Zheng Jiu Xian Yi Ren / Last Suspect (2023) - A Courtroom Drama and Thriller with Creative Story, Profound Characters and Excellent Acting - 10/10 (02/01/24)

Last Suspect, originally released as Zheng Jiu Xian Yi Ren, finds the perfect balance between a courtroom drama and a vengeful thriller clocking in at an excellent one hundred nineteen minutes. This movie manages to touch viewers emotionally thanks to its profound characters. It also succeeds in surprising audiences thanks to a creative story with numerous twists and turns. Even after further analysis, this underrated film doesn't have any flaws and thus qualifies as the greatest movie released in the past year. If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favour and enjoy it to the fullest before recommending it to anyone else who might have been missing out on this masterpiece.

The story revolves around dedicated single mother and excellent lawyer Chen Zhiqi who has never lost a case in her professional career. When she attends a school activity with her smart daughter, her child gets kidnapped in a brief moment of inattention. The lawyer is soon contacted by phone as a distorted voice orders her not to contact the police or tell anyone else about her ordeal. In order for her daughter to be released, Chen Zhiqi is asked to take on an incredibly complex case. She has only seven days to clear the name of a death row convict accused of homicide. Chen Zhiqi must investigate a controversial case that might destroy her professional career, keeps being worried about the fate of her kidnapped daughter and lies to her best friend and police officer Jin Zhixiong who realizes that something is wrong with her and starts his own investigations.

This movie convinces on all levels. First and foremost, the film's plot is filled with creative ideas, smooth turns and radical twists that will keep viewers watching until the final scene that reveals that nothing is as it had ever seemed to be.

The combination of courtroom drama and vengeful thriller has rarely been executed this convincingly in cinema. The lead character's race against time to save her daughter without revealing to anyone the ordeal she must deal with will make even the toughest viewers shed a tear. The clever story with its twists and turns as the lines between guilt and innocence as well as everything in between start to blur will leave a lasting impression. The fact that this Chinese film is a remake of overlooked South Korean movie Seven Days, originally known as Sebeun Deijeu, doesn't take anything away from this remake's remarkable storytelling.

Up next, the characters are particularly fascinating in this movie. This includes the mysterious kidnapper with a hidden agenda. It continues with the smart, resilient and creative daughter. One must point out her resilient, dedicated and courageous mother. Let's not forget her attentive, empathic and helpful friend. The calm, intellectual and unpredictable death row convict will send shivers down the spine. Every single character in this movie is fleshed out with remarkable depth.

The acting performances go hand in hand with the wonderful characters. Every single actress and actor involved deserves attention, praise and recognition. If there were one actress to be pointed out in particular, one would need to select lead actress Zhang Xiaofei who portrays both a mother with the heart of a lion and a successful lawyer who ouwits even the most complex challenges. Zhang Xiaofeng manages to find the perfect balance between showing her character's remarkable strengths displayed in public and her tender weaknesses shown in her personal life. This actress has only been playing in half a dozen productions thus far but let me suggest you to keep an eye on the upcoming projects of this outstanding talent.

At the end of the day, Last Suspect has grown so much on me that I would describe it as the greatest movie released throughout the year 2023 and let me tell you that I have been watching many movies and that several of these have indeed been excellent. Last Suspect however stands out most because it is half drama and half thriller. It convinces with a creative story, outstanding genre combinations, profound characters and excellent actresses and actors from the lead roles to the side characters. Give yourself a gift and enjoy this movie to the fullest. If you are as amazed by it as I still happen to be, do the world a favour by recommending this contemporary masterpiece to family members and friends.