Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-18 17:30:08

Witness

The movie was as good as I remembered, and I have grown-up Grandchildren who loved it.

genius-15 2012-05-17 22:23:30

Good but bad

The only thing wrong with this film was the annoying kid (why does everydrama have to have an annoying kid it in anyway? its not a cerealcommercial!) and Harrison Ford, who was fine in American Graffitti throughRaiders of the Lost ark, but lost his steam here. Kelly McGillis wasconvincing (if not slightly irritating) and Alexander Godunov and ViggoMortensen (who respectively played a violent mercenary and a sadistic navyseal in later films!) were terrific. Maurice Jarre's cool score,effectivelyconveyed through an electronic synthesizer, was a highlight, as was thescenic shots of Lancaster, PA. The film would've been better if it hadtoneddown the violent, scummy element and instead been more creative andadventurous (the sex scene between McGillis and Ford, which is strangelyforeshadowed and "left to the imagination," was poorly conceived, even herawful love montage with tom cruise in top gun was better)Now that I thinkofit, the film was kinda crappy in many ways, but see it anyway, at least forthe music.

2012-05-17 11:32:56

Old Movie Nut

This review is from: Witness (DVD) Looking for an older movie and no problem finding the title I wanted. Shipped quickly. Like new, economical price. Will do this again soon!

2012-05-16 15:09:24

Engrossing Suspense Movie with lots of twists & turns!

Harrison Ford is excellent as John Book, a detective who protects a young Amish boy who witnessed a murder. Critics disliked the portrayal of the Amish culture in the story, but this IS a movie after all and an incredibly entertaining one. An excellent adult movie, the graphic language and violent content would make this something to be viewed by adults prior to deciding whether younger members of the household be allowed to see it.

Jeffrey M. Anderson 2012-05-13 11:11:53

Fish-out-of-water stories were very popular for a while in the 1980s, but none had the classical resonance of this powerful Oscar-nominated drama.

t_l_callahan 2012-05-13 00:05:14

Still holds up after 20 years

I saw this movie for the first time as a child, maybe 7 or 8. And eventhough I have seen it many times, it is still one of my favorite films. While the story line is incredible, the acting is superb. Harrison Fordis very subtle in a role that could have been overdone and contrived.He is completely believable as the slightly arrogant, but kind hearteddetective John Book. Kelly McGillis is perfect as a dutiful Amish womansuddenly longing to step outside of her community's restrictions. Shebrings a quiet dignity to a people most of us know nothing about.The barn raising scene is my absolute favorite part of this film. Itshows us the true identity of the Amish people; a community whollydependent upon each other, and each other's willingness to help out oneof their own.

veronica-16 2012-05-06 05:31:11

If for nothing else, see this film for the cinematography.

Besides being an extremely interesting story with a great cast, this moviemade me fall in love with Peter Weir's directing. The cinematography inthis film is really beautiful. You have to see this movie on a big screento really appreciate it, but there are several scenes which I findbeautifulevery time I see it: the scene in the beginning of the movie with theAmishwalking across a green fields with the wind blowing the wheat like anocean,and several scenes in which he plays with light -- the bathing scene comesto mind. The only light in the scene is the kerosene lamp, it's justbeautiful. If the mystery, adventure and romance don't entice you, see itfor the great cinematography.

mhasheider 2012-05-05 11:05:36

'Witness', the film itself, is like its title: Stunning, clear, and heartfelt.

Any movie that involves the Amish that I've seen (this one and theFarrelly brothers' comedy "Kingpin"), pictures them as people who livea different life from everyone else. "Witness", the film itself, islike its title: Stunning, clear, and heartfelt. Peter Weir, anAustrailian director, made this film his first in the U.S. and Weir hascarefully made a masterpiece."Witness" is a great and clever thriller about a young Amish widow,Rachel (Kelly McGillis) and her son, Samuel (Lukas Haas) take John Book(Harrison Ford), a bitter and impatient Philadelphia detective who'swounded and on the run from a good friend now foe, Schaffer (JosefSommer) and a pair of corrupt cops, to their home in the middle of anAmish community.The few scenes that Book (Ford) has with Samuel (Haas) involves mostlyfacial expressions is one of the strong parts. So is the love scenethat Book and Rachel have and the musical score by Maurice Jaffecaptures that scene very well. Another scene that I liked very much wasthe construction of barn for an Amish couple that just got married.The showdown that Book has against Schaffer and the two cops iswell-done and the timing is near perfection. How the showdown ends witha few other Amish families come to see what has happen and some of thelooks (on their faces) shows Schaffer that he should surrenderpeacefully.Ford gives a great and solid performance as Book, but Haas manages tosteal most of the scenes that he's in very well. Haas doesn't say much,but looking at the cheerful, colorful face of his is something thatcan't go unseen.

callanvass 2012-05-05 10:16:39

Another Harrison Ford Masterpiece,That's Taut And Extremely Suspenseful, With An Oscar Worthy Perfromance From Harrison Ford!

