Witness
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DVD details
Actor: Harrison Ford, Jan Rubes, Josef Sommer, Kelly McGillis, Lukas HaasDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-06-29
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Product features:
- Widescreen
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- Interactive Menus
- Interview iwht Peter Weir
DVD Reviews of Witness
DVD Review: The Law Has Been Compromised - Yet - Justice Prevails
Summary: 5 Stars
This film leaves a tremendous impact on the viewer ... there is a creative story line, complex plot and deep characters. Often a look and silence conveys more meaning than words ever could ... The camera is used to maximum effect to capture emotions that are too difficult to state in words. The enormous impact of the discovery made by John Book (Harrison Ford), the Philadephia detective who investigates a murder that occured in a public bathroom ... leads him to become a fugitive from the very law enforcement officers with whom he served. He escapes to Pennsylvania Amish country where the primary witness, a young Amish boy and his mother live. By traveling with Samuel (Lukas Haas) and his mother, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) ... John Book can protect both himself and Samuel until he can plan his next move to fight for justice ...
What leads him to forsake his primary investigation was a discovery that one of the narcotics officers, Lt. James McFee (Danny Glover) is "unclean". He made a pact with the devil, sold confiscated drugs on the side from evidence that was never reported ... earned millions of dollars illegally. Not long after John Book reports his suspicions to his superior along with the location of the primary witness to the crime - he learns his superior is on the take and one of the "bad guys". This begins his life as a fugitive ... now he is a marked man.
There are numerous outstanding scenes, cinematography and lines within the film. Some of them are ... in the police station when Samuel is reviewing mug shots to identify the murderer, he makes eye contact with a female police detective. While John Book receives a phone call, Samuel wanders around the office to explore his environment ... the female officer offers him a cookie, he declines politely. He walks to a glass enclosed case of trophies and awards ... his face registers recognition which John Book notices. John walks to the glass case as Samuel silently points to the face of Lt. James McFee, Narcotics Investigative "award-winning" Officer. Another highly moving scene is when Samuel opens a drawer, discovers John Book's loaded gun and holds it ... John finds him, takes the bullets out and explains how dangerous holding a loaded gun is, it can kill. Eli comes in and leads Samuel out of the room ... Eli sits Samuel on his knee and explains, how guns kill people and the Amish believe only G-d can take a human life. Eli asks Samuel what he thinks to which Samuel sagely replies, "the gun also kills bad people", which flies against the teaching he just received ... At times the camera falls in love with Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis) whose huge eyes and beauty are enhanced by the stark simplicity of the dark clothing and white lace cap. In another winning moment, John Book is dressed in the plain clothes of his Amish hosts and rides into town with Eli in a horse and buggy. Several teenagers goad and poke fun at an Amish young man. They mock him by touching an ice cream cone to his forehead, both cheeks, and chin. John can not hold himself back ... despite Eli's warning, "don't John, it is not our way." John warns the punk, to stop, who replies, "why what are you going to do?" John punches him with full force in the stomach and face ... causing bruises and a bloody nose. A elderly non-Amish bystander shakes his head in disbelief but instead of understanding and supporting John's position, he states, "this will not be good for tourism". He reports the incident to a policeman which begins the final phase of the film where the Philadephia crooked police learn of John's exact location and they hunt him down ... The Amish young man who was mocked, sheepishly replies to the surrounding crowd, "He is my cousin from Ohio, they are different from us." After a house is built by the community, John Book participates demonstrating his carpentry skills, as the men and women of the Amish community exchange expressive looks and voice their suspicions amongst themselves about his relationship with Rachel. Eli (Rachel's father) suggests she may be "banned" by the community for her suspicious behavior. In yet another moving scene, John is in the backyard sitting on a bench ... he stares in the window ... to discover Rachel is undressing and about to take a bath. He does not move ... the camera captures Rachel's bare shoulder, her toes, foot, and length of her thigh ... John walks up to the window and states something to the effect, if I were to make love to you tonight, they would never forgive us. He leaves ... Another effective scene was in the kitchen when Rachel sees Samuel playing with a complex wooden toy made of pulleys, slides, and gears ... it was built by John Book for Samuel.
Overall, this film has a deep story which is enhanced by the contrast of two opposite cultures. It has superb use of cinematography, the highest caliber of actors and actresses who play their roles to perfection, and creative twists in the plot which are expanded by silence at the most extraordinairy times in the film ... creating enormously powerful scenes via artistic use of cinematography. This is a most highly satisfying viewing experience.
Erika Borsos (erikab93)
Description of Witness
Presented in 16 x 9 Widescreen, Witness is Harrison Ford at his finest. Prehaps it is Hollywood at its finest as well. With outstanding performances from top to bottom, this is old time movie making in the modern era. Director Peter Weir has truely created a masterpiece.Bestsellers in DVD
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