Suspect (1987)

Fresh and Exciting

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Public defender Riley (Cher) is given an apparently hopeless case just before Christmas and some much needed holidays. Her homeless client Carl Anderson (Liam Neeson in a great performance) is a deaf-dumb veteran, on trial for murdering a young woman and stealing her purse, containing 9 dollars. Carl claims to be innocent and being a conscientious lawyer, Riley investigates the case, to discover that there might be a lot more to it.Enter cocky Eddie (Quaid), a lobbyist forced to take jury duty. Eddie starts helping Riley, even if this could get her disbarred, since members of the jury must not have contacts with the lawyers. The fourth main character of the story is Judge Helm (Mahoney), a sourpuss judge who seems very edgy about the case, and very much disliking Riley.The story is multi-layered: we get to take a look at the homeless and their daily struggle to survive in opulent Washington; we get Riley and Carl's relationship, a mix of pity and anger; we also have Riley and Judge Helm subtle conflict and finally a mild romance between Riley and Eddie. This does not take too much screen time, but it is nicely suggested.Cher proves she can act. Everything is perfect about her character, from her wardrobe of comfortable clothes and outfits casually put together for the courtroom, rather than classic suits, to the weariness of her behavior. Quaid is also good as the cad with a conscience. Neeson is menacing, disgusting and pitiful as the veteran. A trio of actors in great form and a solid courtroom drama with some action. I am surprised this movie did not get more recognition.

You know, I watched this film for the first time since I saw it in the theater years ago, and I must say that in today's cinematic atmosphere, this is a very underrated and enthralling film. I find today's movies to be so "dumbed down" to accommodate the full spectrum of moviegoers (the debt, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as SOME exceptions), and this thriller manages to combine a few genres (mystery, courtroom, thriller, drama, suspense) into one package.Cher stars as a lawyer, badly in need of a vacation, who gets appointed a murder case in which a deaf and mute suspect (Played by the ever-ready Liam Neeson) seems to have perpetrated the crime. As she delves into the case, and into to case precedent, she begins to unravel a mystery that goes much higher than a homeless deaf mute.A fresh faced Dennis Quaid is a juror who is intrigued by puzzle pieces that don't seem to fit and begins his own look at the case, culminating in a heart pounding climax that'll leave you panting and wishing there was another hour to go! Definitely worth a look - even with Cher, whom I had dismissed as a one hit movie wonder. She actually pulls this movie off.And watch for Frasiers dad, John Mahoney, as a judge here - don't worry, you won't miss him.Give it a look!!

Cher and her role are what are special about "Suspect." She is not only a convincing lawyer, but a convincing person. But of course, she might have been more, much more, if she wasn't so surrounded with such pat arrangements in plot, tone, and characterization. The Quaid relationship should not have caved in to "romance," the judge should not have been a suspect, the prosecutor should not be so boiler plate, and so forth. In short, the whole project would benefit from more thought and seriousness, which would have also provided the real suspense, so lacking here. (what there is so strains credibility as to make it non-existent---you know, TV movie land)

Before watching this movie I had some serious doubts about it. Not only is this a courtroom drama (and as you know the streets of Hollywood seem to be paved with this kind of scripts), it also featured Cher as one of the main actresses. I'm not really a fan of her as a singer, but seeing her as a good actress is even a lot harder. As you know, almost all pop diva's, young or old, seem to have that urge to appear in one or two movies and that almost always results in complete disasters. So why would Cher be any different...? When a judge commits suicide and his secretary is found murdered in a river, a homeless and deaf-mute man, named Carl Anderson, is arrested for her murder, because all indirect evidence points to him. Because he can't afford a lawyer, public defender Kathleen Riley is assigned by the court as his lawyer. Even though she doesn't always believes in his innocence, she still goes after the real killer. She gets help from the congressional adviser Eddie Sanger, who is called to be on the jury panel and together they find some important evidence that the murder has something to do with corruption in some high ranks...I must admit that Cher has done a better job than I ever expected from her. She actually was very convincing and interesting to watch as the public defender. Together with Liam Neeson she makes this movie work. Their nice performances and their difficult professional relationship in this movie are actually the best thing this movie has to offer. The story on itself certainly isn't that bad, but the plot is a bit far-fetched and gives this movie an ending that is a bit too abrupt.In the end this is a reasonably well-done courtroom drama / thriller that lacks the required tension to be fully satisfying, but which offers some nice acting and some good direction. It's not the best movie in the genre, but it is enjoyable enough to be worth a watch. I give it a 6.5/10.