I've always loved this movie. And I think the scene where Samuel spots the picture of Donald Glover in the trophy case and locks eyes with Book, and then Book coming over and he pushes Samuel's pointing finger down, is absolutely amazing.
@@lewisner - As a huge fan of Community, I honestly don't know if I should be mortified or delighted that I actually made that mistake. Either way, thanks for correcting me.
When her father tells Book at the end “Be careful out there among the English.” it shows that he has excepted him as one of them. It really shows that he sees him as not only a friend but as family now.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver Nah - you're constructing a meaning that is not accurate and does not sum up the film at all. Furthermore, it surely wasn't that meaning McPh1741 had in mind.
Always loved the “teat” gag. You’d think the granddad would be disgusted but he laughs instead and gives a pat on the back that could mean “You’re alright kid”
the human male has the same hormonal and mental reaction to the female form unless there is a mental illness. Some Amish worked for my uncle and the men's only club wasn't beyond mentioning truth in all its glory. They are simply more refined in their actions and mannerisms and understanding that they need God for guidance in all relations.
I also thought the grandpa was making the shape of a gun with his fist, but it was the action of pulling the rope -- calling the community together -- which saved them at the end. The community has a strength a gun does not. Beautiful film and wonderful reaction. And oh, that barn raising scene. Wow.
Random thing I noticed just now was that Viggo Mortensen was in this film. :) I never knew that until this moment. Briefly before this, I recognized the actor who portrayed "Daniel" was in Die Hard as one of Gruber's (Rickman's) crew.
*"But its my way!"* The ice cream guy getting the crap kicked out of him is the most deserved butt whooping I've ever seen. Loved that scene for 35 years.
@@PapaEli-pz8ffI was raised a Quaker we're used to worldly people mocking us. The Swartzentruber Amish also know what to expect from worldly people. Yes, it was the best face punch in movie history.
@@PapaEli-pz8ff Most bullies always target people they see as weak, or who are afraid or hesitant to fight back. I think at heart most bullies are cowards and/or severely lack self confidence or self esteem, and bullying others is the only way they've learned to feel empowered.
One of my all-time favorite films. The cinematography in this film is simply stunning. It was also one of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's favorites films, which is exceedingly high praise.
That scene with the three bad guys with their shotguns walking down the road toward the Amish community is one of my favorite shots in the movies. Just framed perfectly.
Yes, that's a Peter Weir specialty as a director. The man paints beautiful pictures for the screen. Dead Poet's Society (1989), another film he directed is the same.
Harrison Ford used to be a carpenter before his acting career took off so the barn raising scene was probably easy for him. You should check out “Working Girl’. It stars Harrison along with Sigourney Weaver and Melanie Griffith.
It's telling to watch "modern" audiences' reaction as, since those days, Hollywood has conditioned us for a movie's climax to feature big, violent endings. I'm old enough to have seen this in the theatres and all of us in the audience were riveted. At mr. Ford's reveal the whole, packed auditorium erupted in applause.
True that...he was once partnered with Book, and you had to be a good guy to be his partner or he'd rip you a new one. He just got greedy and lost his way. Book knew he could reason with him. Great scene which led to that wonderful last scene with Book, Samuel and Rachel. Those looks of longing and wishing were brilliant, a scene with no dialogue that spoke volumes. Perfect screen writing..
It makes perfect sense. Sure, he could have killed a few more people, but it wouldn't have changed anything. So why do it? He was corrupt, not a psychopath.
Few scenes in cinema have gripped me with as much emotion as the one where the little boy recognizes the photo of the corrupt detective. We so wish that Harrison Ford sees it and finally, he sees it... this film is filled with small moments like this which impressed me when I saw this film in 1985. A classic to be studied.
Peter Weir is a master of story development and, as a result, storytelling. I agree, this movie is filled with these tiny moments that say so much. Oftentimes, it's better to show than to tell. Two of my favorite scenes is the "dancing" scene in the barn, when they both flirt with each other, the chemistry is palpable. And the "bathing" scene when Rachel bares her chest to Book. Powerful and emotional without being cheesy. Yes, the one you mention above is most powerful, everyone wants Book to see what Samuel sees, and when he does, Book's demeanor changes from a routine investigation to a concerned father figure for Samuel. Again, brilliant screenwriting.
the no words slomo either works with Weir or it doesnt. I personally cant stand the Kurtwood Smith scene at the end of Dead Poets society, it's so bad compared to this in Witness.
