As courtroom dramas go, Suspect (1987) has plenty to commend it--not least the genuine, mounting suspense, well-drawn characters who really make you care about the outcome, great use of Washington locations and excellent performances. As Kathleen Riley, the public defender with the thankless task of helping a homeless mute Vietnam veteran to face a particularly nasty murder charge, Cher provides a complex character study: loneliness, danger, long hours in a gruelling profession and patronising judges have so far failed to snuff out her basic ideals. She is well-matched by Dennis Quaid's charming rogue lobbyist Eddie Sanger who compromises her professional integrity from the juror's bench but ultimately proves an invaluable ally, and Liam Neeson who evokes real pathos as the accused man. Frazier fans should note an altogether darker side of John Mahoney, who plays the psychiatrist's father in the sitcom, in his performance as the presiding judge. With its literate script, Suspect is a high quality film which comprises multiple layers of plot and character. Like all really good mysteries, it stands repeated viewing.
On the DVD: Alongside the usual filmographies for the main actors and director Peter Yates, and trailers for other Columbia Tristar releases, this DVD has an extremely useful and incisive Director's Commentary. No intrusive self-indulgent pondering here: Yates talks gently and lucidly about all the key elements of filmmaking. He speaks with real respect and affection about his actors. Most interesting of all, he has some salient points to make about the way films are processed for DVD and video release, like lightening them so that suspense scenes in which darkness plays a key part are diluted. This widescreen version with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is presented in its original letterbox format, making each viewing an authentic cinematic experience. --Piers Ford
Movie Database
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