Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review four new movies. Two thumbs up for
Songwriter (1984), Alan Rudolph's delightful new movie about country music. A split decision on
1984 (1984), based on George Orwell's bleak vision of a totalitarian future. Ebert found it fresh and powerful; Siskel admired its noble intentions but was unmoved. Two thumbs up for the exciting mystery thriller,
Witness (1985), with Harrison Ford as a cop going undercover with the Amish. A split decision on
Mrs. Soffel (1984). Neither critic believed the movie fulfilled its promise of importance, but Siskel found it to be an effective "woman's picture" and recommends it on that level. Ebert doesn't even think there was chemistry between the two leads, Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson.
—J. Spurlin