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Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Josef Sommer, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubes ... see more see more... , Alexander Godunov , Danny Glover , Brent Jennings , Patti LuPone , Timothy Carhart , Richard Chaves , Ed Crowley , Victoria Scott D'Angelo , John Garson , Michael C. Gwynne , Robert Earl Jones , Sylvia Kauders , Joseph Kelly , Angus MacInnes , Beverly W. May , Viggo Mortensen , Thomas Quinn , Frederick Rolf , Anthony Dean Rubes , Bernie Styles , Marian Swan , Rozwill Young , Tom Kennedy , Maria Bradley , Bruce E. Camburn , Norman Carter , Craig Clement , Nino del Buono , Eugene Dooley , William Francis , Cara Giallanza , Paul Goss , Emily Mary Haas , Ardyth Kaiser , John D. King , Michael Levering , Jennifer Mancuso , Tim Moyer , Paul S. Nuss , Fred Steinharter , Blossom Terry , Annemarie Vallerio , Dianne Crittenden , James Clark

In Peter Weir's thriller Witness, Samuel (Lukas Haas), a young Amish boy, witnesses a murder in the restroom of a Philadelphia bus station. Harrison Ford stars as John Book, the police detective inves... read more read more...tigating the murder. When Book discovers that the crime was part of a conspiracy involving several officials in his department, he flees Philadelphia to the Amish community where Samuel lives with his widowed mother, Rachel (Kelly McGillis). Slowly assimilating himself into the Amish community, Book eventually finds himself falling in love with Rachel in the midst of his investigation. Eventually, the corrupt police track Book down, and he is forced to confront them, while also trying to protect Rachel and Samuel. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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76% liked it

43,838 ratings

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93% liked it

30 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Peter Weir

Release Date: February 8, 1985

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DVD Release Date: June 29, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (1,615)

  • romy861
    March 4, 2012
    romy861
    Not bad 80's thriller. It does go on a little in the middle with the Amish stuff (I mean, seriously, did we need to see a barn getting built?), and the romance was a little odd, but still worth a look. I had never seen this before and I did not find it too dated.
  • spielberg00
    November 11, 2011
    spielberg00
    Shocking drama/thriller from director Peter Weir and actor Harrison Ford tells of an Amish boy who witnesses a murder in the restroom. When police officer John Book (Ford) becomes aware of this, he cuts immediately to interrogating the bow of what he saw. He asks the boy to try... read more and find one of the two men he saw involved in the crime. This takes a while, but once the boy settles on someone, he is in no way dubious.

    To say the least, WITNESS was a very tense film. It wasn't an action flick, but nearly every moment guarantees pounding pulse and racing hearts.

    So we've seen Harrison Ford as an adventurous archaeologist, the President, Chewbacca's best bud...now a cop? Hmm. What next, a marine? Like all roles, Ford performed well, but he stood out in this film especially.

    The best thing about WITNESS is Peter Weir's directing. He cues cutaways, pans, and surprise shots just when we least expect them (or most hope for them). And that's just part of what makes this a good film to remember.
  • mumby1988
    August 8, 2011
    mumby1988
    In recent years the thriller genre has become so closely hybridised with action that we expect almost every thriller to be high-octane, ass-kicking entertainment. Whether it's the ultra-macho shootout in Michael Mann's Heat or the second unit work on the Bourne series, when we he... read moreard the word 'thriller' we expect everything to be turned up to 11, and if it doesn't feel ridiculous then we haven't got our money's worth.

    But the thriller genre is a malleable beast, and there is potential even in the most aggressive and edgy storylines for understated character development and old-fashioned, slow-burning suspense. Witness is a film which demonstrates this with energy and intelligence to spare, and it remains one of Peter Weir's finest films.

    Over a career lasting over 35 years, Weir has earned himself a reputation as a meticulous craftsman of the cinema. Like Stanley Kubrick he has rarely, if ever, approached the same subject or period twice, and what unites all his works is the impeccable level of craft that goes into making them. You really get the sense watching Witness that this was a labour of love for the director, something he cared about very closely. Considering that he only came to make it after funding for The Mosquito Coast fell through, it is testament to his ability and determination that he didn't simply soft-peddle to get it over with.

