Review of Witness

I like how they respected the Amish. Witness is one of the most sensitive and well-written crime movies I've ever seen. The crime itself is mundane: an Amish boy witnesses the gruesome murder of an undercover cop; Detective John Book investigates and finds out corruption inside the police; he runs for his life and hides amidst the Amish. What is fascinating is the several contrasts between city life and country life, between the peacefulness of the Amish and the violence of Book's world, between his loud personality and the shyness of the Amish. Its about community. It's also how violence can affect peoples' lives; and more importantly it's a beautiful love story. Peter Weir is a filmmaker who seldom disappoints: I've enjoyed his work in The Year of Living Dangerously, Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, and Master & Commander. But for me Witness is his masterpiece. It's built on simplicity, sharp writing, tight editing, beautiful cinematography, inspiring music, and powerful performances by the cast. Harrison Ford shows what a great actor he can be. Kelly McGillis gave the performance of her life as an Amish widow starting a conflict with her community as she falls in love with an outsider. Danny Glover, Josef Sommer, Lukas Haas and Jan Rubes complement the cast wonderfully. Technically speaking, this movie is excellent. Maurice Jarre, who passed away recently, composed one of his finest scores ever, which suits the images many times. There's especially a sequence in which the whole community raises a barn and I'd say half the charm of it comes from the score playing. The screenplay is concise and clear, and Thom Noble's editing doesn't let the story stray once. The cinematography captures the beauty and tranquility of the fields and the grandiosity of the city buildings which leave the Amish awed.

Anyone who enjoys cinema for a good story with rounded characters interpreted by great actors can't miss Witness.