This is another Harrison Ford Masterpiece, that's taut and extremelysuspenseful, with an Oscar worthy performance from Harrison Ford!. Allthe characters were fantastic, and the story is extremely gripping,plus Harrison Ford is simply incredible in this!. Ford and KellyMcGillis had fantastic chemistry together, and the story is verybelievable as well, plus Danny Glover, and Josef Sommer are extremelymenacing as the crooked cops!. I really dug the romance, and, HarisonFord literally pours his heart out into every scene, plus the openingis quite unsettling and disturbing. The finale is filled with tensionand suspense, and it was really cool to see Danny Glover play avillain, plus, the ending was very fitting. The setting was quiteunique, and it's brilliantly written and made as well, plus thesituation they were in was quite creepy!. This is another Harrison Fordmasterpiece, that's taut and extremely suspenseful, with an Oscarworthy performance from Harrison Ford and i say Go see it immediately!.The Direction is brilliant!. Peter Weir does a brilliant job here, withwonderful camera work, great angles, and keeping the film, extremelyengrossing and suspenseful throughout!. The Acting is Oscar worthy!.Harrison Ford is AMAZING as always, and is incredible here, he isextremely likable, incredible in the acting department, deserved hisOscar nomination, had fantastic chemistry with Kelly McGillis, pouredhis heart out into every scene and just did an incredible job overall!(Ford Rules!!!). Kelly McGillis is beautiful and does fantastic here,she is very likable, vulnerable, had fantastic chemistry with Ford, hada very interesting character, and just did a fantastic job overall!.Josef Sommer is awesome as one of the main villains, he was verymenacing, and downright creepy at times, i liked him lots!.Lukas Haas,is excellent as the kid, he was very likable, and gave a greatperformance, and while he did't have much dialog,he had some greatfacial expressions. Jan Rubes is good with what he had to do, and wasquite likable. Danny Glover is AMAZING as always, and is amazing here,he was quite scary at times, and shocked me on how, cold and menacinghe was,and i loved it!. (Glover Rules!!).Rest of the cast do great.Overall a must see immediately it's another one of Ford'smasterpieces!. ***** out of 5

harry-76 2012-05-04 21:55:25

Ford in Amishland

What causes a normally upstanding, Youth Project Honoree/ Narc Officer torevert to a life of crime? Even stooping to a cheap homicide "hit" in amen's public washroom? Mucho moola, man. So it goes with Danny Glover's Det. Lt. James McFee, and he's just the tipof the iceberg: he's got other highup cops turncoating for love ofgreenbacks.With a young Amish boy as sole witness, Harrison Ford's Det. John Bookprobes this dangerous case to uncover the corruption from inside thedepartment out. What results is an intense investigative journey, landing Book in Amishlandoutside of Philadelphia, where he meets and has a brief affair with a comelyAmish lass apparently in need of more than spiritual solace.This widely seen crime-drama was directed with skill by Peter Wier, with aneffective score Maurice Jarre.

2012-05-01 20:36:04

On my list of favorites (I have hundreds;-)

