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Cher, Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, John Mahoney, Joe Mantegna ... see more see more... , Philip Bosco , E. Katherine Kerr , Fred Melamed , Michael Beach , Thomas Barbour , Prudence Barry , Lisbeth Bartlett , Bill Cobbs , Ralph Cosham , Tony Craig , Paul D'Amato , Richard Gant , Sam Gray , Paul Hjelmervik , Rosemary Knower , Gene Mack , Bernie McInerney , Greg McKinney , Katie O'Hare , Sandi Ross , Aaron Schwartz , Fred Strother , Myra Taylor , Wendy E. Taylor , Robert Walsh , Jim Walton , Billy Williams , Carl Jackson , Edwin M. Adams , Sandra Bowie , R.C. Coleman , Siona Dixon , Michael Emmett , Stefan Graham , Jack Jessop , David Lyle , Darryl Palmer , Djanet Sears , Jaye Tyrone Stewart , Diane Marie L Tomajczyk , Lloyd White , Ewart Everard Williams , Paul dela Rosa

British filmmaker Peter Yates directs Suspect, a suspenseful courtroom drama set in Washington, D.C. After a Supreme Court justice commits suicide and a Justice Department secretary is found dead, a d... read more read more...eaf-mute homeless veteran, Carl Wayne Anderson (Liam Neeson), is the suspected killer. Lonely yet dedicated public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to the case to represent Anderson. Suave lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Dennis Quaid) is on the jury, but he starts his own investigation by finding clues that prove Anderson's innocence. He shares his information with Kathleen, even though they could get arrested for talking about the case. Eventually, they develop a romance and reveal a conspiracy that leads to a twist ending. The mysterious conclusion involves a final courtroom scene presided over by Judge Matthew Helms (played by character actor John Mahoney, who would go on to co-star on the sitcom Frasier). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

56% liked it

6,485 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

16 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Peter Yates

Release Date: October 23, 1987

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DVD Release Date: May 8, 2001

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Stats: 193 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (193)

  • bbcfloridabound
    March 20, 2012
    bbcfloridabound
    Ahh a film from 1987 when Cher was looking go without any Nip and Tuck, and gas was 87 cents a gallon, sign seen in background. Funny and hard to imagine a time without cell phones where if you wanted to make a call you had to use a pay phone. Early in Liam Neeson career to see h... read moreim as a homeless deaf and dumb person who is accused of murder and Cher is his public defender. Dennis Quaid is on the jury but also providing Cher with information to help her case. A very enjoyable film one I missed when it was on the big screen, worth the sit-down, 4 Stars 3-20-12
  • ajv2688
    January 29, 2011
    ajv2688
    I saw this on TV some time ago, I barely remember it, but I remember that it was a good courtroom drama and thriller, with a good cast. It's good.
  • LWOODS04
    January 19, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Cher, Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, John Mahoney, Joe Mantegna, Fred Melamed, Philip Bosco, Michael Beach, Bill Cobbs

    Director: Peter Yates

    Summary: When a Supreme Court judge commits suicide and his secretary is found murdered, all fingers point to Carl Anderson (Liam... read more Neeson), a homeless veteran who's deaf and mute. But when public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to his case, she begins to believe that Anderson may actually be innocent. Juror Eddie Sanger (Dennis Quaid), a Washington lobbyist, agrees, and together the pair begins their own investigation of events.

    My Thoughts: "It was a decent suspense/thriller. The film had a good pace, never leaving you bored. The performances were good by all. The ending is a bit of a twist. I was surprised. I loved Dennis Quaid in this, and it was interesting seeing Cher play a lawyer of all things. A good mystery film worth checking out at least once."
  • garyX
    January 5, 2007
    garyX
    Silly and routinely unbelievable courtroom thriller, typical of the 80s. Not terrible by any means, but there's nothing here that hasn't been done a hundred times before, and better.
  • ashleymh007
    March 31, 2008
    ashleymh007
    Decent plot and movie, but it needed some severe editing for time and pacing. Cher was miscast
  • fb25827189
    September 13, 2009
    fb25827189
    Suspect is a well written court room drama starring Cher as a Defense Attorney assigned to defend Carl (Liam Neeson), a homeless, deaf, and mute Vietnam veteran on trial for a murder he didn't commit. As the trial progresses Carl's lawyer Kathleen becomes involved with Eddie (Den... read morenis Quaid), a fast talking D.C. Lobbyist who is a juror in Carl's case. As the case progresses Kathleen and Eddie travel down a path full of lies, deceit, murder, and corruption all while trying to prove Carl's innocence.
    A really great cast complement the script, but the film falls short of being anything but good, due to some plot holes, and some bad direction. This was good but could of been better, with all the court room dramas out there one has to try to set themselves apart from the Law and Order style court room setting and despite trying Suspect still felt more like a two-hour TV special than a movie, which is okay but with the kinda of acting talent this film had I really expected this to be a little better.
  • DrLappos
    June 22, 2007
    DrLappos
    Cher is a pain but she does well in this one.
  • jam233
    December 1, 2009
    jam233
    Cher gives an amazing performance. The movie is very suspenseful and holds your interest at all times. Great cast and performances from all. Great story, well written and professionally made. Carefully directed by Peter Yates.
  • BlackCatGrinz
    June 28, 2009
    BlackCatGrinz
    Very good movie, great plot. Ending wraps up a little fast, but otherwise, no complaints. A-list roster of actors, and they earn their A's. Liam Neeson looks adorable.
  • obsessedwithdisciple
    May 25, 2008
    obsessedwithdisciple
    Well, it's a good movie. Kept me interested the entire time, and Dennis Quaid's character was good as usual. I can't really get into Cher's acting, but I definitely recommend this for a thriller/mystery type of thing.

View All Suspect Reviews

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 27, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

The implausible screenplay makes Suspect a very mediocre movie. Full Review

James Sanford
January 11, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Highly entertaining mystery, with some real sexual tension between Cher and Quaid

Blake Davis
January 29, 2003
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News

A fantastic courtroom thriller from the 80's with a fine performance by Cher. Deserves to be a classic of the genre.

Clint Morris
September 17, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Exceptionally performed and delicately plotted

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Lori Hoffman
April 18, 2006
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

No review available.

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Suspect Trivia

  • He has been a usual suspect, a musketeer and the devil  Answer »
  • What film coined the following 6 rules of Surviving A Horror Movie?: 1. You will not survive if you have sex 2. You will not survive if you drink or do drugs 3. Never say "I'll be right back" 4. Everyone is a suspect. 5. Never ask "Who's there?" 6. Never go out to investigate a strange noise.  Answer »
  • Were is this from? "I have a suspect fleeing west on Cherry. Repeat, west on Cherry. That's a dead end you got him. 10-4 on that. What's the suspect's location? Up. What? The suspect is going up."  Answer »
  • John Mahoney (from Say Anything, EightMen Out and Suspect) is actually British but lost his accent in the military.  Answer »
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