... And so I ended up with Under Suspicion, free with the Sunday Mail. I liked the look of the film because it starred Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, two of my favourite actors, and the topic sounded right up my street as well. Unfortunately, there is something missing from this film.
The ... Read review
Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman star inUnder Suspicion, a suspense-filled tale of ... more
interrogation--less of a whodunit than a did-he-do-it. Freeman plays Victor Benezet, a police captain investigating the murder of a child, and Hackman is Henry Hearst, a ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In hurricane-lashed, carnival-time Puerto Rico, a killer of young girls is on the loose. ... more
Three young girls have been murdered in the last month and Harry Hearst (Gene Hackman), a rich and powerful lawyer on the island, discovers the body of the latest victim. When Capt. Victor Benezet (Morgan Freeman), the chief of police, asks Hearst to clear up a couple of points about his discovery, it seems nothing more than routine.Instead, Hearst is given the third degree, with a young cop Detective Owen (Thomas Jane) probing into the dark secrets of the lawyers private life, especially his sex life and relationship with his young and beautiful trophy wife, Chantal (Monica Bellucci), 30 years his junior. The brash attorney's story starts to reveal a number of cracks, that only open wider and wider.
A hidden past. A secret life. Witness or suspect? Guilty or innocent? Two men. One night. ... more
The police captain on the island of Puerto Rico (Morgan Freeman) interviews a prominent tax attorney and old friend (Gene Hackman) - the witness to one of a shocking series of brutal crimes. But what begins as a cooperative conversation between peers descends into a night of intense interrogation between fierce adversaries.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Advantages: Good acting Disadvantages: Just doesn't seem to gel
...so I ended up with Under Suspicion, free with the Sunday Mail. I liked the look of the film because it starred Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, two of my favourite actors, and the topic sounded right up my street as well. Unfortunately, there is something missing from this film.
The plot
Victor Benezet plays a police captain in San Juan, Puerto Rico, investigating the death of two young girls. The second girl was found by Henry ... ...deeds. Benezet calls him in to ask him some further questions, not really expecting it to take any time. However, the more Hearst answers the questions, the more he makes himself sound suspicious, and after a while, Benezet and his colleague, Detective Felix Owens, begin to suspect that he may be himself guilty.
As Benezet begins to look deeper into Henry's situation, he finds a number of secrets that Henry has been hiding, including ... more
Introduction I love free DVDs with newspapers. I have no loyalty towards any particular paper; in fact I rarely buy newspapers because I catch up with the news on the internet, but a free DVD that I like the look of will persuade me to buy. And so I ended up with Under Suspicion, free with the Sunday Mail. I liked the look of the film because it starred Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, two of my favourite actors, and the topic sounded right up my street as well. Unfortunately, there is something missing from this film.
The plot Victor Benezet plays a police captain in San Juan, Puerto Rico, investigating the death of two young girls. The second girl was found by Henry Hearst, a lawyer well-known in his community for his good deeds. Benezet calls him in to ask him some further questions, not really expecting it to take any time. However, the more Hearst answers the questions, the more he makes himself sound suspicious, and after a while, Benezet and his colleague, Detective Felix Owens, begin to suspect that he may be himself guilty.
As Benezet begins to look deeper into Henry's situation, he finds a number of secrets that Henry has been hiding, including an odd hobby, the fact that he wears a toupee and he no longer sleeps with his beautiful, much younger wife, Chantal. Chantal is called in and reveals certain things about Henry that make him look even more suspicious. But are things as they really seem?
The characters/actors Morgan Freeman plays Benezet with his usual panache. He knows Henry and doesn't want to be too hard on him to start with - this is well portrayed as the good cop against Owen's bad cop routine. However, he does begin to crack the whip when the evidence begins to stack up against Henry. It certainly isn't the best role that I've seen Freeman in - I prefer him in Million Dollar Baby and particularly The Shawshank Redemption - but he's still a lot better than most actors out there.
The same can be said of Gene Hackman. It is a good, solid performance, but it's not one of his best. He portrays the realisation that he is no longer considered to be an innocent witness very well. The way he covers up the fact that he and his wife are together in name only is also very well done. He certainly keeps the audience guessing.
Monica Bellucci as Chantal Hearst also received a top rating, although she is not seen on screen anywhere near as much as Freeman and Hackman. I've seen her before in Malena and also the first Matrix film. I thought she did very well in this film - she added a touch of class, particularly compared to the craggy Freeman and Hackman. Her expression when she reveals secrets about her husband was touching. An actress to keep an eye out for, I think.
Technical bits Classification: 15. There is some content of a sexual nature towards young girls. However, it is quite discretely filmed. The dead girls are also shown, but from the position that they are in, there is little sign that they are dead. Not too bad at all.
Running time: 110 minutes
Conclusion The direction, by Stephen Hopkins, was attention-grabbing in a way that I have never seen before. There are a number of flashbacks which show Henry's movements, in which Benezet can also be seen; all the while we hear the present day conversation between Benezet and Henry as a voiceover. I thought this was inventive and eye-catching, although I understand that it has been done before. Stephen Hopkins has also directed some episodes of "24" and the fifth Nightmare on Elm Street movie. The film takes place against the backdrop of the San Sebastian feast, which entailed a carnival and added a lot of local colour to the film.
So the acting's good, the direction's inventive, why only three stars? I did find the film stumbled on occasion and I found it hard to maintain interest all the way through. The majority of the film involves Benezet and Henry talking and, although they act well, it does get a bit boring after a while. Also the ending was weak; to be honest, I didn't completely grasp the ending and how it fitted in, despite watching it twice. It certainly could and should have been much better.
I'm certainly glad I didn't pay full price for the film, either for a rental or the DVD, but it is a good rainy day film that whiles away a couple of hours pleasantly enough. Recommended, but only if you don't have to pay full price.
The DVD is available on Amazon from £1.99 in the used and new section. Don't pay any more.
Advantages: Great acting, especially from Hackman Disadvantages: A bland subject area is made worse by an obscure ending
‘Under Suspicion’ is a remake of the French film, ‘Garde a Vue’ which itself is a remake of JohnWainwright’s book, ‘Brainwash’, and when I heard that Gene Hackman had waited years to make the film, I decided that it could not be missed.
Henry Hearst (Hackman) is a wealthy tax lawyer who is due to be making a speech at a charity event in San Juan, Puerto Rica, to accrue funding after a hurricane had devastated ... ...girl to the police who had been strangled and raped. The police captain, Victor Benezet, (Morgan Freeman) asks Hearst whether he could come down to the police station for an informal discussion of the previous days events before he goes on to the charity ball with his stunningly beautiful wife, Chantal (Monica Belluci). Hearst cooperates and reaffirms the statement he made to the police the previous day, but we soon realise that Hearst’s story ...
Alex1226 23.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Under Suspicion (DVD)
Advantages: good acting, score Disadvantages: not as probing as you'd like
This is a very subdued release giving the talent involved.
The story is set in Rio. A series of girls have been murdered. On of these is found by Hackman who is a wealthy figure in the town. Freeman is the detective investigating the crimes. THe film revolves around one night in Freemans office where Hackman is being questioned over the murders. As the night progresses Hackman's Life becomes exposed in a series of flashbacks. Freeman is backed up ... ...HIs charcters is a very pushy cop who can fly off the handle. Sadly his role is a bit cliched an poorly written. However jane does what he can with it and there is one scene where he is alone with hackman where he really unsettles you. To see Hackman and Freeman acting is reason alone to see this film and they really do make it interesting and gripping. The plot twists quite a bit.
Some people have been disppointed by the ending but if you think ...
utero 28.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Under Suspicion (DVD)
Advantages: Great performances, good cast, engrossing plot. Disadvantages: Disappointing ending.
I went to see 'Under Suspicion at the cinema earlier this week. I was lured by the inclusion of Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, seemingly great cast. This film is set, more or less, in the same room for the entirety of the film. It would make a great play. The story follows the accused - a tax oficer who lives in Porto Rico - being questioned all evening about the rape and murder of two local girls. As the questioning progresses, so does the tension. ... ...guilty. What had first appeared as a totally innocent member of the community is suddenly moulded into the shape of a brutal killer.
This trandformation is absolitely engrossing to watch. The lack of scene changes, something that would be assumed to lack versatility, is not important. The performances were fantastic, Freeman and Hackman certainly living up to my expectations.
Yet something was lost in the ending of the film. I don't want to give ...
lec299 25.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Under Suspicion (DVD)
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Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
LIONS GATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT; WARNER HOME VIDEO
Release date
23/07/2001
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 093162
Barcode
7321900931625
Languages
Main Language
English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Cast And Crew Interviews, Trailer, Interactive Menus
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD Description
Director Stephen Hopkins' (LOST IN SPACE) crime thriller is a remake of the 1981 French film GARDE A VUE, and is adapted from John William Wainwright's novel BRAINWASH. On the evening of the San Sebastian festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, wealthy tax attorney Henry Hearst (Gene Hackman) is supposed to attend a charity ball with his lovely, much younger wife Chantal (Monica Belluci), but is called to police headquarters. The previous day--during his morning run--Hearst discovered the dead body of a 12-year-old girl. Captain Victor Benezet (Morgan Freeman) and the explosive young Detective Owens (Thomas Jane) say they merely want to clarify some details in Hearst's statement. However, when the questioning begins and Hearst stumbles over his answers, it is evident that the police suspect Hearst is involved. As the interrogation wears on, particulars of the prominent lawyer's personal life, and his complex relationship with his young wife are revealed. On the quest to discover Hearst's innocence or guilt, the film features tense duels between Hearst and Benezet, and an inventive retracing of events leading up to the murder while set against the lovely, exotic backdrop of San Juan.
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