Witness (1985). Runtime: 112 minutes / 1 hour 52 minutes. UK age rating: 15.
Premise: A young Amish boy, Samuel, is the sole witness to a murder in Philadelphia. Investigating officer John Book goes into hiding with the boy and his mother in Amish country after an attack on the boy. (source: Google)
Witness is incredible! It masterfully interweaves two different stories - a tense thriller, and a gentle romance. Harrison Ford is brilliant as John Book, a detective who protects young Samuel Lapp while falling in love with Samuel’s mother, Rachel.
Kelly McGillis! She was snubbed of an Oscar nomination, I’m telling you. Her performance as Rachel is so gloriously memorable, from the clothes, to the accent, to the quiet emotions she portrays. Witness is an awesome film, certainly one many people will enjoy. McGillis and Ford complement each other brilliantly.
Oscar wins:
1. Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
Oscar nominations:
1. Academy Award for Best Picture (lost to Out of Africa)
2. Academy Award for Best Director (Peter Weir, lost to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa)
3. Academy Award for Best Actor (Harrison Ford, lost to William Hurt for Kiss of the Spider Woman)
Similar films:
1. Mississippi Burning (1988)
2. L.A. Confidential (1997)
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