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CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

adrian-43767 Hitchcock was a class apart, but many seem to believe that they can imitate him. Director Anthony Waller appears to have tried and, like Brian de Palma and other less famous names, fails, because he lacks the touch, the humor, that insubstantial quality that comes with genius. And a pity it is, because the idea is not bad: set in Moscow, a mute "American" girl (beautiful Martina Zudina is actually a Moscow-born Russian, so she was conveniently rendered mute so her accent would not give her away) working as a film production assistant witnesses a "snuff" crime committed in a studio lot, and she is chased for the rest of the film. The premise of film within a film is situated from the outset, with all manner of fake action happening with far too many props, and far too much fantasy for my liking. On positive aspect about the mute witness: there is far less shrieking than tends to be the case with movies of this type. The acting is generally appalling, with Evan Richards as the clumsiest geek you'll see. The Russian ensemble looks generally menacing... and yet less than convincing. Photography is competent enough, even if some stunts and action sequences require a vast amount of suspended belief, especially during the second half of the movie. Screenplay: reasonably gripping during the first half.The really interesting detail about this film is the Mystery Guest Star. In his memoirs entitled "MY NAME ESCAPES ME," Alec Guinness explains that he was approached by Anthony Waller to film a few scenes in the back of a car, and agreed to do so because he (Guinness) thought that it was a student film. Guinness also says that he was never offered, and never received any pay for his part, and in the above mentioned memoirs he makes it clear that he will not fall for a stunt like that again.So, the finest moment in the film was obtained under false pretenses, and that pretty much defines the entire project: as fake as the fake blood that pours throughout the film. I am giving this mediocrity a very generous 6 /10 because of Guinness, one of the finest actors ever to grace the silver screen.

Paul Magne Haakonsen I had never heard about this movie prior to finding it by sheer random luck during a visit to the local secondhand DVD store, and at less than $2, it was an affordable chance to buy it.And having seen the movie already, I must admit that I sat there with a lacking sense of entertainment. The story in "Mute Witness" just wasn't particularly interesting or captivating. But giving the story the benefit of the doubt I stuck with it to the very end. But the story just never turned the interesting corner.The acting in the movie was actually okay, but the actors and actresses had very little to work with in terms of storyline and direction.I was surprised to see Alec Guineness making a short appearance in a movie of this type. Sure, his mere presence added something to the movie, but it just wasn't nowhere near enough to do anything to this train wreck of a movie."Mute Witness" just isn't really worth the time or effort.

Claudio Carvalho In Moscow, the clumsy director Andy Clarke (Evan Richards) is making a slasher movie in a studio set with Russian and American cast and crew. The responsible for the makeup is the mute Billy Hughes (Marina Sudina), who is the sister of Andy's girlfriend Karen Hughes (Fay Ripley).One day, Billy needs to find a mask for the shot on the next day and she stays after hours in the studio set seeking out the object. However, the janitor locks her in the studio alone and Billy cannot find a way out.When Billy sees light in the studio, she accidentally witnesses the Russians Arkadi (Igor Volkov) and Lyosha (Sergej Karlenkov) making a porn snuff movie and brutally killing a woman. Billy succeeds to escape, but the police officers do not trust on her. Further, the powerful Russian mafia chases her believing that Billy has a diskette with evidences against the mobsters.I saw "Mute Witness" eighteen years ago and I loved this film. Yesterday I saw it again, now on DVD, and it still is a great film that combines thriller and horror with black humor in a plot with many twists. The director Anthony Waller masterly raises tension and relieves with black humor, startling the viewer and then making him or her laugh. Unfortunately the conclusion is a little disappointing but it is worthwhile watching this wonderful little film. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Testemunha Muda" ("Mute Witness")

shornby-1 If you enjoy suspense this movie has it. The fact that Marina Zudina portrays a mute adds to her haplessness and increases the suspense. Alec Guiness's appearance was nice, but didn't really add to the movie. I'm not sure if Evan Richard's part as Andy Clarke was an attempt to add a little humor or if he was supposed to just be a bumbling idiot. I thought the cinematography was excellent. This added not just to the quality of the production but to the suspense as well. The bathtub seen with the water droplets in slow motion was wonderful. Also the scene where the knife comes down and then it switches to Andy Clarke cutting an extremely rare piece of meat was very well done. I would call it overall good entertainment