Suspect
No Matter The Cost, No Matter The Danger. They Will Find The Truth.
A Supreme Court Justice Takes his own life.
A woman is found dead - the victim of a grisly murder.
A homeless Vietnam vet stands accused.
Kathleen Riley (Cher) is an overworked Washington D.C. public defender who needs a vacation. Instead, she is assigned another case. But this is no ordinary crime, with no ordinary criminal.
Lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Dennis Quaid) gets saddled with jury duty just when a critical bill is coming up for vote. While on jury duty, Eddie discovers evidence critical to Kathleen's case and contacts her outside the courtroom... a violation of the law.
Bizarre evidence leads Kathleen on a dangerous trail from Washington's seamy underbelly to the highest levels of government. And the closer she gets to the answer, the more her life is in danger.
Cher and Dennis Quaid take the law into their own hands in the daring suspense thriller where everything is revealed in court... except the truth.
Member Reviews
Good For Its Time - c4th
Suspect attempted to separate itself from cookie cutter courtroom dramas of the time by injecting a social comment. It took a look at society’s dispassionate view of the homeless and revealed how this intolerance prevails in the North American justice systems. It is by no means a hard hitting expose. It did not delve into the issue but it was still represented in a big way and in 1987, even that was a refreshing thing to see in a movie produced primarily for entertainment.
Cher already had three successful movies under her belt and was now a good box office draw. Silkwood and Mask raised awareness of important concerns so it was not surprising to see her chosen for the starring role in a movie reminding us of one of society’s great regrets. Liam Neeson co-stars as the accused and Dennis Quaid as a zealous juror and love interest.
Watching this movie today, I found myself disappointed that the relationship between a young public defender (Cher) and a deaf mute homeless Vietnam veteran (Liam Neeson) was not more thoroughly explored. Two characters desperately wanting to be heard find themselves stuck with each other – together yet ironically isolated. One, a mute penning up anger and feelings of hopelessness is incapable of expressing his emotions through speech. By contast, the other, a young lawyer, vents her frustrations and insecurities in dialogue to a character incapable of hearing her words. The focus on these dramatic exchanges is gradually dropped and shifts to suspense fuelled by suspicions of conspiracy and impropriety.
Despite some shortcomings, Suspect is still a very entertaining courtroom mystery that ranks high among others of its time and genre. Tense moments in which our two protagonists are at risk of discovery or harm provide much of the suspense. An eleventh hour twist arrives with very little foreshadowing and is exposed in dramatic and satisfying style to conclude the movie. Mystery buffs enjoy.suspect is a miss trial - movie_goer
This is a Cher movie i'd like to forget was ever filmed. I'm a huge Law and Order fan, but this movie is extended hours more then needed to defend the case that Chers client (homeless Niel Neesom) who's also deaf was simply accused wrongfully. Just when i'm about to give up in this movie the end has a shocking twist the judge was behind the whole thing. fine i got that, but what i don't get was Dennis Quaids character trying to gain votes (for what?).As a jurier your never supose to talk to the lawyer because it can lead into a miss trial, so why please tell me what the heck was going through his head when he desided to solve the case? thats chers job. leave it to the professionals!Even if their character is slow minded, and in need of a vacation.Law & Order: The Movie - Filmgal
Suspect plays out like an extended episode of Law & Order which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Cher is Kathleen, and attorney hired to defend Carl (Liam Neeson), a homeless and mute Vietnam War vet who is accused of killing a young woman who has political connections. Eddie (Dennis Quiad) is a member of the jury who does his own investigating to seek out the truth to the murder. Kathleen soon discovers the truth and finds herself in trouble, but will she have enough time to save both herself and bright the truth to light?
Neeson gives an emotional performance, even though he does not utter a single word.
Suspect is a mix of politics and mystery. It's not a great movie, but it's not a bad one either. If you like Law & Order or courtroom dramas, then Suspect is for you.
Member Reviews
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Good For Its Time - c4th
Suspect attempted to separate itself from cookie cutter courtroom dramas of the time by injecting a social comment. It took a look at society’s dispassionate view of the homeless and revealed how this intolerance prevails in the North American justice systems. ...suspect is a miss trial - movie_goer
This is a Cher movie i'd like to forget was ever filmed. I'm a huge Law and Order fan, but this movie is extended hours more then needed to defend the case that Chers client (homeless Niel Neesom) who's also deaf was simply accused wrongfully. Just when i'm ...Law & Order: The Movie - Filmgal
Suspect plays out like an extended episode of Law & Order which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Cher is Kathleen, and attorney hired to defend Carl (Liam Neeson), a homeless and mute Vietnam War vet who is accused of killing a young woman who has political ...