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From: leeper@ahutb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: WITNESS (spoiler)
Message-ID: <634@ahutb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 14:09:52 EST
Article-I.D.: ahutb.634
Posted: Fri Apr  5 14:09:52 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 10:19:58 EST
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                            Comments on WITNESS
                      A film review by Mark R. Leeper

     This is not a review; it is only some comment on WITNESS.  While I
liked the film mildly overall, most of the positive things I would say about
the film have been said before.  What I do not remember anyone mentioning
about the film is its essential hypocrisy.  The basic story here is how a
big city policeman becomes a part of an Amish community and learns to see
them as more than just people in funny hats.

     This story has been slapped together with the umpteenth re-telling of
the police corruption plot.  You know, "Policeman uncovers corruption in
department; tells other policeman he trusts; trust is betrayed; crusading
policeman becomes fugitive from his own buddies." You saw it in BLUE
THUNDER, in SHARKEY'S MACHINE, in BULLITT.  It's been done to death.  The
two seem brought together so that a film that shows the gentle ways of a
modest people will have sufficient violence and nudity to attract an
audience.

     I find it easy to believe that Australian aborigines would actually
approve of a previous Peter Weir film, THE LAST WAVE.  Weir seemed to have
some sympathy for the aborigine in that film.  There is little such sympathy
evident in this film.  I think an Amish person told about this film would be
revolted by the violence.  The scenes of an Amish woman bare-breasted,
trying to seduce Harrison Ford seem very out of keeping with the woman's
character.

     So while I give this film a modest thumbs up, I cannot help but be
disappointed at how this film panders to a thrill-loving audience.

					Mark R. Leeper
					...ihnp4!ahuta!ahutb!leeper