Am I the only one who remembers “Frantic”, from 1988? No one ever mentions it, and it’s Harrison in his prime! A great thriller/mystery set in Paris, it stars Ford, and the French actress, Emmanuelle Seigner. If you’re a Harrison Ford fan, it’s a must see!
It is good movie as is Presumed Innocent in 1990 which Harrison Ford starred with the late Raul Julia from Addams Family in 1991 and 1993 sequel. The Fugitive and Patriot Games are classic Ford films to.
Okay I am recognising some cast members from other movies: Rachel is Kelly McGillis from Top Gun who played Maverick's love interest, and Daniel is Alexander Godunov who played Karl (One of the bad guys) in Die Hard. Moses is Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn from Lord of the Rings).
Also Danny Glover before he played Roger Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon in 1987 and sequels and had appeared in the western Silverado in 1985 when Witness was released.
@@bwilson5401 Like Danny Glover, Viggo been in a lot over the years just seldom as a central character until Lord of the Rings when he got centre stage deservedly.
@@scottknode898 Danny's third big film from 1985 was The Color Purple, in which he played Whoopi Goldberg's husband. Both Witness and Purple were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, with Purple eventually tying The Turning Point (from 1977) as the most-nominated film to go home completely empty-handed. Both films received 11 nominations without a single win. Ironically, 11 is also the number of Oscars received by Ben-Hur, Titanic, and Return of the King (co-starring Viggo Mortenson from this film), which are tied as the three WINNINGEST Best Pictures.
One of Harrison Ford’s best. So many great scenes in this, such as the barn raising sequence. This one is definitely your kind of movie and one you’d really love, for sure.
19:23 that's Viggo Mortensen, aka Aragorn for the Lord of the Rings movies. In the group lunch scene, he also sits between Book and the guy that likes Rachel. Also, the guy that likes Rachel is the bad guy in Die Hard!
I completely forgave Karl (Alexander Godunov) for trying to kill Bruce Willis in Die Hard after watching this movie. Very underrated and talented actor. Loved him in The Money Pit (Tom hanks comedy) too. Sadly, he passed far too young at just 45 years old.
Completely agree, he was a Russian ballet dancer who defected during the cold war and continued to dance ballet here and made his way into movies. I have to agree that most people would know him from die hard but honestly his egotistical symphony conductor character in "the money pit" will always be my favorite. The line " I lost her too, but I will get over it because I am shallow and self-centered. But you..., you won't, because you are "complex"" delivered in that dry accent of his had stuck with me since I was a little child, just hilarious.
My daughters watched this when they were kids right after watching Die Hard. They started chanting "Amish Man Terrorist from Die Hard" whenever they saw him. It was pretty funny.
Alexander Godunov was a dancer who act occasionally ,he died very young ,but like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolph Nureyev he was so famous and the dance career is not that long they use they fame to work in movies
I think the ending of this move is actually very realistic and I give it credit for that. Chief Schaeffer is an experienced police officer. He would realize that there were way too many witnesses to silence. Even if he had killed them all (which he wouldn't have enough bullets for anyway), there is no way he could possibly hide such a massive crime with so many cops and Amish people dead. John Book simply pointed out to him that the game was up. I find this to be a much more realistic ending than the usual shoot 'em up you'd get in a lesser action film (and I love a good action film as much as anybody). Perhaps some unhinged criminal would start shooting madly, but this guy is a Chief of Police. He would know the law and that he could only dig himself deeper. He just needed the wake up call from Book. It also fits perfectly with the film's themes and setting. I think having the little boy or the old man shoot him just to have an action thrill would really cheapen the comparison of cultures and values that this film is all about. I think it's a great ending, personally.
The speed of how fast barn gets put up is no joke. I've seen Amish Frame a really big house on pittsburgh years ago. They practically did it all in 1 day. They are ridiculously fast
A friend of mine was a cinema major and would talk about the barn raising scene and how it was regarded as one of best scenes in movie history in classes and I truly believe it is as well.
