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Hide in Plain Sight (1980)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 9/25

PlainSight
9/25: James Caan directed only one film, and that's Hide in Plain Sight.

According to WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program: in 1967, Buffalo, New York, was a test case for the fledgling witness protection program, and Paddy Calabrese, a made man, became its very first candidate and testified successfully in court, putting away some members of a La Cosa Nostra family. As a reward, he, along with his wife and three stepchildren, were given new identities, and they vanished.

Thomas Leonhard, the ex-husband, wasn't aware of what was going on and had no involvement with the Mafia. The witness protection program found out for the first time in 1970. In all, Leonhard didn't see his children for six years, and by the time he reunited with them, thanks to public pressure engendered by the Buffalo Evening News, they didn't recognize him anymore. The witness protection program had to make policy changes, so this situation would never happen again.

The first half of Hide in Plain Sight wastes too much time on the backstory, setting up for a mediocre film. Once everybody gets down to brass tacks, the second half becomes better, allowing James Caan to shine. I wish he studied The Gambler and understood what made him a valuable asset. Not to worry, the next film James Caan would do is Thief.

All in all, Hide in Plain Sight just needs more of vintage James Caan, especially in close-ups.