This review is from: Witness [VHS] (VHS Tape) This film was magical for me, and I've always enjoyed the topic of forbidden love. For those who haven't seen this movie, other reviewers have spelled out the plot very nicely.The heart of the story is the juxtaposition of the hardened, big city detective in the midst of Amish country, and it centers on his relationship with a young, beautiful Amish woman and her son. Exteme opposites that do, indeed, attract. The sparks fly between them and keeps the viewer captivated (at least it did for me). Kelly McGillis played an exceptional role in this film (her first film, I believe). I'd rate it as her best performance by a long shot. It was also one of Harrison Ford's better roles. And Lukas Haas was very convincing in all but one scene.The cinematography and Jarre's music was lovingly layered, and displayed throughout the Pennsylvania local. The barn raising scene was especially wonderful, and gives the viewer a true yearning for a simpler, more family-oriented life.Not everything worked in this picture, however. In a couple of places the editing seemed haphazardly done. The scene where the cops are on the front porch of Ford's sister and questioning her is an example (the voice-over didn't work at all). Also, the scene at the end when Sommer is leading Ford and McGillis out from the barn, you could almost sense the director calling "action" and the scene beginning. Pretty disturbing for this caliber of film. Another minor annoyance was when Danny Glover, after being shot, raises the shotgun toward the ceiling with one hand and pulls the trigger. There was absolutely no recoil. I don't have a clue why this scene wasn't redone. Anyone who knows anything about firearms will shake their heads. Finally, and more importantly, the `bad' cops just weren't convincing as real people...ala...human flesh and blood. They seemed to be punched out from the standard Hollywood cookie-cutter.That's a lot of stuff not to like in one of my favorite films (I also have several more minor items that I didn't mention). But I forgave these transgressions to my suspension of disbelief, and ended up really enjoying this film. I haul it out every so often just to be transported to another world and watch a great love story done to perfection (no melodramatic "smaltz" here). Between 1 and 10, I give "Witness" a marginal 8. A little more care in those areas I mentioned and this could have been a 10.

2012-05-01 05:36:43

GREAT MOVIE - POOR DVD TRANSFER

This review is from: Witness (DVD) I own the VHS copy of this movie and it is one of my favorite Harrison Ford movie roles. So I was so glad to see it offered in the DVD format - unfortunately when I received my copy I was extremely disappointed. The transfer was grainy and too dark in places. The extras were few. I was surprised that Paramount - who usually does a good job - offered such poor quality. I would not advise you to purchase this - keep your VHS tape - it's a better quality. Hopefully Paramount will take a second look and redo this. I sent them an email complaint - hopefully they will give it some attention.

2012-04-28 01:46:09

Unconvincing

Some movies stand up through many viewings, years apart. For examples, "Gone With the Wind," "Casablanca," and "The Wizard of Oz." "Witness" does not. On the second viewing, after several decades, the cracks are too obvious. I just wasn't convinced by the plot. Harrison Ford recovers too quickly from a bullet wound. The love affair didn't feel realistic--a hard nosed, city cop and a very innocent Amish woman. The bad guys find Ford and we don't quite know how. The nude scene was obviously to show off the Amish girl's physical attributes. The list of flaws goes on.The acting is okay; the boy and the female lead are actually very good. Ford, the star, is a bit stony and is too easily taken with Kelly McGillis. The barn raising was a cliche for any story involving Amish. The violent finale was predictable. The Lancaster County scenery was nice.But the fatal flaw, from my standpoint, was that the story line just fell far short of being convincing. After that, the good points can't save this.

2012-04-27 09:22:06

Nice culture conflict film

This review is from: Witness (Special Collector's Widescreen Edition) (DVD) Wounded Philadelphia Police Captain is taken into Amish community. We get what amounts to a suggestion of the conflicting norms governing the sect and the secular as well as the tension of the police drama as the crooked cops seek to kill not only the honest cop but also the little boy who witnessed a murder they had committed. Harrison Ford mostly underplays the hunted cop and Kelly McGillis, as the widowed Amish mother of the boy, is absolutely lovely and does a good job in support of the star. Other performers are also admirable, although the Police Chief is forced into a pretty stereotyped behavior pattern at the end. Over-all, not much depth, but maintains an admirable level, so as to provide a most entertaining (nearly) two hours. Recommended for all, although some expletives undeleted and a breast baring close shot of McGillis, will disturb the more Victorian among us.

sslop 2012-04-27 11:59:11

Regarding the accents...

I would like to clear up a couple of comments made by movieguy1021, whowrote:"One thing I didn't understand is how come everyone seemed to use suchstrong accents yet they've been living in America for a long time."Most Amish communities mainly speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is adialect of German, hence the accents in the film. Amish children learnEnglish in school.And:"Also, although I may not be the end-all, be-all of Amish knowledge, itseems like for people so strict in their rules, they broke them easily.They didn't seem to object to riding in trains or cars, or even usingtechnology."The Amish accept some forms of modernisation as long as it is notdeemed disruptive to their social structure. Some forms of primitivetechnology are accepted in their community, such as devices that assistwith milking cows. Likewise they accept rides in cars, but members ofthe community cannot own them.