There's a TV show on the BBC called "Detectorists" about a group of metal detectorists and it is absolutely beautiful and very funny. The last episode recreates the barn raising scene absolutely shot for shot. I had to immediately find the witness scene to show my girlfriend the similarities.
If you like that you might like Terrence Malick's 'Tree of Life', David Lynch's beautiful 'Straight Story' and maybe some of the classic British lyrical movies of Powell and Pressburger such as A Matter of Life & Death and The Red Shoes. :)
One of my favorite things about this movie is that they don’t vilify the Amish suitor (whose name I would never be able to spell, lol). He’s a good guy who, despite his awareness that something is going on, never behaves like a jealous jerk. He’s very principled. It makes it a little easier to stomach Book leaving, knowing that he would treat Rachel well despite knowing her feelings for someone else.
Yes, that was a very good and likeable character. I'd like to think someone like that would find someone who returned their feelings. On another point - to what extent did the makers of this film consult with Amish community leaders, to reflect their values, ways of life, etc? I used to live in PA, but I don't remember too much of it (i was only little). Does this reflect what an Amish community looks like, and how it operates?
One of the stories I remember from the production of this movie is that the barn raising actually was a barn that they built for an Amish farmer. Unfortunately, the filmmakers positioned the barn where it photograph the best but the farmer wanted it a few feet in a different direction. So when the filming was done the Amish farmer took the barn down and rebuilt it where he wanted it to be.
The boy who played the role of Samuel was Lukas Haas. This same boy played the main character in a TV movie called The Ryan White Story , about the true story of a boy who was to fight against aids and discrimination.
Actually, she played Charlie in the first Top Gun. Jennifer Connelly played Penny Benjamin in Top Gun Maverick. Penny was referenced in the first Top Gun but never actually seen.
Hi Cassie, so glad you got round to watching this under-rated romantic thriller. As a fan of Harrison Ford, this tale of a culture-clash romance, seemed ideal viewing. Loved the score too, by Maurice Jarre, which adds so much to this film, especially during the brilliant barn-raising scene.
I lived in Lancaster County for 20 years (had to relocate during Covid) and it is a different world there. Five minutes in one direction and you are downtown in Lancaster City. Five minutes the other way and you are in Amish Country. Horse and buggies on the roadways (the local Walmart had a hitching post for buggies) and they usually played volleyball at twilight with lanterns and candles so they can see. Also, lots of Amish craft shops and flea markets, too...
This is one of my favorite Harrison Ford movies. Ford and Kelly 'Top Gun' McGillis awesome on it.I *love* that the ending was not the typical 'all tied up in a bow' ending. I saw this after I saw Die Hard. When the town punks were smearing ice cream on Daniel's face, kept expecting Daniel to explode on them based upon his Die Hard character. The fact that he pulled of both characters...the sociopath and the pacifist...so believably that Godonov became one of my favorite 1980s actors. I wish we could have had more from him.
Amish are some of the most compassionate, loving, caring, and forgiving people on the planet. In 2006, a gunman took an amish schoolhouse full of amish children hostage and executed 5 innocent school girls. At the funeral for the killer, many amish, including the famlies of the deceased, showed up and forgave him, giving hugs and offering prayers to the mans widow and mother. They also formed a chain around the service so protestors who showed up couldn't disrupt the proceedings.
It's been so long I had all but forgotten about that terrible shooting. Now I'm reminded how very moving is the account of that tragedy and the power of forgiveness by the Amish community in its aftermath. Thank you for bringing it to our attention in regards to this film.
It is sad that happened I grew up in a small town and know several Amish families including a family that became ex Amish and one is married to his wife Heather and i went to school with her and he owns his trucking company. A number of ex Amish families I knew either are into trucking, farming or construction. My parents currently live next to a Amish family in the country.
as an ex farm boy. Milking cows early (b4 daylight) was done mostly because when the sun came up, there was work to be done while you had daylight. Milking could be done in the dark. Also, cows were milked 2X a day, 12 hours apart. Therefore if you milked them early in the morning you were able to milk them again in late afternoon. If you waited until 8-9am to milk them, then you would be milking them again at 8-9pm, so early morning and later afternoon worked better.
