Retro Review: Witness (1985)

Witness isn't the kind of movie we usually tackle here in The Basement, be it retro or otherwise. But I was feeling nostalgic for some vintage Harrison Ford, and wasn't in the mood for Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

I hadn't watched Witness in a quarter of a century, so pushing play was almost like doing so for the first time. And boy, am I glad I did.

Witness is a great movie. It's one part thriller, another part drama, with a fine sense of humour and a beautiful, quiet love story at its heart. You read that right; I liked the love story as much as I did the thriller and dramatic elements!

This is a quiet movie, despite a few scenes of rough violence. It's about people and their place in the world. It's about clashing ways of life and falling in love even though you know it's never meant to be.

And yes, there's the crime element, which puts Ford's detective on the run from crooked cops who want to silence the witness to a murder -- a young Amish boy. All these elements come together to tell a compelling story that never lets its audience down.

Harrison Ford is great. He's always been an underrated actor due to his blockbuster roles, but here he reminds you how good he can be. Kelly McGillis is also great as the Amish woman he falls in love with. Their romance is totally believable, and done more with looks and actions than any broad expression of love. It's as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

If you're in the mood for something different than The Basement norm, check this one out. It's a Good, and worth your time.

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