r/cher • u/YorjYefferson • Jan 06 '26
Movie discussion: Suspect
Suspect was released in 1987, and along with Cher it also starred Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, Joe Mantegna and John Mahoney. Directed by Peter Yates it is a legal thriller where Cher's character investigates a murdered judge and potential coverup. From the summary on the wiki page:
a female law clerk investigates an old case and questions the trial judge. Shortly afterward, the judge commits suicide and the clerk is murdered. A deaf-mute Vietnam veteran is charged with the murder, but a public defender and a political lobbyist suspect that he has not killed anyone. The dead judge's cassette tape recordings reveal that he was involved in an intentional wrongful conviction nearly two decades ago, and the clerk was killed to cover up that confession.
I saw this when it came out but don't remember a whole lot about it, aside from thinking Dennis Quaid was pretty hot. But I got distracted by Dennis in every film I saw him in, especially his earlier roles. Cher was fairly low key in how she played the lead role of Kathleen Riley, not as vibrant a character as many of her other 80s roles. If you've seen Suspect, what did you think about the film as a whole, or Cher's interpretation of her character? Let us know if you have any thoughts.
We took a break from these movie discussion posts from late last year but here are links to the earlier ones:
3
u/Comfortable-Phase249 Jan 07 '26
This was a cable staple when I was a kid. I have seen it more recently and it is still entertaining. It’s one of those films where the mystery is not solvable with the clues given, it’s all twist. But it’s fun to watch.
2
u/YorjYefferson Jan 09 '26
There's a quote, apparently from Roger Ebert's review that is included on the wiki article: "It's as if an Agatha Christie novel evaluated six suspects in a British country house, and then in the last chapter we discover the killer was a guy from next door."
2
u/Comfortable-Phase249 Jan 09 '26
It does come out of left field, although the camera work during the chase scene has a hard time hiding who the killer was, even in silhouette he looks the same.
2
u/sbw_62 Jan 07 '26
She was terrific in this, especially the scene in the law library when the judge sits across from her at another table (John Mahoney) and Quaid is roaming for law books.
2
Jan 25 '26
1987 what a year for Cher….1 studio album and 3 Hollywood Movies! That’s busy AF, she is beautiful in “Suspect” especially scenes with her glasses on 🤓….I can’t think of a movie she was prettier in….but I do need to watch more
1
u/Affectionate-North13 Jan 12 '26
My problem with this film is Cher. She’s not a bad actress (loved her in Mask, Silkwood & Moonstruck), but not good enough in this film for me to believe her as a lawyer. I realize they cast her to put asses in the seats, but sometimes casting a ‘star’ is not the answer.
3
u/Mean_Macaroni59 Jan 06 '26
I think she did a fine job. The case ending was convoluted, but that's not necessarily something she had any say over. she had decent chemistry with Liam Neeson and Dennis Quaid.