"Witness" is the perfect title for this film. It begins with the boy witnessing a murder, and it ends with John Book daring the corrupt cop to shoot him in front of all those witnesses. There was no way for Rachel and John to be together. They live in different worlds. Rachel couldn't take her son away from his family, his community and the world he's ever known.
Fun Fact: When Rachel asks John, "You know carpentry?" He replies "A bit..." Harrison Ford was a carpenter before he became an actor. Also, this was sadly Harrison Ford's first and only Oscar nominated performance of his esteemed career.
This is part of the mythos of Harrison Ford,, he was an actor long before he took on some set work in between roles to support his family,, Fred Roos purposely contracted him to build some doors at zoetrope studios to force his meeting with Lucas in a role he didn't want to avoid being typecast from the previous work he'd done on Lucas's American Graffiti (1973)
@@harrymarshall Exactly. In college he loved to act in the plays at Ripon, just didn't want to attend any of the other classes he was supposed to. My sister's father in law was a science teacher there when he (failed to) attend school.
@@harrymarshall that said, he was probably handy with a hammer, like many men of his generation. You can't just pretend to be a carpenter and get away with it...
@@sdkelmaruecan2907 He became a self-taught professional carpenter. “Through carpentry, I fed my family and began to pick and choose from among the roles offered,” he once said. “I could afford to hold out until something better came along. But I never gave up my ambition to be an actor.Nov 16, 2020
Harrison Ford was nominated not for Witness, but his follow up film to this, 1985's The Mosquito Coast, also directed by Peter Weir. It's the most character driven lead Ford ever took on and although he's not likable, he's entertaining as Hell. It's a fully committed performance of a man gone insane. River Phoenix, who would play young Indy in The Last Crusade plays Ford's son in this and he's amazing too.
Peter Weir used painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer as inspiration for the camera style of this film. You can see it very clearly in the shot of Daniel paying his respects to Rachel at the funeral, and Rachel tending to a feverish, hallucinating Book in the Lapp house. (Note how the light itself has a different character in the country and in the city.) The use in the farm scenes of calm, reflected light in the day scenes and _chiaroscuro_ (literally "light dark", the technique of painting lit surfaces against a black background) in the night and indoor scenes are crucial in evoking a place out of time in the modern world. The other thing about Weir's direction that I love, and which is unique to him, is what I call the "Weir moment". In every one of his films, there comes a moment when the main character experiences some terrible, gut-wrenching emotion, and we are _not allowed to see it._ It either happens off-camera, or the character has his back to us, or something is blocking our view. It's an impressive visual comment for a director to make because by doing that, Weir gives them privacy, something we don't expect as moviegoers. We expect to _see_ emotion, drama, not to be denied it. But he does so, and gives the protagonist an inner life we're not privy to. (It's a character beat that is uniquely Weir's; I've never come across another director who does that as a matter of course in all his films. It's his signature.)
This film was a masterpiece in cinema. Brilliant use of light and dark, open space on the farm, simple life versus city life, which was cramped and dark, only harsh. Weir used everything within the reach and scope of the camera to tell the story. Even the bird house at the end when Rachel realizes she'll lose Book forever, and shows the audience that she cannot contain herself any longer. We want to see them express their emotions in that awesome kiss. Now that's how you make a film.
i grew up as a child in a french canadian community in Lavaltrie Quebec where people would get together to build barns or church and it was so productive everyone gave their best. I missed that time for the sense of belonging and strong friendship
Brought up in Saint Sulpice, right next door. I wish I could say nice things about that community the way you speak well of Lavaltrie. BUT the parish priest was an old school asshole. Very judgemental and 'hautain'. It varried greatly. We were 'English' from Saskatchewan and not accepted intothe community. The six founding families (including the Pigeon, Plouffe and Blais families) were stuck up bullies. I wish I could say I had a happy and fulfilling childhood, but... I was glad we escaped to Montreal when I was a teen. It suited me better than the small insular (dare I say, inbred) farming community.
