Harrison Ford finally got an Oscar nomination for 'Witness' ('85) only to lose it to William Hurt (for 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'). Likewise, the film was nominated but came along in the same year that 'Out of Africa' swept most of the awards.
The film itself begins to build suspense from the start, with the Amish boy (Lukas Haas) witnessing a murder in a men's restroom at a railroad station. Later, when Ford (as a tough policeman) questions the boy, he discovers there is corruption among his colleagues and becomes a cop in hiding while protecting the boy. The plot develops rather slowly after the initial murder as we focus more on Ford's relationship with the boy's mother (Kelly McGinnis). The interplay between Ford's character and the Amish woman is nicely developed, as is Ford's relationship with the boy. Before the conclusion, there is a scary scene in a silo that is milked for maximum suspense.
Beautifully photographed to take advantage of its country settings, the screenplay and editing both received Oscars. Absorbing and thoroughly deserving of its Best Picture and Best Director (Peter Weir) nomination. Definitely Harrison Ford's best role until 1993's 'The Fugitive' in which he had an even stronger character to portray as a doctor seeking to prove his innocence.
The film itself begins to build suspense from the start, with the Amish boy (Lukas Haas) witnessing a murder in a men's restroom at a railroad station. Later, when Ford (as a tough policeman) questions the boy, he discovers there is corruption among his colleagues and becomes a cop in hiding while protecting the boy. The plot develops rather slowly after the initial murder as we focus more on Ford's relationship with the boy's mother (Kelly McGinnis). The interplay between Ford's character and the Amish woman is nicely developed, as is Ford's relationship with the boy. Before the conclusion, there is a scary scene in a silo that is milked for maximum suspense.
Beautifully photographed to take advantage of its country settings, the screenplay and editing both received Oscars. Absorbing and thoroughly deserving of its Best Picture and Best Director (Peter Weir) nomination. Definitely Harrison Ford's best role until 1993's 'The Fugitive' in which he had an even stronger character to portray as a doctor seeking to prove his innocence.