A Humanistic Pairing: Harrison Ford & Peter Weir (Witness and The Mosquito Coast) 

Join me as we close out our Harrison Ford Tribute (tribute?) with a look at two exceptional Ford performances (one of which is his only Oscar nomination), 1985s Witness and 1986s The Mosquito Coast.  In the first film a seemingly typical Ford character, Philadelphia Detective John Book finds himself protecting a young Amish boy (Lukas Haas) and his mother (Kelly McGillis) in an Amish community completely unfamiliar to him. What could easily be a routine and obvious storyline is allowed to find itself and evolve into more than your standard police procedural. Director Peter Weir (in his first American production after great success in Australia - Picnic at Hanging Rock and Gallipoli) delivers a gripping and emotionally powerful narrative. The following year would find Weir and Ford continuing their collaboration with The Mosquito Coast (from the novel by Paul Theroux with a screenplay from Paul Schrader). In a performance unlike anything else in his filmography, Ford portrays Allie Fox an inventor, father of four, and deeply dissapointed member of American society. Disgusted with the hypocrisy, laziness, and greed of America, Fox moves his family to the jungles of Panama in an egotistical effort to control his (and his family's) present and future. Take a listen to this solo episode. It's a fun time. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to [email protected]

 

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