I think that's the appeal the barn raising scene in this movie has for so many people. Who wouldn't want to live in a community like this where everyone gets together to help a neighbor; being part of the community.
These levels of community service seem strange to many of us now, but they were the norm for thousands of years - the idea of simply paying someone to build you a house would have seemed as ludicrous to our ancestors as the concept of legal tender itself . . . To this day, in Japan, the old style minkas need their roofs redone every 20 years or so, and the whole village pitches-in knowing that, when it's their turn, the service will be returned . . .
I always liked this film, I can't believe that it's Harrison Ford's sole Oscar nomination to date, and he didn't even win. One of his most underrated roles, in my opinion.
Thank you, Cassie. I've been wanting to see you react to this for a long time. Harrison Ford’s acting was top tier in this one. A belated Happy Mother's Day to both you and your Mom.
Your Mum got bl**dy good taste in movies. I second all of them! I love this one and please react to Erin Brockovich soon. You’ll love it! Maybe have your sister along? I love your reactions on your own and I love the banter between you two as well and Erin Brockovich would lend itself to a sisterly laughing, commenting, outrages disbelief sharing session.
@@ct6852 thanks for posting this. I googled it. Mindboggling! I heard about electrical lines causing fires, but I didn’t know it was THAT PG&E. Good that they had to pay- hope it was enough!
@@hertelantje It was definitely hellishly scary. Whole town went up like a tinder box. A friend left for Arizona and never came back. He had like five minutes to evacuate. Anyways I think Ron Howard did a doc about it on Hulu.
The reason why Harrison Ford looked like he knew what he was doing at the barn raising. Is because he was a carpenter while trying to make it as an actor.
My late wife loved this movie because she loved going over to the Amish Country in Lancaster County PA, which is only 30 miles from where I live and where this movie was filmed. The scene where Booke punches the punk in the square was filmed in the town square in the village of Intercourse.
Great reaction. The villain giving up is by far more realistic AND fits the theme of the film and the Amish view: violence begets violence. The ending is a beautiful acknowledgment of the Amish way.
I grew up watching this movie. It was one of my Grandmothers favorites. We would watch it all the time. A very underrated classic. One of Harrison Ford’s best roles.
A very underrated film and one of my top ten all-time favorites - you can watch it repeatedly and never grow tired of the smooth soundtrack and minimalist vibe. Is the film's arguing strong for or against guns? I feel the moral of the story is to use your mind and your merit to confront evil first and foremost - as a firearm may then rarely ever be needed. Having a grandmother who's first language was Pennsylvania Dutch, I can say this motion picture really nailed the vibe of 1980s Pennsylvania and the background clash between the cultures. And can't ignore that Rachel's character is VERY complex, often showing her many sides and motivations within single scenes. Subtle but brilliant. Come out from among them and be ye separate, sayeth the Lord. And touch not the unclean thing.
I'm so glad you watched this masterpiece, Great storyline, nice soundtrack, superb acting all around. Definitely one of Harrison fords best movie moments.
There are several films parked right in the middle of the 1980s that are utterly of their time ... and some of the finest filmmaking ever. _The River_ is one.
Great film, very different role....but, since you mentioned you gotta add "Dr Zhivago" (& then another epic, "Lawrence of Arabia") to the watch list. Just an amazing film especially when you put the story into context of that time & what was going on in the world.
Please take a look at "Presumed Innocent" (1987). It's a great movie with the young version of Harrison Ford. For some reason people don't remember it. But I think he does his best acting in that film. He's accused of murder. Lots of bends and twists that will take you by surprised right down to the last minute of the film. The supporting cast is also really good.
Your mother has good taste in films. I'm pretty sure you would also enjoy "Australia". "Dr. Zhivago" is a great movie. It's a very long movie, but a very good story. I would not call it a happily ever after show. This one is a good one even though it is kind of a sleeper for him. Good job, thanks.
One of my all-time favorites. Not enough is said about the beautiful score by the composer Maurice Jarre, especially the theme played during the barn-raising scene.
Thanks for reacting to this! PLEASE more Peter Weir movies. The Year of Living Dangerously you might really enjoy with Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver.
