Peter Weir's 'Witness' w/Harrison Ford

[Joel_Kirk]

I finally saw this film after hearing about it since it was released in 1985...

I thought it was put together pretty well; with no 'fat'...i.e. scenes that didn't need to be there.

It did have one cliche of the 80's I don't miss: The black partner (or as a literary film book I read called it 'the black sacrifice')dying in the midst of the film...

We see an early Viggo Mortenson as an Amish man; a younger Lukas Haas who I remember from Mars Attacks, and 'that actor I forget the name of' who also portrays an Amish, who we would later see as 'Karl,' the German terrorist from Die Hard.

Of course, we see Danny Glover who would go on to the Lethal Weapon series, and many, many other films.

It's interesting to note too, that Harrison Ford was pretty much done with the Han Solo character (as Return of the Jedi was released two years earlier); the second Indiana Jones film would have been released one year earlier. Indeed, Ford was a big star at the time.

Did anyone else like this film? Hate it? Thought it was 'okay'?

 

[auntiehill]

I loved Witness. I thought it was a great, understated performance by Harrison. The "other actor" you referred to is the former Russian ballet star, the late Alexander Godunov.

Witness won an Oscar for best original screenplay, by the way, and both Harrison and Peter Weir were nominated, so a few other people didn't think it was too shabby, either.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The death scenes were a little corny though.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Witness is one Of Harrison Ford's better non-lucas projects. I really like it.It's an interesting film in that it is an action drama about nonviolence.

 

[T'Baio]

Witness is a wonderful film.

Thinking of it makes me weep for the Harrison Ford of the last fifteen years.

Jeez...soon there'll be more bad years of Harrison Ford than there were of good.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^^ I'm sure there were many but I'm drawing a blank, what films that have come out could have been good with Harrison Ford in them?

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I loved Witness. I thought it was a great, understated performance by Harrison. The "other actor" you referred to is the former Russian ballet star, the late Alexander Godunov.

That's him...

I just recalled he passed away a couple of years ago...

 

[arch101]

For another 'small' but good Harrison Ford film, see Roman Polanski's 'Frantic'. You'll like it.

 

[DarthPipes]

"You be careful among the English!"

Haven't seen Witness in a long time but remember enjoying it quite a bit. Ford got his only Oscar nomination for this movie. It's a shame he doesn't chose more projects like this. His post-Air Force One career has not been pretty.

 

[ladyheather69]

I thought Regarding Henry was a good flick.. at least I liked it. And although I am not a huge fan of it, Mosquito Coast was good too...

 

[DarthPipes]

I thought Regarding Henry was a good flick.. at least I liked it. And although I am not a huge fan of it, Mosquito Coast was good too...

I think that was Ford's favorite role. Heard it might have been his best acting job. Mosquito Coast I mean.

 

[marillion]

There were a bunch of smaller Ford movies that came out that were just gold. Hanover street was my first non "Solo or Jones" Ford movie. My dad took me to see it. Presumed innocent was an excellant turn for Ford as was Regarding Henry.

I seem to remember that Mosquito Coast wasn't very well received and I've never seen it. Then came the "Blockbusters"...

Air Force One was good, but a bit contrived. The Jack Ryan movies were also very good, but he wasn't right for the role. As much as I dislike Alec Baldwin, he was very right for the part.

 

[Lindley]

On the Jack Ryan front, I actually thought Patriot Games worked very well. But he wasn't nearly as good a fit in Clear And Present Danger.

Agree that Alec Baldwin was probably better in the role though.

 

[auntiehill]

I thought Regarding Henry was a good flick.. at least I liked it. And although I am not a huge fan of it, Mosquito Coast was good too...

I think that was Ford's favorite role. Heard it might have been his best acting job. Mosquito Coast I mean.

Mosquito Coast was pretty good---not great, as the director probably could've cut a good 15 minute of it and tightened it up a bit--it rambles some towards the end.

However, I think Harrison does a great job portraying a man who, at first, is inspiring with his drive and vision and then later, becomes so obsessed that he becomes totally unhinged.

I have a hard time watching it now because of River Phoenix, but the two worked very well together.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I thought Regarding Henry was a good flick.. at least I liked it. And although I am not a huge fan of it, Mosquito Coast was good too...

I think that was Ford's favorite role. Heard it might have been his best acting job. Mosquito Coast I mean.

I heard the same thing.

I need to see Mosquito Coast.

There were a bunch of smaller Ford movies that came out that were just gold. Hanover street was my first non "Solo or Jones" Ford movie. My dad took me to see it. Presumed innocent was an excellant turn for Ford as was Regarding Henry.

I seem to remember that Mosquito Coast wasn't very well received and I've never seen it. Then came the "Blockbusters"...

Air Force One was good, but a bit contrived. The Jack Ryan movies were also very good, but he wasn't right for the role. As much as I dislike Alec Baldwin, he was very right for the part.

Air Force One was one of the current, typical Ford performances...i.e. the righteous boy scout who wants to protect his family and bring the villain to justice.

On the Jack Ryan front, I actually thought Patriot Games worked very well. But he wasn't nearly as good a fit in Clear And Present Danger.

Agree that Alec Baldwin was probably better in the role though.

Clear and Present Danger was more action-oriented than Patriot Games....and (how should I say it) more 'Hollywood'...

 

[Kegg]

It's good. Not great, but good. Much of it seems to hinge on the mileage it can bring from how distant the Amish seem from modern American life.

The "other actor" you referred to is the former Russian ballet star, the late Alexander Godunov.

Who is fabulous in the Money Pit as a conductor.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I thought Regarding Henry was a good flick.. at least I liked it. And although I am not a huge fan of it, Mosquito Coast was good too...

I think that was Ford's favorite role. Heard it might have been his best acting job. Mosquito Coast I mean.

Somehow, I could see Ford gravitating to the role of a crazed loner. I suppose Witness and Blade Runner have a bit of that weary outsider loner to them though not so outwardly crazy.

 

[Vasquez Rocks]

I just recently saw Witness and The Mosquito Coast for the first time a few months ago and really enjoyed them both. Ford was especially good in The Mosquito Coast where he plays against type. His performance reminded me a lot of Jack Nicholson's in The Shining. In some ways it's even more effective, because Ford isn't known for these kind of roles and when he goes off the deep end it's unexpected.

 

[DarthPipes]

I always thought Ford made a gigantic mistake when he dropped out of Traffic. That would have revised his career and given him much better material. But he does an awful job chosing movies nowadays.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I just recently saw Witness and The Mosquito Coast for the first time a few months ago and really enjoyed them both. Ford was especially good in The Mosquito Coast where he plays against type. His performance reminded me a lot of Jack Nicholson's in The Shining. In some ways it's even more effective, because Ford isn't known for these kind of roles and when he goes off the deep end it's unexpected.

I haven't seen The Mosquito Coast in years, but I loved it back in the day. I remember I was really disappointed Ford wasn't nominated for an Oscar again. I still think it's one of his best performances. (The novel by Paul Theroux is also very good).

As for Witness, I also really enjoyed this movie, and the score by Maurice Jarre was good too. The cue during the "building the barn" sequence was particularly inspiring.