whole amounts to a thoughtful piece.