Cassie...one of the best reactions I've EVER seen. Watching your face as John and Rachel interacted throughout the movie was riveting. Your expression when John watched Rachel washing herself, and your waving your hand as if to cool the air, was exactly my feeling. This is one of the best movies I've ever seen (saw it as a kid years ago), and I was so jazzed that YOU were doing it. You just treat things more respectfully and in such a classy way. Enjoyed very, very much!
I been wanting you to watch this movie for a long time. This is one of my favorite movies. Not Just the fact that Harrison Ford is in it. But because of the Amish. By coincidence, I was visiting an Amish area with my Mom when you posted to poll for mothers day. I was visiting Jamesport Missouri, which is the largest and oldest Amish settlement in Missouri. I been watching all the buggies, going to different Amish and seeing many Amish farms. I even got to see a Amish gathering. Just like the Barn raising scene my Mom and I saw around a hundred buggies at this one farm. I think is was a wedding. But seeing the Amish makes you realize the benefits of the peaceful and simple life. Although I won't ever become Amish I kind of wish that I was doing what Harrison Ford is doing in the movie. Temporally becoming one for a little while. Minus the hiding from criminals and getting into a fight. But anyway Cassie thank you for watching this movie and Happy late Mothers day to you and Carly. Also Happy Mothers day to your mom.
That's a brilliant film. Great arc with the hospital case. And sobering commentary on the American elite: despite their wealth and status they were morally rotten with no merit. And Bradley was funny as crap - woulda been a hell of a story if we'd won the game...
I believe the ending with the bad guy giving up is meant to show the power of community. Sure, he could've killed Book and the boy, but he couldn't have killed all the witnesses, the whole Amish community. And Book - during his time there - did learn what the community can accomplish. I LOVE this movie. Glad you finally watched it. 😊
You struck gold with me again, PIB. Love your reaction. Old boomer here saw this bin theaters way back in 80s. It’s was the only best actor nomination Harrison Ford would ever get. Btw, happy Mother’s Day to you and your mom.
Peter Weir is one of Australia’s great directors. When you do another round of war movies I strongly recommend Gallipoli, starring Mel Gibson (with Australian accent!)
@@nivekian Don't be. It wasn't put on. Mel Gibson was 25 when he made Gallipoli (great film). Mel was teased for his thick American accent at age 12 by his Oz peers and quickly learned the accent to fit in. It then became natural when he was surrounded by it for the next 13 years. Look at American Trevor Reed. When was released by Russia after 3 years as a hostage, he had a Russian accent when he first came home.
Its amazing to watch these scenes and realize that most of the time neither Kelly McGillis or Harrison Ford are actually looking at each other, but just off to the side of camera. Which shows both the power of their acting, and the editing to make it feel like they're looking at each other.
Just thought I'd mention the young cute kid... You recently saw him in "Mars Attacks!". He helps save the planet with Grandma's awful music. Lol... While I don't see him often Lucas Hass has turned into a very good of under used actor. He was in "Brick" opposite Joseph Gordon Levitt... A very unique modern day film noir detective story.
Kelly McGillis is brilliant in this film, and she even briefly reprised her role as an Amish woman in a brief cameo in the infamous 1994 movie, "North", about future Frodo Elijah Wood trying to find better parents.
The main thing I remember about North is that it's one of Reba's movies. 😍 Kelly McGillis plays an Amish woman in Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, too. Such a cute movie. ❤
I still want my dollar back from watching half or "North" at the discount theater and walking out half-way through. No shade to McGillis tho, especially in this iconic role.
This was my #1 favorite movie for years! The scene at 9:05 where Harrison Ford turns and says "Just do it" gives me chills every time. Book looks so desperate you can feel his fear.
(27:54) I hate to say it, but you may be a little over exposed to the typical Hollywood film. :) This is a very realistic ending, what can Paul do at this point? He only has so many bullets, so he can't kill all of them and even if he tried and manages to walk away, there are too many witness here for him to ever be free. Just as Book pointed out, it was over. The plan was for Paul & Co to get in and out without any witnesses, but that clearly failed.
This is one of my favorite movies from my youth. Your reaction brought back some of the same feelings I had as well. You want them to end up together but ultimately it’s understood that’s not possible. Beautifully written and acted.
