Overview: Harrison Ford (The Fugitive) and Kelly McGillis (The Accused) star as would-be lovers from two different worlds in Witness, director Peter Weir’s (Picnic at Hanging Rock) Academy Award-winning neo-noir thriller which pits modernity against tradition.

When a young Amish boy inadvertently witnesses a brutal murder while en route to Philadelphia with his recently widowed mother, Rachel (McGillis), Detective John Book (Ford) is assigned to the case. With the perpetrators desperate to silence the sole witness, Book and his two wards are forced to hide out in the heart of the Amish community.

As passions between Book and Rachel ignite, the killers close in, culminating in a dramatic, life-and-death clash of cultures that will change the lives of those involved forever.

Blu-ray Verdict: Witness is one of the most sensitive and well-written crime movies I’ve ever seen. The crime itself is mundane: an Amish boy witnesses the gruesome murder of an undercover cop; Detective John Book investigates and finds out corruption inside the police; he runs for his life and hides amidst the Amish.

What is fascinating is the several contrasts between city life and country life, between the peacefulness of the Amish and the violence of Book’s world, between his loud personality and the shyness of the Amish. It’s about community. It’s also how violence can affect peoples lives; and more importantly it’s a beautiful love story.

Peter Weir is a filmmaker who seldom disappoints: I’ve enjoyed his work in The Year of Living Dangerously, Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, and Master & Commander. But for me Witness is his masterpiece. It’s built on simplicity, sharp writing, tight editing, beautiful cinematography, inspiring music, and powerful performances by the cast. Harrison Ford shows what a great actor he can be.

Kelly McGillis gave the performance of her life as an Amish widow starting a conflict with her community as she falls in love with an outsider. Danny Glover, Josef Sommer, Lukas Haas and Jan Rubes complement the cast wonderfully.

Technically speaking, this movie is excellent. The late Maurice Jarre composed one of his finest scores ever, in my humble opinion, which suits the images many times. There’s especially a sequence in which the whole community raises a barn and I’d say half the charm of it comes from the score playing. The screenplay is concise and clear, and Thom Noble’s editing doesn’t let the story stray once.

The cinematography lovingly captures the beauty and tranquility of the fields and the grandiosity of the city buildings which leave the Amish awed.

In conclusion, anyone who enjoys cinema for a good story with rounded characters interpreted by great actors can’t miss Witness, especially now that it has been released on a most glorious 4K UHD.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original lossless 2.0 stereo audio
Optional 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by film historian Jarret Gahan
Brand new video interview with cinematographer John Seale
Brand new visual essay on the film’s performances by film journalist Staci Layne Wilson
Vintage 1985 interview in which Harrison Ford discusses Witness with critic Bobbie Wygant
Between Two Worlds – five-part archival documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Peter Weir, John Seale, producer Edward S. Feldman, and actors Lukas Haas, Patti LuPone and Viggo Mortensen
A Conversation with Peter Weir – archival interview with the film’s director
Two vintage EPK featurettes
Deleted scene from the network TV version of the film
Theatrical trailer
Image gallery
Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
Limited edition 60-page perfect bound booklet illustrated by Tommy Pocket, featuring new writing on the film by Dennis Capicik, Martyn Conterio, John Harrison and Amanda Reyes
Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
Six double-sided collector’s postcards