Suspect (1987)
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69% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
56% of users liked it
(6,594 ratings)
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 deaf-mute homeless veteran, Carl Wayne Anderson (Liam Neeson), is the suspected killer. Lonely yet… More 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 deaf-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
- Directed By
- Peter Yates
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Oct 23, 1987 Wide
- On DVD
- May 8, 2001
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The implausible screenplay makes Suspect a very mediocre movie.
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Highly entertaining mystery, with some real sexual tension between Cher and Quaid
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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.
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Clint Morris, Moviehole
Exceptionally performed and delicately plotted
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Cher
as Kathleen Riley Public Defender
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Dennis Quaid
as Eddie Sanger Lobbyist
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Liam Neeson
as Carl Wayne Anderson
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John Mahoney
as Judge Matthew Helms
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Joe Mantegna
as Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlie Stella
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Philip Bosco
as Assistant U.S. Attorney General Paul Gra...
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E. Katherine Kerr
as Congressperson Grace Comisky
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Fred Melamed
as Morty Rosenthal
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Michael Beach
as Parking Lot Attendant
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Thomas Barbour
as Justice Lowell
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Prudence Barry
as Bag Lady at River
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Lisbeth Bartlett
as Marilyn
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Bill Cobbs
as Arraignment Judge Franklin
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Ralph Cosham
as Judge Ansel Stewart
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Tony Craig
as Hotel Marshal
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Paul D'Amato
as Michael
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Richard Gant
as Everett Bennett
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Sam Gray
as Judge Louis Weiss
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Paul Hjelmervik
as Court Marshal
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Rosemary Knower
as Justice Lowell's Secretary
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Gene Mack
as Helms' Court Marshal
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Bernie McInerney
as Walter Abbott Eddie's Senior Partner
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Greg McKinney
as Plainsclothes Cop
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Katie O'Hare
as Elizabeth Quinn
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Sandi Ross
as Doris Video Typist
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Aaron Schwartz
as Forensic Pathologist
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Fred Strother
as Public Defender's Office Client
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Myra Taylor
as April
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Wendy E. Taylor
as Security Guard
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Robert Walsh
as Club Congressman
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Jim Walton
as Helms' Court Marshal
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Billy Williams
as Dr. Alan Alpert
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Carl Jackson
as Depot Derelict
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Edwin M. Adams
as Congressman
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Sandra Bowie
as Public Defender's Office Client
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R.C. Coleman
as Arraignment Court Clerk
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Siona Dixon
as Helms' Court Steno
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Michael Emmett
as Waiter
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Stefan Graham
as Marvin Johnson
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Jack Jessop
as Mr. Davis
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David Lyle
as Morty's Assistant
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Darryl Palmer
as Assistant U.S. Attorney
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Djanet Sears
as Message Clerk
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Jaye Tyrone Stewart
as Jailer
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Diane Marie L Tomajczyk
as Secretary
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Lloyd White
as Detective
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Ewart Everard Williams
as Anthony Hall
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Paul dela Rosa
as Helms' Court Clerk