The audience got to see Book prove his sister wrong. He would make a great father for Samuel, plus he and Rachel would grow old together with lots of grandkids.. I agree, brilliantly written, acted and directed.
Cassie, It cracks me up every time you think you're catching Ed Harris in a movie and it's Viggo Mortenson. 😂😂 The film Appaloosa will probably confuse the heck out of you!
Ooooh! This was my Number 1 favorite film for many many years, a long-ass stretch of time, primarily due to my dad introducing it to me as a kid, when he really wanted to show me a Harrison Ford movie, and as a dumb child I thought that "Raiders of the Lost Ark" would be boring. :P The number of times the name "John Book" was uttered in my house growing up, or that my dad quoted the line, "[It's not our way] But it's my way," are insurmountable. And even though "Witness" isn't in my top 10 favorite movies anymore, it still holds a special nostalgic place in my heart, and I rarely ever hear it mentioned or discussed. This reaction is sure to be a lovely and fun stroll down memory lane, especially coming from someone as sweet, thoughtful, and romantic-minded as yourself.
Alexander Gudonov (Daniel Hocleitner) passed-away too soon. He had a very interesting life story, He was a member of the Soviet's Bolshoi Ballet Group along with Mikhail Baryshnikov; during their ballet group's goodwill visit to the States, Alexander and Mikhail took their only chance and defected to the US. Both Alexander & MIkhail became Hollywood actors; played in numerous Hollywood-made movies. When you get a chance, I suggest you watch White Nights (1985) starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. Another of the same line of story but a bit comedy is Moscow on the Hudson (1984) starring Robin Williams.
It's a GREAT list of films, and I would have picked Witness. I saw it three times at the cinema. The barn building scene is a masterpiece. Plus....I REALLY fancied Harrison Ford in this film! LOL
Cassie, you should definitely react to Dead Poet's Society and The Truman Show, also directed by Peter Weir. He's a great director and super underrated.
This is one of my favourite movies. Peter Weir is such an underated director, and watching this just makes me wish that Kelly McGinnis and Harrison Ford were offered more and varied roles. One of Weir's staples is the closed community and the little worlds they inhabit. We have the floating village of Master & Commander with all of its gossip, a microcosm of the turn of the 18th / 19th century Britain. There's the false world of The Truman Show, with its self-contained, never-changing 'small town America' under a big dome. Then there's the family and the native community in Mosquito Coast where this time Ford is an intruder imposing his beliefs. Weir always has those tensions between individual and community in play. Harrison Ford is great in this, and it's my favourite role of his. The ending has the ring of truth in it, Book was just a man passing through their world, though he left his imprint. It's also beautiful to look at, great score and Danny Glove is genuinely frightening! Not a weak note in anything, anywhere in cast and crew. Just a simple, perfect movie, English.
What a wonderful reaction to this, and I associate it with my mom as well, she loved it, we saw it together, and I haven't seen it in years. Watching it with you right now was a great experience, I can see it's held up pretty well! PS: Hey, two Harrison Ford movies for your list: "Working Girl" (1988), very well done movie, he's great in it. And his first movie, George Lucas' greatest film (sorry Star Wars fans), "American Graffiti". Harrison Ford is only a supporting role, but it's a super classic, beautifully done movie with a stacked cast (including Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams and many others, virtually all of whom were complete unknowns when the movie was made).
I never realized that the actor portraying "Daniel" in this film was also in "Die Hard" as one of Gruber's (Rickman) bad guys. :) Then again, I think I only saw this film maybe once.
This movie was nominated for the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Weir) and Best Actor (Harrison Ford) to name a few. It won the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
Every movie involving a child actor runs the risk of casting a child who just can't act. The casting of Lukas Haas in this film was critical to its success. Great job all around acting-wise -- but the kid playing the titular role as the 'witness' to the murder was just so right for the part that it's almost scary how good he was. There's something in his soulful eyes that just draws the viewer in.
you should watch "Places in the Heart" with Danny Glover and Sally Fields...its one of the best movies I have seen...totally underrated. Such a good life lesson in this one.
This movie will always have a special place in my heart because all the Amish farm scenes were filmed about half an hour from where I was born and raised 😊