Amy Adler 2012-04-26 22:39:10

If you witness this film, you will find it most touching and thrilling, a terrific movie!

John Book (Harrison Ford) works as a detective for the Philadelphiapolice department. As one might expect, the crimes are serious anddangerous. One day, he is called to an unusual case at the downtowntrain station. A young Amish widow, Rachel (Kelly McGillis) and herson, Samuel (Lukas Haas) were traveling to Baltimore, through the Cityof Brotherly Love, when Samuel witnessed a horrific murder in the men'srestroom. Book offends Rachel right away, with his brusque manner andinsensitivity to their culture but Samuel adores Book immediately.Asked to describe the killer, Samuel says it was a talk, very muscularblack man. As they are getting the details written at the policestation, the little boy in the black hat suddenly points to aphotograph. Only Book sees him. Unbelievably, Samuel is fingeringanother detective, McGee (Danny Glover), who is receiving an award inthe photograph. Its an inside job, Book surmises. But, why? AlthoughBook arranges for Rachel and Samuel to stay overnight with his sister,more problems arise, putting Book, the young Amish widow, and herlittle son in extreme danger. They take off in a car, back to the Amishcommunity, although Book gets shots in the process. Once there, Book ishealed with Amish medicine only, as Rachel guesses that the authoritiescan't know where he is. Soon, Book is becoming part of the community,helping raise barns and making toys for Samuel with his carpentryskills. The peacefulness and beauty of the Amish village is the polaropposite of Philadelphia. He even realizes he is in love with Racheland she with him. Yet, their two worlds are so far apart. Meanwhile,the "bad cops" of the Phillie squad, including McGee, learn where Bookis and they soon arrive in the quaint village to take him out. Whatwill be the result? This is a supremely lovely film, very touching andthrilling, that most any fan, casual or dedicated, will appreciate.Yes, the violence is scary and upsetting but doesn't "take over" themerits of the film. All of the performances, from Ford to Haas toMcGillis and beyond, are perfect. Naturally, the scenes in the Amishtown are lovely and true while the photography is out of this world.Have you not yet witnessed this amazing film? Book a showing now.

LATINMAGDA 2012-04-22 19:01:23

Peace and beauty of the Amish

A commentator says that Rachel's beauty is unique and suggests thatAmish women are not beautiful..On the contrary, most are beautiful.Their dress is quaint to most people, but no matter what they wear theyhave beauties all over the place as in any other place in the world.Their simplicity and plain style and manner makes them more attractive.Their plain way of living somehow makes their beauty more radiant andluminescent. The commentator surely has not been in Amish country. Ihave been there and always feel a sense of freshness and elevation ofthe spirit. When living in Pennsylvania I worked in the HersheyChildren's Hospital where their children were hospitalized. The senseof family and community just oozed from their beings. It was alsointeresting to hear them speak in their German dialect. It was moreinteresting to see how they look so at ease with us the members oftheir outer world.

