Witness (1985)
88%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A wonderfully entertaining thriller within an unusual setting, with Harrison Ford delivering a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance
Witness is a thrilling crime drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Harrison Ford delivers an outstanding performance, and the chemistry between him, Kelly McGillis, and Lukas Haas is palpable. The film’s direction and cinematography are top-notch, capturing the beauty of the Amish countryside and the tension of the city. While there are a few moments of violence, Witness is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good thriller. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie with a cute little boy and a barn-raising scene?
Production Company(ies)
Mass Distraction Media, Radical Media, Vulcan Productions,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
1985
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:1h 52m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1985 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 1999
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Godunov, Josef Sommer, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubes, Danny Glover, directed by Peter Weir, written by Pamela Wallace, Earl W Wallace, William Kelley, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ed Potton, Nick Roddick, Paul Attanasio, Pauline Kael, Dave Kehr, Variety Staff, Mike Massie, Rachel Wagner, Matt Brunson, S Jhoanna Robledo, Matthew Pejkovic, produced by Edward S Feldman, MPAA rating R, Amish, police corruption, witness protection, romance, thriller, police officer, narcotics lieutenant, police chief, Amish culture, tradition, police detective, farm, secluded community, suspenseful climax, fish-out-of-water tale, Harrison Ford’s best performance, unique storyline, deceptively amiable, bucolic romance, respectful look, Harrison Ford’s only Best Actor Oscar nomination, beautifully shot feature, effective as a cop thriller, chronicle of the rural Amish subculture, Harrison Ford’s emotive and sympathetic performance, police corruption scandal, Amish farm, farmer’s daughter, plain local variety farm boys, homemade sandwich, satisfying treat of a film
Worldwide gross: $68,706,993
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $68,706,993
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kelly McGillis – Rachel Lapp
Alexander Godunov – Daniel Hochleitner
Josef Sommer – Chief Paul Schaeffer
Lukas Haas – Samuel Lapp
Jan Rubes – Eli Lapp
Director(s)
Peter Weir
Writer(s)
Pamela Wallace, Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley
Producer(s)
Edward S. Feldman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (3)
… striking thriller.
April 6, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The film allows us, in the company of Book, to take a sort of holiday from our normal concerns, to visit other values en touriste , drawing the strengths from a strange and alien tradition without really immersing ourselves in it.
March 24, 2020
Nick Roddick
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
What saves “Witness” is its cast, and Weir’s artistry in orchestrating and modulating their performances.
January 4, 2018
Paul Attanasio
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Weir, an Australian filming in this country for the first time, has succumbed to blandness.
January 14, 2013
Pauline Kael
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
A moderately effective, highly affected thriller.
January 14, 2013
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Witness warms up as the attraction builds between Ford, McGillis and Haas — all performing excellently through this portion.
July 6, 2010
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The actors are all convincing, given the attention and scripting necessary to craft a strikingly different tale of law enforcement and the consequences of their interactions.
September 8, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A pretty good crime thriller.
April 12, 2019 | Rating: B
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
Peter Weir’s exceptionally fine Witness finds Harrison Ford earning his first (and, so far, only) Best Actor Oscar nomination.
October 17, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
Taut drama has just a few moments of intense violence.
July 2, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media
Proves to be an entertaining cop thriller of rich character and assured direction.
July 6, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Pejkovic
Matt’s Movie Reviews
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 chronicle of the rural Amish subculture.
February 5, 2009 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
After witnessing a murder, a young Amish boy and his mother seek protection from a police officer who uncovers evidence of police corruption and must flee to the Amish countryside where they begin a cautious romance.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Harrison Ford delivers a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance.
Peter-Weir.jpg
