Review of Witness (1985) by Connor _ — 30 Dec 2010
An early example of Peter Weir's talent. The young Lukas Haas kicks off the movie by witnessing the murder of a cop. Haas' Amish child and his Amish family are soon put in danger when a detective named John Book(Harrison Ford) discovers, with Haas' help, that corrupt officers among his own friends are behind the murder and is forced into hiding among the Amish community.
Ford takes us through the daily Amish lifestyle, incuding the persecution by the ignorant "English" moderners. Kelly McGillis plays Haas' widow mother who Ford's got an hard-on for. Jan Rubes plays Haas' cynical grandfather, and Alexander Godunov is a fellow Amish with a one-way love for MGillis.
The combination of murder-action scenes and romantic slow scenes balances out the creative screenplay. We don't very much get to know any individual character, not so much as the Amish culture altogether.
Ford's character, despite being a valid transport character, is further evidence of his heavy type-casting during the '80, as he is kind of like an Amish-life version of his Deckard in 'Blade Runner', and McGilis is the translation of Sean Young.
A-.
This review of Witness (1985) was written by Connor _ on 30 Dec 2010.
Witness has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
