Witness
Dynamic characters promise to take a story's audience on a journey. The key issue to understand is that it is because characters in stories act out to resolution and fulfilment issues of human need that they engage the attention of an audience. Conflict with the plot, love/hate relationships, common human attributes clenched into a character which accounts for its distinguishing trait. Peter Weir’s Witness offers us with a range of distinctive characters but John Book’s character was quite intriguing. “JOHN BOOK, who comes striding through to be momentarily lost in the crowd of police, reporters. He is about 40, with a rangy, athletic body.” (Wallace and Kelley, p. 13) Book’s character is perfectly personalized for Harrison Ford who did complete justice to his character. Environmental factors and his social interaction with his family and colleagues have shaped his character; a spirit of isolation one might concur. Book’s conflict with the department, his isolation as a protagonist subjected an interest in his character.
John Book appearance in signified by up-close camera shot and middle shot where John is seen dominating the screen. His dominance accounts for his character being a protagonist and a subject of constant change through the plot. Book’s costuming change through the course of plot: from blue suit which portrayed duty and elegance, to Amish clothes without buttons; an exhibit of plain, simple and down to earth nature of a person. Peter Weir utilized blue colour in particular to elaborate the purity, harmony and faithfulness of the character. John is a hot-head, getting angry, cursing at times and being brutal to achieve results are his expertise. Weir subjected John to a community where this behaviour was intolerant; one might expect a change due to surroundings but what is examined that John has a nature build, to stand for justice and protect the weak strengthened along the course of his detective career.
Book’s character