Witness

From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Harrison Ford was easily the biggest box-office draw. (With the original Star Wars trilogy and the first three Indiana Jones movies being released within that time frame, it's easy to see why.) But his fare of that time was strictly of the blockbuster variety.

In 1985, he starred in Peter Weir's Witness. It was proof  that Ford was capable of more than just Han Solo and Indiana Jones. (Further proven by him getting an Oscar nomination as a result.) He may be known for his various action movies but Witness proved he could act.

But what else is there to Witness than Ford's performance? As the title implies, it's a film of a criminal nature. But it's also a fish out of water story, admittedly the kind that could collapse if in the wrong hands. However in Weir's hands, he makes it work.

Witness also makes for a good examination of how people live. Being primarily set within an Amish community, it depicts how far from the world of electronics and menial attitudes toward life it is. Seeing those of a more pious nature retains a sense of restored faith (so to speak).

Long story short, Witness is thoroughly solid from beginning to end. However there is one element of the story that feels off-putting, especially considering the details established early on in the film. (Hollywood nonsense strikes again!) Still, what Weir does with the film's other elements makes up for it a considerable amount (but just barely).

My Rating: ****1/2

Dead Poets Society

Robin Williams' sudden death last August left an unspeakable loss throughout the entertainment industry. He wasn't just a comedian. He was an actor, a performer, an entertainer. He was one of a kind.

His work in Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society is one of several examples that proved Williams' abilities as an actor. (Other examples include Good Will Hunting and One Hour Photo.) Here, he provides a performance that's honest and down-to-earth. (The latter is certainly not something you can easily apply to some of Williams' other roles.)

Admittedly there are some elements in Dead Poets Society that are now a bit hard to watch, particularly if you know how Williams met his fate. That said, however, there are other elements of the film that are all the more poignant because of Williams' passing. Very rarely does the latter happen.

But Dead Poets Society isn't just Williams' show. There are a number of young actors amongst the cast. (Some of the actors include the likes of Robert Sean Leonard and Josh Charles long before their big breaks on television and a baby-faced Ethan Hawke.) They're all great in their roles.

Dead Poets Society works most of the time but not all of the time. Thanks to the work from Williams and the young actors, the film could easily be an influence for those who watch it. Carpe diem, after all.

My Rating: ****1/2

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

When a movie does poorly at the box office, there are a few good explanations for why it did. It was released at the wrong time, it didn't get enough word of mouth or it just wasn't good. In the case of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, it was probably the second one.

The year is 1805. Europe has fallen to Napoleon, and only the Royal Navy stands in his way to total victory. Off the coast of South America, a new conflict is brewing. Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) of the HMS Surprise is under orders to sink or capture the French privateer Acheron, which has been deployed to the region. After seven weeks of uneventful sailing, the Acheron strikes first, all but crippling the Surprise in an engagement in which Aubrey realizes his enemy's ship is nautically superior to his own. Along with his close friend and confidant Stephan Maturin (Paul Bettany) who also happens to be the ship's surgeon, Aubrey is now faced with the choice of retreating to England and admitting defeat or remaining at the Acheron's mercy. Aubrey must now do the impossible if he is to survive, repair his ship, catch up to his enemy and defeat the Acheron -- somehow.

This is one of those movies where I wondered why it didn't do so well commercially. It's actually really good. The cinematography is stunning, the acting is really good and the action is awesome. The direction of Peter Weir, whose previous works include Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show and Witness, is excellent. Is this one to miss? Nope.

My Rating: ****1/2

The Truman Show

I really like Jim Carrey's work as an actor, but I like his serious work more. You know, movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show, stuff like that.

Truman Burbank (Carrey) has a charmed life, a happy marriage to Meryl (Laura Linney) and good friends. What he doesn't know is that it's all set up; his life is actually a TV show created by Christof (Ed Harris). But Truman begins to suspect his life isn't what it seems...

If you read the plot on paper, you would've thought it was the formula for a box office bomb. But thanks to Carrey's performance, Peter Weir's direction and Andrew Niccol's screenplay, it proved to be a box office success. Carrey's Oscar snub shows how unattentive AMPAS can really be.

My Rating: ****1/2