"Above Suspicion" (2019)

Above Suspicion (2019) is a film based on a true story, directed by Phillip Noyce, starring Emilia Clarke in the lead role. This is a crime and psychological film, deeply exploring the dark side of humanity and corruption in the law enforcement environment.

The story of Above Suspicion revolves around Susan Smith, a young woman living in a poor town in Kentucky, USA. Susan's life is suffocated by family circumstances, drugs and toxic relationships. When new FBI agent Mark Putnam (played by Jack Huston) is sent to town to investigate a case, he recruits Susan as an informant. From a working relationship, the two gradually develop a complicated and dangerous extramarital relationship.

Susan initially sees her cooperation with the FBI as an opportunity to escape her dead-end life, but the more she gets involved, the more she falls into a spiral of lies and false hopes. Meanwhile, Mark Putnam, despite having a family and a career, is also drawn into a relationship he cannot control. The tragedy culminates when Susan becomes jealous and threatens to reveal everything. To protect himself and his career, Mark kills her - a crime that is later recorded as the first murder committed by an FBI agent.

Above Suspicion is not only a thrilling detective film, but also a warning about the consequences of the abuse of power, the broken moral boundaries, and the price of betrayal. Emilia Clarke's performance received much praise, as she portrayed the pain, despair but also the desire to live of a woman abandoned by society.

The film is built at a slow pace, focusing on the characters' psychology rather than dramatic action scenes. This gives viewers time to feel the gloom, suffocation and gradual decline of both main characters. Through that, Above Suspicion brings a realistic, powerful and haunting cinematic experience, reflecting the dark side of American society and the human condition in the poor countryside.