"Witness" is, quite simply, my favourite movie of all time. I would choose this above "The graduate", "The godfather", "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" and all the other great films of the last 50 years. It tells a simple tale of innocence and corruption superbly well. There is visual cinema of the highest order in the building of the barn. There is this total contrast between the rustic peace of the community, and the chaotic brutality of the outside world. There is a career-defining performance from one of our great actors, Harrison Ford. All the supporting actors play their parts with understated dignity, I would single out Kelly McGillis who has never looked so beautiful, and Lukas Haas who shows the fragility but also the robustness of childhood. As has been pointed out, much of the acting occurs without dialogue.
Perhaps the movie is now beginning to show its age. Yes, the ending is a bit lame, but it must have been hard to find a suitable ending for such a near-perfect piece of film.
Perhaps the movie is now beginning to show its age. Yes, the ending is a bit lame, but it must have been hard to find a suitable ending for such a near-perfect piece of film.