![]() Maurice Jarre composed the score, with its noble Amish theme (terrific) and dated synth (unfortunate) John Seale did the Vermeer-inspired photography (both men were among the film's eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and wins for Editing and Screenplay). Watch also for Danny Glover as "the bad man" and Patti LuPone as Book's sister. McGillis, Rubes, Haas, Alexander Godunov, and-in a small role-a young Viggo Mortensen capture the troubled serenity of the Amish community, and Haas makes an unreasonably adorable child-in-distress. But Weir knows enough not to try to make the criminals more than the irrational threat that triggers the story. With our own rules" comes across as forced, as does most of the crime-story framing. ![]() The suggestion, by Josef Sommer's police chief, that the force is "like the Amish. A scene between Samuel and his grandfather deftly decries violence, though it certainly appears necessary to Book, if only in self-defense. And yet, in the violent action climax, famously inspired by High Noon, Book yells, "Enough! Enough!" "It's not our way," insists Rachel's father. ![]() ![]() In one chilling scene, he promises eye-for-eye retribution to his urban enemy in the very next scene, disrespect to his adoptive community will not stand. Book sets this standard, and humanizes the conflict of peace versus the arguable necessity of violence. Wallace), expertly juxtaposes scenes to place urban assumptions in stark contrast to the peaceful way of the Amish.įord's characters have often displayed a capacity for ferocity, inflamed by loving protectiveness. Weir, who supervised and contributed to script rewrites (the Oscar-winning screenplay is credited to William Kelley and Earl W. But the Amish's pastoral gentility gets to him, as his own violent and sexual impulses shame him. Dressed in the ill-fitting clothes of Rachel's late husband, Book looks foolish, but it's more than a joke: it's a signifier that he does not belong in this place. However, Weir subtly hints at Rachel's social inferiority in an argument with her father (Jan Rubes) about her deepening relationship with Book (then again, he's right-gender aside, she is at least flirting with a violation of the Ordnung, or Amish "order").Īs Book lays low, far from the familiar surroundings and people in his life, he begins to see himself in a new light. The "homemaking" role of women is apparent, but contented-a division of labor. We also see a horse and buggy tailgated by a tractor-trailer and ugly-American tourists treating the Amish like zoo animals. A centerpiece sequence shows the satisfying day's work of a barn-raising, a communal exercise involving men, women, and children in an act of everyday generosity. Weir ably illustrates the nature of Amish life on the border of mainstream America. But violence has found the Lapps, and the threat remains: they will not be able to hide from it forever. When the conspirators in the murder catch the scent of the witness, Book retreats with the child and his mother to their farm in Amish country. The sole witness to the crime is Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas), a young Amish boy travelling with his mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis). Both men received Oscar nominations for their efforts.įord plays John Book, a Philadelphia police detective investigating the murder of another cop. (Sylvester Stallone and David Cronenberg both passed on the project, though Cronenberg would eventually explore similar territory in A History of Violence.) Weir's unhurried, understated style proved ideal for a potentially ridiculous story and turned out to be a salve for Ford. Witness was Australian director Peter Weir's first Hollywood film it was also a turning point in the career of Harrison Ford, who was known mostly for his popcorn-movie heroes: Indiana Jones and Han Solo. An unforced look at the Amish community contributes to the novelty and timeless quality of Witness, which-though ostensibly a crime thriller-plays more like a Western in its film-shorthand simplicity and inevitability of plotting. Take advantage of our special promotional offer to gain unlimited access for 5 days for free.Witness records an unexpected gathering of talent meeting at a notable moment in their careers because of the fortuitous timing, the 1985 film feels like a time capsule from an earlier age. Access your titles anywhere on any device including PC, Tablet, Mobile, PS3, Xbox, and Smart TVs. Experience all the content you could possibly want from our comprehensive library of timeless classics and new releases. Fill out the signup form to start enjoying what we have to offer today! Free Unlimited Access. Find out why thousands of people are joining every day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |