best movie i've ever seen.

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

In Washington, Justice Lowell commits suicide after giving Elizabeth Quinn an envelop. She is later found dead on the banks of the Potomac River. Carl Wayne Anderson (Liam Neeson) is found nearby with her wallet and gets arrested. He's a deaf mute homeless man. Overworked attorney Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to defend him. Lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Dennis Quaid) can't get out of being on the jury. Judge Matthew Bishop Helms (John Mahoney) and ADA Charlie Stella (Joe Mantegna) round out the court participants. Sanger starts investigating on his own.The trial is a little slow. There are little things that could be done to speed up the exchanges and raise the intensity. Carl is forced to write his testimony which slows down the process. Simply writing faster and squeezing out split seconds would increase the tension. It's also very careless that Riley and Sanger keep meeting up so openly. There is pumping up the tension and then there is artificially pushing the logic. This trial drama and thriller works to some extend.

Very entertaining if not always plausible courtroom drama. Cher is excellent as a public defender who has her passion for the law restored by a special case, even if some of the outfits she wears in court are questionable (a leather jacket!? really?). Quaid also does good work keeping the smugness that often marred his work at a minimum but the real standout is Liam Neeson who was just starting to break out of the pack at this point and emerge as star material. Since his character is mute he has to rely on gestures and his facial expressions to convey his anguish and make the unsavory man he portrays someone you root for. An unusually strong supporting cast keeps this involving and Yates keeps the pacing tight. Kudos also go to the title sequence designer whose choice of music and a simple but evocative design set the tone immediately for the film.

I had missed this film during the many years since it was made, and caught it by chance on a Friday afternoon, after a particularly long and hectic week. I thought I might nod off, but instead I found myself engrossed in it very soon. It has some far-fetched aspects, and as the "goofs" section in this site points out, it wouldn't have been tried in a federal court, but in the local D.C. courts. However, given the rather surprise ending, this would be a necessary variation, given its circumstances.Cher is not a person whom you reference when thinking of leading, versatile actresses -- but this isn't so. This serious role, as well as a different type in the excellent "Moonstruck," display both her competence and versatility. Dennis Quaid is always excellent, and a favorite of mine, and the remaining cast were as well. John Mahoney's performance is well-delivered, and an interesting performance, in contrast with his more pleasant persona in "Moonstruck," also -- and particularly juxtaposed with his likable presence in the long-running "Frasier" series.As another pointed-out, there is a surprise ending, if somewhat more abrupt than seems necessary.But overall, an interesting, entertaining film.

The plot is far-fetched and a lot of elements might seem questionable:the whodunit,Dennis Quaid's cynical character,the umpteenth courtroom drama...But everything vanishes when it comes to depict the Cher/Liam Neeson relationship.Both shine ,especially the latter,who ,being deaf and dumb ,has to express his emotions with his face .He is so good he seems to carry the weight of the world .He was once a man who had something in his life ,but he was betrayed by his country when he returned from Vietnam.How a man who gave the best years of his life (to mention a famous movie)can be treated like a dog ("nine dollars ,it's much when you've got to survive" says his idealistic lawyer)and end up one of the last lonely and wretched?Every scene where they are together rings true.And "suspect" becomes the story of a redemption:physically,morally and intellectually,the homeless man regains his dignity his pride and the right to be a citizen again.There is a complex plot ,dealing with politics ,but it's the luminous Cher and the very moving Neeson,desperately trying to communicate, who will haunt the viewer after the movie.