Suspense is when you pause, wait and wonder what is the next point of action to take place. Throughout the movie there is always pressure and a demand to unravel, sometimes you seem to think everything will even out. Action follows suspense. New facts of corruption or narrow escapes all frequently turn the plot to create a sense of risky adventure, what we call ‘action’. Characters and details are accrued so not to overload or clutter these points of action. Taken from www.amazon.com book and film reviews, “…a really good, fast-paced movie.” “…action packed thriller. Overall, "The Client" was a rush.” Here two reviewers confirm how ‘The Client’ has the feel of action inside a thriller.
The three aspects of mystery, suspense and action are key elements to a thrilling story, this case a movie. All of these elements help make this thriller what it should do, thrill. This is why ‘The Client’ is classified as a thriller.
Tension and suspense points can determine classifications, whether this movie will become the next blockbuster and whether it will live up to that was expected. The center of this film is the relationship between Mark Sway and Reggie Love, his attorney. They get emotionally involved and dependable with one another ending up with a complex bond causing troublesome and confusing incidents that makes the story have the tension and suspense of a good thriller.
Tension is shown throughout the movie, usually with a one on one aspect. A blatant example is Mark and ‘Reverend’ Roy Foltrigg along with his men, hotshot district attorneys going the wrong way to get information out of Mark. They have an extensive reputation for getting a good job done fast. They and the cops will go to extreme measures to get the information but Reggie holds them back fighting for her client. Mark and Reggie heed to each other when the cops put either of them into a state of resistance.
Mark hates the FBI for the simple fact that they harp on him for details, he just wants to be with his mother, Diane and brother, Ricky who is in a coma. Mark shows a lot of frustration about this situation with the politicians who fear the young boy will obliterate them with the information he holds. However, the tension between Mark and the Mob is different. Mark is aware of his involvement with the Mob but is not his foremost concern. More so, it’s Barry Muldano who is out to destroy Mark for the information he holds and is agitated because of the position he is in. If he doesn’t finish Mark, he will be finished by the angry Mob.
Within the Mob itself is tension. Their ex-lawyer committed suicide and told his story to Mark about how Barry has stashed a man he murdered, and where the body lies. The cause of this mess is the man Barry murdered which was count one from father of the Mob, when he heard a boy knew of the body and its whereabouts the blame was on Barry and it was him who held the future of the Mob.
Diane Sway, Marks mother is a weak and uncertain person. She is in an extreme position as a poor single mum with one son in a coma and the other being hunted down by corrupt gangsters and the FBI. Reggie Love and Diane both care for Mark and his future so an overprotected mother and an involved legal rep seem to want different things of Mark. The uneasiness between the two over Mark is resolved and onwards they work together uneasily but successfully to protect Mark, Ricky and Diane herself.
Tension points are shown clear so you can follow what is happening. There is stillness in tension even if it isn’t shown literally. At times a pause in a cluttered conversation or action on screen shows tension.
Mark had not heard the car door open and was on his stomach inching his way over to the black car. Ricky who saw the horror of the fat and very angry man get out of the door wet his pants from fright dreading what could happen next. Film can paint a vast picture of sense and feeling to make you take in what is happening, be a part of the film, in this case bringing you to a quiet moment of suspense. Looking at young children in this situation is shocking and what you can feel from a book can be shown times greater in a movie. Silence but with what we call creepy sounds, like the trees blowing or just the wind howling puts you in a mood to be anxious. Lighting of darkness, or mostly used these days, blue light sends you an eerie message perfect lighting for suspense and mystery.
When Mark is hiding in the boathouse from Barry and some other thug the camera swings up to Marks view on the situation below. Then they look up and there is another moment of great suspense. This time more intense with the dark light and murky air.
Suspense doesn’t have to eerie or scary, just grab you by the throat and make you worry what will happen. When Mark first meets Reggie, there is awkwardness when he rejects her. All sounds fade and a silence and uncertainty come about into the situation. There are many other technical aspects to look at like music, and character portraits that help the movie to bring the right effect to the viewer. This movie did not incorporate enough of this and didn’t really combine the visual and sound together very much.
‘The Client’ is a powerful dramatic thriller and has more meaning than what first of all seems. A mind twister but does work out simply like most mysteries do. It compels your imagination into making up much of the scenes come to be thriving. The movie pulls you to believe that corruption, cynicism and complications make this movie what it is, a thriller.
DUE DATE: 15/4/02 BY EMMA CROSSLAND
