Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Now that I have a Netflix.com subscription I am able to go back and find those elusive movies that not only action and drama, but also contained an indefinable element that seems to be severely lacking from today’s lackluster movies. Witness is one of those movies that with some excellent performances manages to tell a convincing story while not being over the top

Living in South New Jersey, I have been one of those ‘tourists’ who have marveled at the simple and hard lifestyle of the Amish community. I was therefore very intrigued to find a movie which combined modern day Phildapelphia, with crime and murder very prevalent, with a more sedate and innocent lifestyle – the potential entwining of the two seemingly an oxi-moron.

Witness, starts of at a funeral; we are introduced to two main characters as we share their grief, and see the simple and profound way in which the community surrounds them with love and help. Rachel Lippis (Kelly McGillis) and her son Samuel, having lost their husband and father decide to leave the community for a while and visit Rachel’s sister in Baltimore. The journey includes a trip through Philadelphia. While waiting for a delayed train, they are both suddenly catapulted into the harsh reality of modern life. Samuel witnesses a murder in the bathroom, and despite the fear and anxiety of the ordeal manages to avoid the perpetrator.

John Book (Harrison Ford) arrives on the scene and immediately takes charge. He takes the two Amish on a whirlwind tour of the area looking for the suspect, delving into some of the depravity of modern life. The fear of the mother and son is palpable, and their initiation into modern day society is not a good one. Suddenly John’s world is turned upside down as it turns out that the murderer is a decorated officer, and furthermore his superior officer is also involved. The result of this is that John is shot, and flees to Amish country with mother and son. The Amish society suddenly becomes embroiled in the drama as they nurse John back to health and he becomes entrenched in Amish society.

The movie cleverly portrays the differences between the two societies, and in a way enlightens us with the fact that while Amish society may seem simple, it is indeed very complex and perhaps far superior to the lives we lead. While there is obvious interest by tourists, it is interesting that there is almost a feeling of ‘outsider’ when John joins the community – this gradually disappears as he beings to show his worth to the society with his carpentry skills. Harrison ford is actually a master carpenter, so the scenes where he is assisting with fixing a bird house and helping to build a barn are very convincing

The movie intersperses some comedic moments, the cow milking scene is particularly fun with a little eroticism – the interplay between John and Rachel is obvious, and the attraction is mutual – from a simple scene where they dance together, to scenes where a glance tells it all, there is an obvious chemistry – and then ends with some thrilling action.

Obviously, for a movie like this, the setting and atmosphere is important. The scenes within the Amish country are stunning, and represent them well – showing the beauty and often the tranquility of the area and life very well. Quaint scenes where horse drawn carriages are holding up traffic are typical of reality I know, I’ve been there and done that. To counter this, the scenes within the city, at the train station and as they move around the seedier parts of Philadelphia show the contrast between the tranquility and the bustle of modern life. It is interesting to see the fear of Rachel, and the wide eyed curiosity of Samuel.

While the movie is excellent on its own, it is worth mentioning that the acting along with the cinematography are what set this movie aside. Previously I had only seen Harrison Ford in action movies (Star Wars and Indian Jones) so it was interesting to see him try a role that had elements of Harrison Ford, but also showed a soft and gentle side that linked well with nature and beauty. This was a great performance by him. Kelly McGillis was also superb – this was my introduction to her and her subtle beauty combined with her sincerity were obvious and refreshing. The interplay between her and Harrison seemed genuine, and I was surprised by the way her performance always seemed to have a glint of ‘naughtiness’ in it.

The direction of the movie by renowned director Peter Weir was also evident. The way in which the story unfolded slowly and naturally, combined with the performances he got from his cast was exceptional. I particularly liked the way in which he contrasted the two totally different society, found some commonalities but then left us wondering whether it was possible to mix the two. He didn’t make any comments on which society was better but left this for you to decide.

Overall the movie is a very enjoyable one – there are perhaps a few areas that aren’t quite believable – an early example being the fact that I’m unsure whether they would drive a witness around the city as they searched for a suspect – but this doesn’t detract from the movie and adds an element of drama. I guess this is the creativity of the director shining through.

DVD extras – I’m not a great believe in DVD extras, in most cases I never watch them or only watch them once – this DVD doesn’t have many, the only consequential one being a long interview with Peter Weir. While I’m sure this is insightful and interesting, especially to his fans I found it a little long and dull – hence the fact that I normally skip them!










Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older