    Witness is a film which showcases Weir's mastery as a storyteller. The thriller elements are introduced seamlessly and convincingly, but they never become so complicated that they overwhelm the human story at the centre. The narcotics plot point is brought in so that it makes sense for McFee to have done what he did, and the conspiracy elements involving police corruption are introduced in a matter-of-fact manner. The film never feels the need to get bogged down in procedure, because Weir knows that the real intrigue lies in the innocent people caught up in the web rather than the structure of the web itself.

    Weir directs the film in an unusually painterly way, with long wide takes which capture the slow pace of Amish life. Much like Barry Lyndon, we are forced to slow down and accept the often languorous pace at which events unfold, so that it doesn't feel like the lives of the characters are being crowbarred into a generic plot. This is story-telling rather than plot-handling, and like all good storytellers Weir both takes his time and knows when he has overstayed his welcome; despite the leisurely pace, it doesn't feel like a two-hour film.

    Further evidence of Weir putting characters and story before the demands of a genre are found in the treatment of the culture clash. It would be very easy for Witness to fall into the trap of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by having Harrison Ford constantly commenting in the differences in cultures for ill-founded comic effect. Alternatively it could have gone down the route of A Stranger Among Us, Sidney Lumet's misguided thriller in which Melanie Griffith tracks down a murderer by pretending to be Jewish, adopting every conceivable stereotype in a bid to blend in.

    While its depiction of the Amish lifestyle may not be entirely accurate, it is respectful and very even-handed towards both sides. The film is not looking to portray them as sheltered fundamentalists who are entirely backward or too naïve to function as human beings. But neither does Witness shy away from pointing out the flaws with the Amish religion, or at least demonstrating the downsides to such a particular way of life. The society in which Rachel raises Samuel is very patriarchal, with a man's worth being judged by his capacity for hard work, and there is frequent talk in the latter parts of "shunning" and the dire consequences of this. The film utilises the Amish language (either High German or Pennsylvania Dutch) as an alienating device, much like Alfred Hitchcock did in The Lady Vanishes.

    The title of Witness reflects the film's balance and contrast between the spiritual and the temporal, referring to both the act of bearing witness to God's work and testifying in a criminal court. Harrison Ford's character is called John Book - an inversion of the Book of John, also known as John's Gospel. In protecting Samuel from the police who wish to silence him, Book is bearing witness both by observing God's work through the Amish and by doing God's duty in protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

    Witness approaches spirituality in a mature and considered fashion which is unusually nuanced for Hollywood. You won't find any fire-and-brimstone preachers in this neck of the woods, let alone any of the hysterical wailing present in Carrie. Most of the religious scenes in the film revolve around quiet devotion and the silence of saying one's prayers, and even when things get rather Old Testament, the points aren't hammered home with un-Christian relish.

    This subtle examination of spirituality allows an accompanying theme to be approached with equal reserve and intelligence. For Witness is also about the limits of authority, whether the police or outsiders who think they can make the rules because they carry guns. Being the only man with a gun for many miles, you would think Book would quickly impose himself on the community - but instead he is forced to obey the rules and turn in his weapon. This is further reflected in the passive resistance of the Amish when they are threatened by Book's superior - a scene which shows that authority comes not merely from power, but respect and acceptance.

    The Biblical elements of Witness also emerge in the theme of forbidden fruit and the repression of Rachel's sexuality. Kelly McGillis has a recurring trait to her performance, giving a slight smile whenever she glances at Book. This slight smile reflects her inability to open up and acknowledge her womanhood at the cost of her faith. Her passionate kiss with Book in the field is counterpointed by an earlier scene where Book catches her bathing: minutes pass with the characters just looking at each other, both fearful of the consequences of giving in to temptation.

    Much of the film is about the loss of innocence, whether in Samuel witnessing the murder, Rachel's love for John, or the community being shaken by John's presence and his misguided attempts at delivering justice through violence. After he beats up a group of tourists who were mocking the Amish, one of the elderly locals tells Rachel to rein him in, saying he is "not good for the tourist trade!". The loss of innocence is further reflected in Book's colleagues, who have drifted into narcotics by spending too long on the beat. There are hints of The French Connection about Paul, who like Gene Hackman has become more impulsive and reckless in pursing what he wants.