2012-04-22 00:45:44

Comparing Witness: 1985 and 2004

As I write my title, it is weird to think this film is nearly 20 years old! How time flies! Anyway...I first saw this film when it first came out and I remember I really really liked it. I was 23 years old and not a Christian at that time. Now, I am soon to be 42 and have been a Christian for over 18 years. For 10 years of my life, I lived as a Mennonite (like Amish in many ways, but we drove cars, had electricity, etc.) I am no longer a Mennonite, and now I watch films again. I appreciate classic cinema very much, but recently have wanted to watch Witness again, to see if I would like it as much as the first time, and to see if I thought they portrayed the Amish correctly.So, I watched it last night. It was interesting in that I remembered so much, even some small details about it. So it really did impress me that first time when I was young. This time, I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say it is a film I would watch over and over again, as I watch some classic films. To see it once more was enough to just satisfy my curiosity about my memories of it. I did feel they portrayed the Amish quite well, with the clothes and such. What they did wrong about the portrayal was that in no way would it be allowed for an Amish woman to tend to a wounded man who wasn't her husband, by herself in a room alone with him. It just isn't proper, isn't done. In reality, a man would have done that, or an older woman would have done it, with another woman there. I think the movie allowed the Rachel character to have way more "access" to a man alone than would be allowed in a real Amish or Mennonite community. I doubt he would have really been allowed to stay in the house. In reality he would have been placed in a home with a family who had a bunch of boys and he would work with them and the father, and not have all that time alone with Rachel.I don't like violence...I knew that the bad part happened in the train station in the beginning, so we were able to fast forward that part. Also, we were able to fast forward the ending "shoot out" stuff. I didn't care for the bad language. The scene with Rachel taking her sponge bath, well when I was young and not a Christian, I found that very romantic. Now, I found it rather silly. A devout Amish girl/woman would not have just calmly turned around and let a man stare at her while unclothed. And later on, when she and he finally "meet" for the romantic moment, I found that sort of offensive. Why kiss out in the yard where anyone could see you? Eli could have easily looked out the window (a real Amish father would have kept better tabs on his daughter with a strange man around the place). I felt that scene was very much just an animal passion thing...sort of vulgar. Not at all romantic, truly loving or gentle. It seems people sure knew how to kiss and show romantic love a lot better in the old movies! And right before she went out there, she took her prayer veiling off. Which again, no Amish woman would do. But then she obviously was rebelling. There was that other time too, when she and John Book were in the barn listening to his radio, and she had it off then, and I am not sure why, for no Amish or Mennonite woman will go without it in front of people or outside the house.The ending left me wondering...would Rachel just go ahead and marry Daniel? Would she really be happy with him? She really would have to repent of her sins with John Book to be truly happy. I also noticed that the film never showed a church service. Also, none of the Amish folks never seemed to care to tell John Book how to be a Christian. But then there are many Amish who are not born- again Christians, but just are "culturally Amish"...they live the way they do because they have always done so. These must have been that type of Amish. It did seem that Grandfather knew the Bible...he quoted some good verses when talking to the boy about the gun. That was good to see, yet sad that such violence had to even be witnessed by this child. Oh, of course any film with Amish must have a barn raising scene, and this one did. Also, so many movies with cows mus have the scene where the city person doesn't know how to milk a cow. Of course John Book must learn. He makes a joke about "teats" in this scene, and grandfather Eli laughs at it, which again, I doubt a devout Amish man would do.Well, these are my thoughts. It was interesting to revisit this film again. In closing, I would say it is an okay film for adults but I would not recommend it for children.

I_Am_The_Taylrus 2012-04-20 16:04:36

An Impressive Film(SPOILERS)

SPOILERS I was very impressed by this film. Actually, I had never even heard ofWitness until a couple hours ago. It sounded familiar, but I just couldnot put my finger on it. Anyway, this is an incredible film. It hadterrific acting, and an amazing musical score. I mean, there was happyand cheery music, and there was also a suspenseful and tense piece ofmusic. This film also had one of the best climaxes I have seen in awhile.Here is the plot of this film. A young Amish boy sees a grisly murderby two people in a bathroom stall. A detective named John Book tries tohelp the young boy find the the killer that the boy had seen. Then theydiscover that it was an officer named McFee. John tells the policechief. It turns out that the chief was in cahoots with McFee. Johnrealizes that they are in cahoots and him, the boy, and his mother fleeto an Amish farm. John tries to live like an Amish person. Then Johnfinds out that his friend had been murdered. The chief, McFee, and theother person involved in the murder named Fergie track them down andtry to kill them. John kills Fergie and McFee, and the chief gives up.In the end John leaves the farm.Overall, this is a very impressive film. It had great acting, greatsuspense, a great score, and very good cinematography. Harrison Ford,who plays John, is always good in his movies and I think that hedefinitely should have won Best Actor at the Academy Awards. I alsothink that this film should have won Best Score. This is a fantasticand unique film that should not be missed. I was very surprised withthis film, and I think that it should be in the Top 250 here on IMDb.It definitely deserves to be up there. This is an amazing andsuspenseful film that also has fantastic performances by everyone inthis film. This film is so close to perfection that I wish I could giveit a 9.75, but I guess you can not give that rating on IMDb, or canyou?9.75/10Recommended Films: The Fugitive.

