Witness (1985)
Directed by Peter Weir
Written by Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley
Starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Danny Glover
Release Date February 8th, 1985
Published February 8th 2015
Directed by Peter Weir, “Witness” stars Harrison Ford as Detective John Book, a Philadelphia homicide cop who stumbles into a corrupt conspiracy. While investigating the death of an undercover narcotics officer, Book becomes the protector of an Amish woman, Rachel (Kelly McGillis), and her son, Samuel (Lukas Haas), who witnessed the murder and eventually identifies a police detective named McFee (Danny Glover) as the killer.
After informing his superior, Chief Schaeffer (Josef Sommer), Book discovers the dangerous depths of the conspiracy and takes Rachel and Samuel into hiding, back to their family in the Amish country. How will Book unfold the conspiracy and protect Rachel and her son while conforming to the Amish way of life as protection against the outside world? That is the dramatic crux of “Witness.”
What is striking about the performance of Harrison Ford in “Witness” is the lack of star polish. Ford is without pretense toward stardom, he see’s no need to command scenes and instead allows the scene to settle around him. Ford doesn’t appear until a full 15 minutes into the film, time spent establishing Rachel as a widow and setting up for the murder that will drive the plot.
Once Ford enters the picture his character is more of a force of workmanlike dedication to the law rather than the hard charging, charismatic detective types favored by big stars. There is nothing showy or demonstrative about Book, he’s a guy doing a job who happens to find himself in an uniquely dangerous situation; one with an unusual set of options that play out in a highly compelling fashion.
The scenes set among the Amish while Book is hiding out and forming a plan to fight back against his conspirators, are quiet and thoughtful and proceed with their own force of plot. Convention tells us that Book and Rachel will fall in love but the ways in which that bond forms seem organic rather than by the force of what’s expected of a movie. I love the chemistry between Ford and McGillis which is expressed almost entirely in looks and gestures.
30 years later “Witness” is a testimony to the true talent of Harrison Ford, his ability to become an everyman instead of a superhero. Before he descended into a caricature of a growling, grouchy, senior citizen action hero, Ford was a true everyman hero who happened to be clever in a pinch and capable of selfless sacrifice in pursuit of what was right. It’s what made his Jack Ryan such a great character, he wasn’t always prepared for what was about to happen, he was just capable and a little more daring than most.
That’s the charm of Harrison Ford and it is the charm of “Witness.” Other stars would have made each moment about them and how smart or tough they are. Ford gives himself over to the moment and in the character of John Book he immerses himself in what is happening while failing as anyone might to actually prepare for the bad things that are on the horizon because, truly, who could be prepared for such a thing.
“Witness” is available for streaming now on Netflix or for rent via Amazon Prime streaming.
