Under Suspicion
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Actor: Gene Hackman, Monica Bellucci, Morgan Freeman, Nydia Caro (II), Thomas JaneBrand: HACKMAN,GENE
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-01-02
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Under Suspicion
DVD Review: Ahead of its time
Summary: 5 Stars
"Under Suspicion" is a truly remarkable film that addresses a taboo issue. The film is well head of its time, which will ensure it remains classic for years to come.
Based on John Wainwright's 1960's book "Brainwash" and the 1980's French film "Garde a Vue" or Police Custody. The book title gives you a hint of the plot which neither film title does. Whether the American movie is loyal to the French film or British book I do not know, but the European influences are readily apparent.
One can expect superb performances from Hackman and Freeman, but one should also expect that such actors can choose superlative plots. Under Suspicion is a complex plot which explains why so many do not see it. If anything it is too complex.
One of the advantages of film over print is that a film can use multiple Points of View far more readily that print.
The first point of view is that of the junior detective, ably acted by Thomas Jane. Horrified by the crime - rape and murder of two children, blinded by prejudice, the detective jumps to the gut belief a rich dirty old man must have done it. The detective reflects the mob mentality.
The second point of view is that of the senior detective (Freeman). Both detective and suspect (Hackman) are of similar age, know each other and have similar marital problem, so a battle of wills develops between them. This is common plot device used to encourage the audience to identify with the characters but in this film it detracts from and confuses the plot.
The film opens with a plot device intended to create tension. The suspect is on his way to public speaking engagement when called in for questioning. This is implausible and again detracts from the plot. The device becomes effective when the senior detective's boss puts pressure on the detective to release the suspect to fulfil the engagement.
The evidence against the suspect (Hackman) is circumstantial. However the suspect's explanation of the events is confused and self-incriminating, which serves to convince the Senior Detective of his guilt. Hence the title of the French film - Police Custody.
At one stage the plot `thickens' leading the audience to suspect the male suspect is guilty of under-age sex, but his wife is guilty of murder, driven by jealousy. This plot line is made implausible by the beauty and young age of the character playing the wife, Monica Bellucci.
The subtext of "Under Suspicion" is classically French. Many Hollywood films seek to capture the beauty of French film when seeks to get behind the headline "Lock your daughters away - Paedophile on the rampage, raping and murdering little girls." French film often deals sensitively with the cause of such issues. The problem is not Hollywood' failure to portray the issues but the audience demand for likes of Scream 1, 2 and 3.
The subplot, the theme of the film, is played out by the suspect (Hackman) and to a lesser extent by the wife (Bellucci). The subplot is brilliantly portrayed by Hackman. Whether he is guilty or not is irrelevant by the end of the film. The suspect is coerced into believing he is guilty. Hence the book title "Brainwash".
The Point of View of the wife, told more than acted, reveals the sub-plot and the theme of the film. She first met the suspect when she was twelve and he was a 30 year old adult. His hobby was photography. She delighted in the attention of his camera lens. As she grows she accepts his patronage to attend university and finding men of her own age wanting, she returns to seek him sexually. Passionately in love, they become the celebrities of their town, until one day she sees him paying the same photographic attention to her niece. Blinded by jealousy she believes his intention can only be sexual. In her jealous rage she freezes him out. His sexual deprivation, his love of photography, merely serve to provide motivation to the circumstantial evidence. If his wife, the one person he loves, can believe he is guilty, then he must be. Hence he confesses to something he had not done.
"Under Suspicion" is a gripping and frightening film. Its shows how innocent people can be made to feel guilty and be found guilty by social prejudice, ignorance and misunderstanding. More frightening is the potential sequel to the story. That a person made to feel guilty, but found not guilty, can and probably will proceed to commit the crime with impunity. Both themes have been portrayed in other books and films. I do not know of a film which portrays both themes with the subject of paedophilia. Lolita is probably the closest one can get. Under Suspicion fires a warning shot across society's bows. It warns that the more society is blinded by moral indignation, which is happening with paedophilia, the worse problem will get and innocent people will be destroyed by the prejudices of the lynch mob.
All film functions to reinforce or question society's values and attitudes. Society, even in 2009, is not yet ready for the questions raised by "Under Suspicion". Brilliantly acted, directed and edited, `Under Suspicion' is undermined by the commercial demands on contemporary cinema. But it has got to be 5* for its courage alone.
Description of Under Suspicion
A police chief begins routine questioning of his friend, a successful attorney and a possible witness to a young girl's murder, only to find that his friend's answers become more and more incriminating.Genre: Mystery
Rating: R
Release Date: 5-FEB-2002
Media Type: DVD
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