‘Suspect’: Cher Stars In This Forgotten Crime Thriller
I often find myself scouring various streamers looking for something worthwhile to watch that I haven’t previously seen. I suspect that a lot of our readers find themselves in a similar situation on the regular. Decisions are the worst. I get it. With that in mind, I am her to champion an under-seen cinematic effort that is currently free-to-stream via Tubi.
The flick I’m gearing up to speak about is the 1987 legal thriller Suspect. Cher, Dennis Quaid, and Liam Neeson topline this taut offering. Noteworthy performances from a capable cast and a smart script filled with unforeseen developments make this flick worth rediscovering. Better yet, Suspect is helmed by Peter Yates, the director of the celebrated Steve McQueen thriller Bullitt. With quality talent on both sides of the camera, you know you’re in for a good time.
This is the setup for Suspect:
The film follows Kathleen (Cher), an overworked public defender who is tasked with mounting a legal defense for Carl (Liam Neeson), an unhoused war vet accused of killing a Justice Department file clerk. As she navigates the trial, Kathleen begins to suspect that Carl may be innocent of the charges with which he is faced. Against her better judgment, Kathleen tempts fate by teaming up with Eddie (Dennis Quaid), a lobbyist tapped to serve as a juror on Carl’s case. The unlikely pair then go to work looking for answers. What they find puts both of their lives in serious jeopardy.
As I mentioned previously, this feature benefits from strong showings from a well-chosen cast of characters. However, Cher is the standout here. That should come as no surprise. She’s a national treasure, and I would expect nothing less from her. The Oscar-winning actress shows off her impressive chops here, bringing Kathleen to life as fiery and passionate. She is plenty endearing as a public defender who prioritizes justice for her client above all else.
A tenacious lead appeals to the viewer on a human level.
Early on, we learn that Kathleen has hung around the public defender’s office for the long haul because she genuinely cares about her clients and wants to make a difference. That serves to humanize her and gives us cause to invest. The decorated entertainer brings the character to life with a strong moral compass and plenty of gumption. Kathleen is not afraid to push back in service of standing up for what’s right and often gets herself in trouble by doing so.
We are introduced to Kathleen shortly before she’s mugged in stop-and-go traffic. Rather than taking it lying down, Kathleen fights back, exiting her vehicle and chasing after the perpetrators. That almost immediately helps make her relatable and establishes her as a tenacious opponent. Knowing that from the jump makes it easier to buy into her undying dedication to Carl’s case.
Liam Neeson is also at the top of his game here. In recent years, the actor has been largely relegated to action roles that don’t allow him to show off his dynamic range. Here, he is completely unrecognizable, playing an unhoused veteran who cannot hear or speak due to a war injury. Even though Neeson doesn’t have any dialogue in the film, we can see sorrow and deep despair in his eyes. He’s able to convey everything we need to know using only his mannerisms, body language, and facial expressions.
Dennis Quaid plays an archetype we’ve seen him tackle many times before, but I’m still here for it. Eddie is a good-natured playboy who breezes through life with his charm and good looks. Though it may not be a big departure from some of his other movies of similar vintage, Quaid is believable and endearing. Not to mention, he has great chemistry with his onscreen love interest, Kathleen.
A strong script keeps the audience guessing.
Characters aside, the film also benefits from a well-written screenplay that is twisty and unpredictable. Screenwriter Eric Roth gives us just enough information to justify the final twist in retrospect. The elements impacting the surprise ending seem inconsequential until all of the pieces come together in a rewarding denouement. The ending, although perhaps a bit implausible, is a fitting conclusion to this intense offering. As long as you come into the ordeal willing to suspend disbelief, you’ll have a good time with Suspect.
Roth scripts the film with plenty of action to keep the viewer on edge. The proceedings run over two hours, but you wouldn’t know it. When I settled in to rewatch Suspect for this piece, I thought it was a much shorter movie. I often have a hard time sitting through a film over 90 minutes. However, the runtime here is appropriate to the narrative, and the pace never meanders.
Even the quieter moments in Suspect are engaging. The romantic subplot between Kathleen and Eddie serves as a nice buffer between harrowing action sequences. Their dynamic isn’t overly original, but it works. She’s a no-nonsense career woman and he’s a freewheeling playboy. They’re opposites who find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. We’ve seen that setup a million times. Even though it may not be overly original, I think it does the trick. Their illicit union raises the stakes for both characters and adds to the film’s emotional core.
A forbidden love affair amplifies the tension in Suspect.
Speaking of the clandestine romance raising the stakes, the library sequence is a real nail-biter. Kathleen and Eddie find themselves trapped in a law library with the judge presiding over Carl’s case. Seeing as there is no earthly reason for the two of them to have contact outside of the courtroom, this proves to be a sticky wicket. If they are discovered, the judge will surely declare a mistrial, and they will both land in hot water. And that’s to say nothing of the potential repercussions Carl might face if the pair are found out.
Director Peter Yates takes cues from Hitchcock as he builds suspense throughout the film, but Hitchcock’s influence is particularly evident in the law library scene where Yates plays on the celebrated director’s use of silence to build tension. Yates eschews any musical accompaniment for this sequence, opting instead to allow the sound of footsteps on marble or the turning of the pages of a book to take center stage. The cadence of the background noise almost resembles a ticking time bomb as the audience watches in a state of suspense, fearing Eddie and Kathleen will be discovered. Even though I’ve seen the film several times, I still grab hold of the arms of my chair every time I pay it a repeat visit.
So, there you have it. Suspect is an above-average legal thriller with a top-notch cast of characters who deliver strong performances. The pacing is effective, the screenplay is smart, and the tension is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. If you’re eager to check Suspect out, make your way over to Tubi and see what you think!
Categorized:Editorials
