Under Suspicion (2000)

 Under Suspicion is a 2000 Hollywood film. Starring Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Monica Bellucci in the main roles.

This is one of my favorites. One that I watch again and again, although not frequently. Because it is an intense one. So I space out the viewings.

Trust is fragile. It is undefinable. But it either exists or it doesn't. And you know for sure whether someone trusts you or not.

If someone is guilty of a crime, then they deserve to be punished. But what of suspicion? If someone is suspected of a ghastly crime without proof, isn't it actually worse than being guilty?

Gene Hackman (Henry Hearst) is a wealthy tax attorney. He is about to give a speech at a big fundraising event, as the city celebrates a festival. Just before the event, he is called by Morgan Freeman (Captain Victor Benezet) for questioning. Just 10 minutes, is what he is told.

As the questioning by the Captain and Detective Felix Owens (Thomas Jane) proceeds, Hearst learns that this is no 10 minute matter. It is also very serious. A young girl has been raped and strangled. 

There has been one more rape and strangling of another young girl a few weeks ago. He is being questioned about that too.

So it is obvious that he is the prime suspect.

In the beginning Hearst is at ease. Rich, powerful, connected. Captain Victor Benezet's boss is eager for Hearst to be released ASAP. He even interrupts the questioning to have Hearst cross over the street to the event, give his speech, and then go back to the police station.

As the interrogation proceeds, there is a lot of back and forth. Hearst's life is peeled apart piece by piece until there is absolutely nothing left. We learn that his is a sexless marriage due to which he visits prostitutes in absolutely shady areas (one near the first murder). 

Why is the marriage sexless? Because his wife, Chantal (Monica Bellucci) thinks that he tried to seduce her niece, who is a young girl. So she withholds the one thing that he most desires as a cruel form of punishment.

Hearst has been lying to the police from the start. There are gaps in his story. This convinces them that he is the murderer and they go at him real hard.

In her adamant belief in her husband's guilt, Chantal allows the police to search their mansion, even though they had no basic initial evidence to do so.

Is Hearst the killer? That's a spoiler I can't go through with.

But the mystery is not the juicy part. It's the dynamic duo of Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. Monica Bellucci plays an important role, but she is not the main attraction.

Freeman and Hackman - Cat and mouse. Dancing, dueling. Repartee - witty sometimes, insulting to the other at times. Trying to wear the other down. Expressions. Absolute masterclass in acting.  They turn an ordinary story into something at a much higher level. 

Back to trust. If you have it, heavenly. If you don't, nothing else matters. All the money and luxury in the world is hollow if you don't have someone important to you believing in you.

Currently on Netflix.  Not family friendly, as you might have guessed :-). But  most definitely worth a watch.