Nerdkiller
Membeur
"When the Amish wanted to build a barn, did they do it themselves? No. Kelly McGillis took a sexy sponge bath and she got Harrison Ford to pitch in."
"The Amish really know how to bathe."
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Can we talk about Witness? - a 1985 film starring Harrison Ford and Viggo Mortensen
- Thread starter Strax
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"When the Amish wanted to build a barn, did they do it themselves? No. Kelly McGillis took a sexy sponge bath and she got Harrison Ford to pitch in."
"The Amish really know how to bathe."
Witness was a good movie. Why didn't you and your friends like it exactly? It is generally well received and tends to be listed in his "better movies" (top 10 or top 20 Ford movies or whatever...rather than worst 10)
you want to talk about a bad Ford movie we should be talking about Six Days Seven Nights or something
you want to talk about a bad Ford movie we should be talking about Six Days Seven Nights or something
TheJollyCorner
Member
Tremendous thread backfire that would make even an Amish man chuckle. Bravo! 
Tremendous thread backfire that would make even an Amish man chuckle. Bravo!
How did it backfire?
I wasn't expecting everbody to hate it because some people will love anything but I wanted them to try to justify their love for this movie.
Third post gets it right.
TheJollyCorner
Member
Mosquito Coast is great and is my favorite Harrison Ford performance of all time.
Witness is also great. I do not like the OP or his/her friends.
AgentChris
Member
Frantic is one of my favorite Harrison Ford movies that always gets overlooked.
radios shipping overview
Member
ViewtifulJC
Banned
the fuck
Witness is a good movie, lol
Witness is a good movie, lol
Extra Sauce
Member
I love the smell of thread backfire in the morning.
Peter Weir is a great director but I'm not giving Witness a pass because the director has made great movies.
I just watched on TV with 4 of my friends, never heard of it before, and we couldn't stop laughing and no weed was involved.
Time for milking
You might think this was a comedy but no, its presented as a thriller
People are mean?
The consensus was that this movie was the low point of Fords career and might ruined his career. So we looked it up and saw it got 8 oscar noms and won 2, 1 of which was for best original screenplay. I've never been so shocked in terms of anything about movies.
People in 1985 must've been high all day, everyday. This is a teeeeeerrible movie.
What does GAF say about this drivel?
I don't understand this post. The clips you linked are a bit dated sure, but they're not in any way terrible. The milking one is clearly meant to be comedic.
Sounds like you and your friends weren't in the mood for that type of movie and so weren't taking it seriously.
The Witness was a very good movie, a solid thriller with great performances, especially by Harrison Ford.
I think your example is more of a case for people's current taste in movies gone to shit, after watching non-stop blockbuster crap rammed down their throat.
People in the 80s maybe didn't have much better taste, but at least they had a wide variety of quality films in different genres they could appreciate.
The Witness could never be made today, not enough explosions or superheroes.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
It's a good movie. They build a barn, what more do you want?
CrichtonKicks
Member
Witness was huge for Ford's career. It was the first successful movie he starred in that wasn't Indy/Star Wars.
Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
Wag
Member
It's definitely a sort of Peter Weir hybrid from his more mainstream fare and the weird-ass stuff he did in his youth. Which works, I think, given the setting.
It's not a bad movie to me at all. Haven't seen it in a while, though, so thanks OP for reminding me to rewatch.
You don't need to take it so personally, especially if you're just going to start a thread and then shit on people who have a different opinion than the one you wanted.
It's not a bad movie to me at all. Haven't seen it in a while, though, so thanks OP for reminding me to rewatch.
Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
You don't need to take it so personally, especially if you're just going to start a thread and then shit on people who have a different opinion than the one you wanted.
Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
Then you should know better. Makes it worse that you are supposedly knowledgeable.
TheJollyCorner
Member
Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
You absolutely have a right to your opinion, Strax, but holy hell... you're going all in here.