    Witness also has a beautifully understated soundtrack. Maurice Jarre, who won a BAFTA for his work, creates a score with the epic sweep of his work with David Lean but with modern trappings courtesy of Vangelis-like synthesisers. There is a recurring theme of one ethereal note being sustained during moments of revelation, such as Samuel recognising McFee from the photo in the trophy cabinet. It's a very effective means of bringing together the old and the new in the story.

    Witness is a great film and a great piece of storytelling. Harrison Ford is terrific as John Book, bringing understatement and gravitas to a role which demonstrates his talent and range as an actor. McGillis is a great match as Rachel, and Danny Glover is as menacing here as he is in The Colour Purple. It isn't perfect, being a little too slow at times, and the final confrontation between John and Paul threatens to become silly. But it remains one of Peter Weir's finest achievements and proof that thrills don't always have to come from shouting and rapid editing.
  • wildaly14
    July 5, 2011
    wildaly14
    I was most definitely impressed with this film. It not only provides insight into the Amish culture and a beautiful love story, but it's also a thriller that will leave you in suspense until the last minutes. Harrison Ford is becoming one of those actors whose movies I see just t... read moreo see him act. He's pretty great here as a police detective. Highly recommended.
  • 76Majikat
    May 14, 2011
    76Majikat
    A murder inquiry turned forbidden love story, in this slightly typical Harrison Ford movie, but a watchable one all the same.
  • jennifxu
    April 30, 2011
    jennifxu
    Though I really hated the stupid chase thing at the end, Witness is quite a charming, provincial, 90s sort of movie. The romance between Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis was so implicit and understated, it reminded me of a period drama or something.
  • ajv2688
    January 19, 2011
    ajv2688
    A great thriller, the story is very interesting and different, and the cast is great. This is a great movie, I really liked it.
  • FrizzDrop
    January 4, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    A clashing of two worlds, an interweb of police corruption, and a love that dare not speak it's name are just three of the evident themes in this network of great writing. Harrison Ford, the go-to guy for anything remotely action packed or super cool, takes an interesting turn as... read more both a gun slinging cop and a bereaved man, finding solace in the community he is implicitly stuck with; until the walls finally crumble around him and reality seeps in. McGillis and Sommer give great performances in addition.
  • TomBowler
    August 21, 2010
    TomBowler
    Intriguing and unsettling thriller with stellar direction from Peter Weir. Full review later.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    A great film by Peter Weir, with a good cast. Breaks down stereotype of the Amish community.

View All Witness Reviews

Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli
June 10, 2008
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Playing John Book allowed viewers the opportunity to see Ford the actor instead of Ford the action/adventure icon. It is one of the few times he has been given the opportunity to play in a straight dr... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Harrison Ford has never given a better performance in a movie. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

It's pretty to look at and it contains a number of good performances, but there is something exhausting about its neat balancing of opposing manners and values. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
February 5, 2009
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Harrison Ford renders one of his best dramatic performances, for which he won his sole Oscar nomination, in Peter Weir's beautifully shot feature, which is effective as a cop thriller as well as a chr... Full Review

Almar Haflidason
December 4, 2007
Almar Haflidason, BBC

A lot of care and attention has gone into both the Oscar-winning screenplay and the beautiful cinematography, to create a powerful and romantic story. Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics
November 30, 2007
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile

My favourite Peter Weir film, Witness is something special...Three years after Blade Runner, Harrison Ford is at his best, while Kelly McGillis in her second film role, exudes a Grace Kelly-like seren... Full Review

Oz
November 29, 2007
Oz, eFilmCritic.com

Ford is on top of his form, underplaying his role throughout and never mugging it up for the cameras. Full Review

David Nusair
November 28, 2007
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a refreshingly adult story. Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Powerful, assured, full of beautiful imagery and thankfully devoid of easy moralising, it also offers a performance of surprising skill and sensitivity from Ford. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
November 17, 2005
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

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. Full Review

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  • In "Gone with the Wind," Vivian Leigh said, "As God as my witness..."  Answer »
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