Witness

Genre: crime drama  

With: Harrison Ford (John Book), Kelly McGillis (Rachel), Josef Sommer (Schaeffer), Lukas Haas (Samuel), Jan Rubes (Eli Lapp), Alexander Godunov (Daniel Hochleitner), Danny Glover (McFee), Brent Jennings (Elton Carter), Patti LuPone (Elaine), Angus MacInnes (Fergie)

Director: Peter Weir

Screenplay: Earl W. Wallace and William Kelley (based on a story by William Kelley, Pamela Wallace and Earl W. Wallace)

Release: 1985

Studio: Paramount Pictures, Edward S. Feldman Production

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.2/10

 

 

‟You be careful out among the English.”

 

QuickView

Story-line: while on their way to Baltimore, a recently widowed Amish woman and her young son are held over in Philadelphia when the boy inadvertently witnesses a murder.   

Pluses: commanding performances by Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis, fine support from a convincing Lukas Hass and a solid cast, discreet but meticulous direction that lets the story unfold naturally, a thoughtful screenplay that delivers several powerful scenes, an unusual but befitting musical score and appropriate production values.

Minuses: none I can think of.

Comments: I avoided WITNESS for a long time − fearing it would be a gimmicky movie exploiting the Amish and their opposition to our secular world − but I was pleasantly surprised by this very watchable film. I should have known better, considering that Peter Weir has also authored FEARLESS and GREEN CARD, two films that could have hit the skids but clearly didn’t. Here, the Amish community is shown in a respectful way and its contribution brings sorely needed nobility to a particularly sordid murder story. Interesting, efficient… this is the kind of film movie buffs deserve.    

MBiS 

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