James Hitchcock 2012-04-19 22:17:15

One of the best films of the eighties and one of the best police thrillers of all time

If a poll were to be taken on who is the greatest living film director,a strong contender for my vote would be Peter Weir. (Other contenderswould be Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese). He is able to produce bothbrilliantly original films quite different to anything else and alsobrilliant work within the confines of an established genre, an abilityhe shares with Scorsese and the late Stanley Kubrick. (As for Allen, hehas turned the Woody Allen Film into a genre in its own right). Weir's"Picnic at Hanging Rock and "The Truman Show" are both, in theirdifferent ways, strange and haunting films, different to anythingbefore or since, and two of my favourite films of all time. On theother hand, "Dead Poets' Society", another of my favourite films, fallswithin the conventions of the "inspirational teacher" film, but is inmy view the greatest example of that genre ever made. (Only "The Primeof Miss Jean Brodie" comes anywhere near it)."Witness", his first film made outside Australia, is another example ofWeir simultaneously working within an established genre andtranscending it. On one level it is a traditional police thriller.While travelling with his mother a young boy named Samuel Lappwitnesses a murder in the washrooms at Philadelphia railway station. Itturns out that the murdered man was an undercover police officer, and ahomicide detective, John Book, is assigned to the case. Book'sinvestigations lead him to the discovery that the murder was carriedout by a narcotics officer named McFee, one of a group of corruptofficers in league with a gang of drug smugglers. Book is forced to gounderground for safety, taking Samuel and his mother Rachel with him.On another level the film is a love story, as a romance developsbetween Book and Rachel, a beautiful young widow. Neither the crimestory nor the romance element, however, would by themselves make thisfilm anything out of the ordinary. What makes the film different is thethird level, a study of cultural differences. Samuel and Rachel aremembers of the Amish religious sect, and it is among the Amish thatthey and Book take refuge while hiding from the villains.It would be easy to see the Amish, as portrayed in this film, as beingquaint, even comically reactionary. They speak an archaic Germandialect inaccurately known as "Pennsylvania Dutch" (although some ofthe lines in the film are in standard modern German). They follow astrict set of rules known as the "Ordnung" which govern every aspect oftheir daily lives. They may not own a television or a telephone and maynot use electricity in the home. They drive horse-drawn buggies as itis forbidden to own or drive a motor vehicle. They have a strict dresscode and are even forbidden to use buttons, regarded as a sign of"Hochmut", or pride. Those who violate these rules can be punished byshunning. The Amish habitually refer to all non-Amish Americans,regardless of ethnic background, as "the English". (News of theDeclaration of Independence clearly has not yet filtered through tothem).Yet, eccentric though they may seem to outsiders, Weir shows us thatthe Amish way of life has many virtues. They have a deep faith in Godand believe in the importance of submission to His will. They have astrong sense of community. They are pacifists who are opposed to anyviolence or the taking of a human life; this article of their creedbrings them into conflict with Book, who is required to carry a gun aspart of his job and who is ready to use it, or his first, inself-defence or the defence of others. Because of the gulf betweentheir value-systems, the love of Book and Rachel is potentially tragic;they can only be together if she is prepared to leave her world, or ifhe is prepared to enter it.Surprisingly, this was the film that brought Harrison Ford his onlyOscar nomination to date. I say "surprisingly", as he has given manyother fine performances in films such as "Blade Runner", "The Fugitive"and "K-19". "Witness", however, remains one of his best films; his Bookis tough and uncompromising but decent, and capable of tenderness inthe love scenes. Kelly McGillis, in her first major role, is luminouslybeautiful as Rachel; she was to give another great performance threeyears later in "The Accused", and I have always been surprised that hersubsequent career has not been quite as successful. None of her filmssince 1988 have aroused as much interest as "Witness" or "The Accused",and she has not remained a household name in the same way as some ofher contemporaries such as Kim Basinger, Michelle Pfeiffer or JodieFoster.Despite the film's deeper levels of meaning, Weir does not neglect thethriller elements; there are some great Hitchcockian set pieces such asthe scene where Samuel is hiding in the lavatories from the killer, orthe final scene where Book confronts the villains who have invaded theAmish community in their search for him. In the scenes seen fromSamuel's viewpoint, Weir uses low-angle shots to emphasise the boy'syouth and vulnerability. The film, however, also has echoes of othergenres, particularly the Western. The final scene has been compared tothe climax of "High Noon" in which Gary Cooper also takes out hisenemies one by one. (A similar climax was used in another Western,Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider", also made in 1985). The spectacularbarn-raising sequence, accompanied by Maurice Jarre's memorable score,also recalls the Western. With its intelligent script, fine acting andfine direction, "Witness" can be regarded as one of the best films ofthe eighties and one of the best police thrillers of all time. 9/10