Witness [Special Collector's Edition]

Justin -

Nice review. But I disagree with your final rating. I watched this movie few months ago and I was really disappointed. The movie hasn't aged well. All the major elements are outdated -
1. Story - Too predictable. Slew of cops shows destroys this movie completely. There are better 45 minute episodes that focus on the key story element depicted in this movie.
2. Music - Totally outdated

I didn't care too much for the story. I have watched too many x-files episodes. That is why this movie hasn't aged well. It doesn't tell us anything that we haven't seen before. The replay value is low. I had to sell my copy on Ebay after watching this movie.

Having said this, the performances are generally good. I don't consider this to be Weir's best work. For me, Picnic at Hanging Rock is best, followed closely by Fearless, Truman Show, Dead Poets Society, and Master & Commander.

--Ranjan

I do agree about the music and mentioned that in the review. But that's the only major mark against the film; I see it as a period piece. Heck, even the title in the beginning of the film sets it up as a piece of history, saying 1984.

I'm not sure what the X-files has to do with your enjoyment of this movie, though.

My enjoyment of this movie doesn't deal with the core narrative - it is the characters that inhabit the story and how they are played with that makes me enjoy the film. If the central story, of cops gone bad, were the focus, this would have been a different movie. Not better, just different.

My favorite Weir film is Fearless, followed cloesly by Master and Commander, Truman Show, and Dead Poets society. I'd probably put Witness after Dead Poets Society.

Weir's best movie by many miles is Picnic at Hanging Rock with Witness second. I can't say I'm a big fan of much else he's gone though Last Wave has its interesting moments and Master and Commander was fairly entertaining. All the good he's done is enough to forgive him for inflicting Dead Poet's Society on the world.

'I'm not sure what the X-files has to do with your enjoyment of this movie, though. " - Justin

As I mentioned in my first response that there are lot of cop shows out there on TV. I watched this movie in 2005 and not in 1984 when it was released. In 1985, this movie was great, now it might not be. In present times, if you watch Xfiles, Shield, NYPD etc and then watch this, your enjoyment will vary. I approached the movie with lot of expectations and I just didn't think it was any different some of the other movies in the same league.

" Heck, even the title in the beginning of the film sets it up as a piece of history, saying 1984. " - Justin

This movie was released in 1985. I don't know how much history director is talking about by releasing the movie in 1985 with opening saying 1984. This was not a period movie when it was released in 1985 but one can certainly find some period elements in this movie in 2006.

I find it interesting that none of you has mentioned "Gallipoli", which is widely admired.

Then again, I haven't liked any movie directed by Peter Weir.

Feng,

None?

I've actually never seen Gallipoli.

I try (the key word) not to judge a film based on other works of a director. Sometimes, with people like Hitchcock or Spielberg, it is unavoidable. But each movie should be judged on its own merits. And I believe "Witness" has a lot of great merits.

Justin,

Weir's movies put me to sleep. I'm not being facetious. I fell asleep watching "The Last Wave", "Witness", and "Gallipoli".

I wanted to leave the theatre while watching "Master and Commander". "Dead Poets Society" was a pandering crowd-pleaser. "The Truman Show" was stupid (it never addressed whether or not the main character and his "wife" ever had sex despite their respective ages and a couple of years of marriage).

Eddie

Eddie,

"(it [The Truman Show] never addressed whether or not the main character and his "wife" ever had sex despite their respective ages and a couple of years of marriage)."

Does it really matter?

-roger

I'm with Roger... I didn't think that was really a major point of contention. I loved Master and Commander, though realize it certainly isn't for everyone and, as evidenced by my review, really enjoyed Truman. But again, I can see how Weir's deliberate, slow pacing would be boring to some.

Roger and Justin,

Yes, it does matter. It strains credulity.

A grown, married, presumably heterosexual man in his 30s is going to have sexual urges. On the other hand, his "wife" is actually an actress playing a role, and it's obvious that she doesn't love Truman. The movie is entirely superficial in the way that it deals with its premise; it never addresses the ethical implications of what Christof is doing. The movie was content to offer a "god-like" character Christof and call itself an "allegory". Ugh.

(Yes, the movie had the McElhone character, but all she did was point a finger and say, "You're bad!")

Eddie

**Weir's movies put me to sleep.**

But, Eddie, as we established long ago, you have the attention span of a rabid hamster.

Well, in The Truman Show, they do mention that the couple does indeed have sex (two security guards mention that every time it happens the camera pans to a curtain blowing in the wind) although you're right to criticize it for the lack of moral implications associated to an actress practically selling herself as a prostitute for the sake of "art". Wasn't this DVD (I'm talking about Witness now) already reviewed on this site though? Maybe I'm mistaking it for a review another site. Not a big deal or anything, just wondering if my memory has already left me at my age.

Onijay,

You're right, the guards do talk about the cameras panning to the curtains, but as you wrote, we essentially have an actress whose contract is, "We are paying you to have sex with Truman." Other than being high-strung, Laura Linney doesn't seem to have problems with her job.

Eddie

The Truman Show ... "entirely superficial in the way that it deals with its premise"

I kind of thought that was the point - in fact, the superficiality seems to be the premise.

Either way, it's interesting Weir's movies get so many different responses. I'd place Witness somewhere in the middle, for me. Not my favourite, but okay ... though a bit aged now.

I've watched Master and Commander twice and was bored both times.

The Truman Show would be my favourite. To me, it's more fable than anything else and so searching for a high level of realism is a mistake.

yes, but fables are trite. there's a reason why adults don't read aesop's fables.