'Witness' review: War photographers focus
Crosses mark a field where many murdered women were dumped in Ciudad Juarez during the 1990's. The murder rate among women is still very high in Juarez. Juarez has become one of the deadliest cities in Mexico as violence between competing drug mafias, street gangs, police and the Mexican army have turned the city into a virtual free-fire zone. Mexico has suffered over 10,000 drug mafia related murders since 2007. Credit: HBO
As viewers, you're pretty much left on your own to seek answers, though there are plenty of instances that beg for context, understanding and deeper meaning. Mann wants to approach his subject much as they approach theirs -- as silent witnesses looking for a shot that will instantly capture the essential truth of a conflict. But what works for them doesn't necessarily work for him. Of the three, only Hoagland -- who in a very real sense is carrying on his father's work -- is compulsively introspective.
Also, what's best about "Witness" sometimes turns out to be what's weakest. It effortlessly, often evocatively, captures a you-are-there feel, as you peer right over the shoulders of the subjects in their relentless quest for the perfect shot. But they also often arrive long after the event, and what they capture is static -- or sometimes just plain dull. Perhaps the essential truth of this craft: Besides courage, a great deal of time and work goes into getting that one perfect shot.
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