Review of Witness (1985) by Jacob D — 26 Jul 2008
This was the staple that held the action genre's aptitude and ingenuity together throughout the eighties, which is to say that it inspired later action exercises such as Lethal Weapon and Die Hard to stay true to the characters and keep the audience guessing.
When the screen first bursts into life, the breath is drawn out of our lungs when we catch sight of a swaying wheat field and the peaceful Amish community that flourishes in the background. One of the community members, a young boy, witnesses a brutal murder in a bathroom stall and must be taken under a local cop's wing, much to the unwillingness of the simple townsfolk that want nothing to do with the violent outside world.
Ford, veteran of nerve racking action films, flexes his romantic muscles with the mother of the Amish boy (McGinnis), which leads me to say that this is his most profound performance yet. He learns the customs of the Amish and begins to give some thought about his authoritative position.
This review of Witness (1985) was written by Jacob D on 26 Jul 2008.
Witness has generally received very positive reviews.
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