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Witness

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Witness (1985)

96%
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92%
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96 %
Reviews Counted: 27 Fresh: 26  Rotten:1 Average Rating: 8.2/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Synopsis: Australian Peter Weir's first Hollywood film tells the story of John Book (Harrison Ford), a Philadelphia cop whose life is altered while trying to help Rachel (Kelly McGillis), an Amish woman, and her son Samuel (Lukas Haas), who witnesses a murder in a Philadelphia train station bathroom.... Australian Peter Weir's first Hollywood film tells the story of John Book (Harrison Ford), a Philadelphia cop whose life is altered while trying to help Rachel (Kelly McGillis), an Amish woman, and her son Samuel (Lukas Haas), who witnesses a murder in a Philadelphia train station bathroom. After discovering that the murder was committed by a member of his force, Book travels to Lancaster County with Rachel and Samuel and poses as a member of the Amish community to hide from his murderous police peers. While there, love blooms between Rachel and Book, and he finds himself drawn in by the honesty and simplicity of the old-world Amish lifestyle. Fine performances and beautiful cinematography are prevalent throughout. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Godunov, Lukas Haas, Timothy Carhart

Director: Peter Weir
Composer: Maurice Jarre
Director: John Seale

DVD Info

Release:

May 8, 2008

[DVD Details]
  • When a young Amish woman and her son get caught up in the murder of an undercover narcotics agent, their savior turns out to be hardened Philadelphia detective John Book. Harrison Ford is sensational as Book, the cop who runs head-on into the non-violent world of a Pennsylvania Amish community. The end result is an action packed struggle of life and death, interwoven with a sensitive undercurrent of caring and forbidden love.
  • Source - Paramount Home Entertainment

    • Reviews

     
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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    N/R

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    12/04/07
    Almar Haflidason
    BBC
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    N/R

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    01/26/06
    Time Out
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    3.5/4

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/10/08
    James Berardinelli
    ReelViews
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    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 serenity.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/30/07
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile
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    5/5

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/29/07
    Oz
    eFilmCritic.com
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    3/4

    ...a refreshingly adult story.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/28/07
    David Nusair
    Reel Film Reviews
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    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/20/07
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    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 | comment Comment
    11/17/05
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid
    Ratings Image
    3.5/4

    Humanizes the conflict of peace versus the arguable necessity of violence.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    08/20/05
    Peter Canavese
    Groucho Reviews
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    4.5/5

    It's got some action, some romance, a few drips of comedy, and a lot of fascinating insight into a culture we know very little about.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    08/17/05
    Scott Weinberg
    DVD Clinic
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    takes a high concept idea and turns it into a character study more suspenseful and more rewarding than the anticipated norm

    Full Review | comment Comment
    07/14/05
    Pete Croatto
    Filmcritic.com
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    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/29/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    Ratings Image
    A

    A compelling thriller, a smoldering love story, a thoughtful study in comparative cultures, and a respectful exploration of religious community and nonviolence.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    02/03/05
    Steven D. Greydanus
    Decent Films Guide
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    4/4

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/23/04
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
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    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/01/04
    Daniel M. Kimmel
    Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/10/04
    Sarah Chauncey
    Reel.com
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    5/5

    A dynamic, thoughtful thriller that balances its themes extraordinarily well.

    comment Comment
    03/18/04
    Rob Thomas
    Capital Times (Madison, WI)
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    5/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/07/04
    Michael Dequina
    Mr. Brown's Movies
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    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/17/03
    Bryant Frazer
    Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus
    Ratings Image
    0/5

    An offence to the Amish

    comment Comment
    08/21/03
    John Esther
    Pasadena Weekly
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