I'm not taking anything personally but that was a shitty post I was answering. He basically said that if I don't like Witness I must young and therefore I have a terrible taste in movies. That makes no sense. I wasn't expecting everybody to agree with me but I expected a discussion. I made my points about why I didn't like it and I've got a reply thats tell me to go to hell. From the posts in this thread you'd think this movie was mostly about building a barn.
Yes. It was basically, "Ford can act as a real actor".
And the film was a huge success.
Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
I am shocked that you as an experienced filmmaker who has seen all the classics have somehow missed this movie to the extent that you didn't even have a clue to what it is.
Just accept that this movie is well received, and that the majority of people like it. Heck, even your colleagues from the Academy found it worthy.
Not everyone can have the same taste...And that is OK. But maybe next time you decide to make a thread to crap on a 30 year old movie, maybe pick one that really is bad. Breakin 2 Electric Boogaloo is always available.
IISANDERII
Member
It doesn't seem like you're functioning all that well since you believe Viggo Mortensen is one of the stars in this film. He's an extra in this, only appearing in the background.Get off your high horse. This isn't me being a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. I'm a 27 year old filmmaker and have seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of my top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies.
Witness is cliché fish out water story that goes back and forth between being a rejected Lethal Weapon script and a long Monty Python sketch and never finds a tone that works.. This should've been a Tom Hanks comedy.
I think its also the fact you call yourself a knowledgeable film maker who has seen it all but seem rather ignorant on multi Oscar nominated movie starring a major Hollywood star it doesn't really put you in the best light.
Have you re-read your OP? Does that look remotely like a serious or mature critique take on this film?
That is such an odd OP. It's a fine but not a great film. Saw it in school when I was 15 and I remember some people found it awkward and funny.
Peter Weir makes good films. For more laughs, checkout The Year of Living Dangerously, Picnic at the Hanging Rock and Gallipoli (I haven't seen his next collab with Ford, Mosquito Coast).
Peter Weir makes good films. For more laughs, checkout The Year of Living Dangerously, Picnic at the Hanging Rock and Gallipoli (I haven't seen his next collab with Ford, Mosquito Coast).
snoopeasystreet
Member
Dudes, the OP isn't a 20 year old shithead from LA that can't function without the MCU. He's a 27 year old filmmaker and has seen all the classics, both from US and the rest of the world. 7 of his top 10 fav. movies are pre-1980 and include thrillers, courtroom dramas, animated films, sci-fi and war movies. You're all wrong, Witness is obviously a shite film.
Mosquito Coast was a low point.
Jesus fuck, the poster...
What do you think the % of people that are now 17 will have watched Sense and Sensibility in the next 10 years?
The Oscars are not the only metric for a good movie.
Context is important. If someone claims something about me that is wrong I will correct it if I can/want. I never said it made me right.
neoism
Member
fuck that this movie was hilarious....
Red Blaster
Member
yep
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Corniest death in film
Live Free or Die
Banned
umm..it was the best movie of the year. nothing else. even came close to it. excellent movie.
deadscreensky
Member
This is a really fun thread.
Fuck Truman Show. He made Picnic at Hanging Rock.Nothing else he's done comes close.
TheJollyCorner
Member
I just feel like labeling this film as a 'cliche fish out of water' story is a pretty ridiculously simple way to justify a low opinion of it.
When I think of cliche, fish out of water stories (especially from the '80s), I think of the sea of flicks about father/son or mother/daughter swap movies. I think of the 'cop that looks young goes back to school to find a killer' movies. They are easily digestible fast-food movies that have a cute little catch to them. Witness actually has quite a lot going on with it and manages to be a hybrid of multiple genres within it.
What you have to realize about Witness is, sure, at its base it's a movie about a police officer who finds himself in a community that he's not familiar with (and yes, it's been done before. The 1973 Robin Hardy version of The Wicker Man is a great example). Yes, there is a basic murder thriller at the core... but these are not the most important aspects of the film.
