Friday, October 31, 2008

Movie review – “Witness” (1985) ***1/2

So much holds up well – beautiful shots of the countryside, Maurice Jarre’s score, the images of the Amish along the highways, the murder sequence, Harrison Ford’s comforting masculinity, Kelly McGillis’ lovely performance (especially her standing there topless while bathing), Alexander Godunov’s striking debut, Lukas Haas’ terrified eyes, Ford beating up rednecks teasing Amish, Danny Glover getting blown away, death by wheat.

Some of it must have been clichés though even then, though – romance via dancing to an old song in the barn, barn building, corrupt cops, good black cop to balance out the bad black cop, good black cop partner being killed.

Also it drags in the middle when Ford just hangs out with the Amish and can’t think of anything to do. (They could have come up some goal for him to drive the action, eg arrange to meet an honest cop who has to come down from Washington, or something).

No comments: