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The producers of ``Witness'' provided a turning point in the careers of Harrison Ford and Peter Weir.
2020.12.10
A miraculous movie that made everyone involved step up.
When the film was released in the US in February 1985, Hollywood was dominated by `` Beverly Hills Cop '' (1984). The film had been a huge hit, staying at the top of the box office rankings ever since it was released in December of the previous year. ``Detective John Book'', which strangely featured a showdown between detectives, still did well, coming in second place on its debut and gaining popularity through word of mouth. In the fifth week after its release, it showed amazing chart action, overtaking ``Beverly Hills Cop'' and taking over the top spot, and remained in the top ten for several months thereafter.
This work changed the lives of most of those involved. Harrison Ford was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, proving that he not only has the ability to play a tough hero, but also has the ability to act with subtlety. He also starred in Weir's next film, `` The Mosquito Coast '' (1986), and has said that working with Weir on both films was the best experience of his career.
"Mosquito Coast" preview
The rest of the cast, other than Ford, were mostly unknowns. Kelly McGillis, who played the role of Rachel, was in the spotlight for the second time in a movie, and she will be starring opposite Tom Cruise in `` Top Gun '' (1986). Lukas Haas, who played Rachel's son Samuel who witnesses the murder at the age of 8, said his dream at the time was to become a pilot, but he continues to be an actor.
Danny Glover, who played an unscrupulous detective, also attracted attention in this film, and in ` `Lethal Weapon '' (1987), he played a good detective who partners with Mel Gibson. Viggo Mortensen, who made his first film appearance in a small role as an Amish farmer, discovered the joy of filmmaking while working on this film, and is said to have been inspired to focus his career on film.
Since this film, cinematographer Seal has shot at the Academy with `` Rain Man '' (1988), ` `The English Patient '' (1996), ` `Cold Mountain '' (2003), and `` Mad Max: Fury Road '' (15). Nominated five times for the award. He won an award for his role in ``The English Patient.'' Tom Noble, who worked with Weir on editing John Book, also won an Academy Award for Best Editing for this work.
Peter Weir initially thought of John Book as a kind of work for hire, saying, ``I thought I'd just do what the studio told me to do.'' However, this film was clearly different from regular Hollywood movies. Although it is a detective story, it is a heartbreaking love story with elegance and beauty, and more than that, it is a philosophical human drama depicting the conflict between two values.
Weir went on to create masterpieces one after another, including `` Dead Poets Society '' (1989), `` The Green Card '' (1990), `` The Truman Show '' (1998), and `` Master and Commander '' (2003). , he became one of the most popular directors in Hollywood. The producer of ``Green Card'' and ``The Truman Show'' was Edward S. Feldman, who never gave up even when he was told that ``country movies don't work.'' He retired from producing after producing ``K-19'' (2002), starring Ford, and passed away in October 2020 at the age of 91).
Reference materials
" Tell Me How You Love the Picture: A Hollywood Life "
By Edward S. Feldman and Tom Burton St. Martin's Press
"Witness" Collector's Edition DVD Bonus Footage
Written by W. Kelly and E.W. Wallace Kadokawa Bunko
“Witness” theater pamphlet
Shochiku, Tohokushinsha
DEADLINE Martin Scorsese interview article
"'Mean Streets,' 'Taxi Driver,' 'Raging Bull,' 'Goodfellas' & 'The Irishman:' Martin Scorsese Talks His Great Robert De Niro Films"
Text: Akira Murayama
Born in 1971. Writes articles for magazines, newspapers, movie sites, etc. Representative of “ShortCuts,” a review site for distribution-based works.
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