The reason this particular 'fish out of water' story was so unique for the time (and still is, IMO) is due very much to the extremely private and insular nature of the North American Amish community. Having traveled through Amana, Iowa many times, I've come in contact with the Amish quite a lot. The few times they've been in movies (even wacky comedies like Kingpin), what you see is pretty much what you get.
It's a tough life, but remarkably inspiring in many ways. It actually amazes me that these communities not only still exist in the United States, but strive.
That said, how many times do you just stop and think about the Amish? Have you ever met anyone from the Amish community in real life? Have you ever had any interest to just see if you could do what they do for a week?
There's no shame in truthfully answering "no" to any or all of those questions. I'd suspect a great deal of people would have the same responses.
If this movie did anything (other than show Kelly McGillis' taataas), it at least got some people who went and saw it to consider the Amish lifestyle for even just a few hours out of their day.
Back to the movie:
The idea of a child witnessing something so terrible on its own is a disturbing concept. An Amish child, being one that is kept so secluded from modern society, being part of this not only changes one person, but an entire community. For me, it's a fascinating idea that just happens to be the foundation of yet another major character evolution in the story - an Amish woman falling in love with her son's protector, who happens to be from that society she's spent her entire life being taught to avoid. Again, seems like an easy concept... until you really put yourself in the headspace of years/decades of Amish teaching.
So it's fine to dislike this film, but trying to break it down to such a simple level is really a great disservice to the overall concepts at work within it. I think that's the problem most in this thread are likely having with your aggressive opinion on it, Strax.
When I think of cliche, fish out of water stories (especially from the '80s), I think of the sea of flicks about father/son or mother/daughter swap movies. I think of the 'cop that looks young goes back to school to find a killer' movies. They are easily digestible fast-food movies that have a cute little catch to them. Witness actually has quite a lot going on with it and manages to be a hybrid of multiple genres within it.
What you have to realize about Witness is, sure, at its base it's a movie about a police officer who finds himself in a community that he's not familiar with (and yes, it's been done before. The 1973 Robin Hardy version of The Wicker Man is a great example). Yes, there is a basic murder thriller at the core... but these are not the most important aspects of the film.
The reason this particular 'fish out of water' story was so unique for the time (and still is, IMO) is due very much to the extremely private and insular nature of the North American Amish community. Having traveled through Amana, Iowa many times, I've come in contact with the Amish quite a lot. The few times they've been in movies (even wacky comedies like Kingpin), what you see is pretty much what you get.
It's a tough life, but remarkably inspiring in many ways. It actually amazes me that these communities not only still exist in the United States, but strive.
That said, how many times do you just stop and think about the Amish? Have you ever met anyone from the Amish community in real life? Have you ever had any interest to just see if you could do what they do for a week?
There's no shame in truthfully answering "no" to any or all of those questions. I'd suspect a great deal of people would have the same responses.
If this movie did anything (other than show Kelly McGillis' taataas), it at least got some people who went and saw it to consider the Amish lifestyle for even just a few hours out of their day.
Back to the movie:
The idea of a child witnessing something so terrible on its own is a disturbing concept. An Amish child, being one that is kept so secluded from modern society, being part of this not only changes one person, but an entire community. For me, it's a fascinating idea that just happens to be the foundation of yet another major character evolution in the story - an Amish woman falling in love with her son's protector, who happens to be from that society she's spent her entire life being taught to avoid. Again, seems like an easy concept... until you really put yourself in the headspace of years/decades of Amish teaching.
So it's fine to dislike this film, but trying to break it down to such a simple level is really a great disservice to the overall concepts at work within it. I think that's the problem most in this thread are likely having with your aggressive opinion on it, Strax.
Oppo
Member
alright maybe I'll give it another shot. I watched it when I was really young. remember the character being pretty annoying. but that's probably intentional in retrospect.
Ebert didn't like it much though.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Kinda partial to Master and Commander myself, and The Way Back is one of my guilty pleasures as well, but yeah Picnic is the one you don't forget.
TheJollyCorner
Member
Sad we didn't get any more movies in the Aubrey-Maturin (Master and Commander) series. I really liked Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany as those characters.
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