Reviews of The Usual Suspects

A master stroke from Singer.

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 28 October 2008 11:04 (A review of The Usual Suspects)

''The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist. And like that... he is gone.''

A boat has been destroyed, criminals are dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with five career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup.

Gabriel Byrne:Dean Keaton

The Usual Suspects is simply a fascinating piece of film-making and story telling from director Bryan Singer. Because of the trick ending conclusion, it is debatable as to what is truth and what is fiction. If you watch it objectively, it is just a damn entertaining, complex, a well structured film noir piece with a breath taking climax. If you take the subjective route, then what you've got is perhaps the most puzzling film ever made, one that even with multiple repeated viewings will make you doubt your own conclusions.

The Usual Suspects begins with the supposed protagonist, Dean Keaton (superbly played by Gabriel Byrne), being assassinated by a mysterious unknown figure, named Keyser. I think it's safe to say that this opening scene is objectively told, it really happened. Then Keyser burns the ship that Keaton and a bunch of other men (who we find out about later) are on. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the cops and FBI question the sole survivor of this massacre, Verbal Kint (played by Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Kevin Spacey). Verbal is the only one who can tell what happened. He is our link to the flashbacks and story of The Usual Suspects.

''One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.''

Leading the investigation is US Customs Agent Dave Kujon (effectively played by Chazz Palmentieri). Kujon grills Kint relentlessly in order to piece together all the events that led up to the massacre. Kint begins with the events weeks before when Kujon and his fellow agents had arrested Keaton and the other 'usual' suspects Kint, Michael McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro), and Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak). These 5 men were suspected of a hijacking and were brought in for questioning.

As Kint continues and the film progresses, we find that the 5 criminals were manipulated into the situation by Keyser Soze, a Turkish uber-gangster/drug dealer who they all think is really a myth until his #1 lackey Kobyashi (played with cold efficiency by Pete Posthlewaite) pays them a visit and tells them that indeed Soze is behind all this. Soze wants them to to do job for him by killing his Hungarian competitors, who are making a huge drug deal with some Argentinians on a ship docked in LA. This leads us to the climax and back to the events that started the film.

The Usual Suspects, whatever ones feelings about the surprise at the end, is one brilliant example of modern day film noir. Nobody is innocent, yet every major character is multi-dimensional and draws you into the conflict. There is quite a bit of action and violence, but it is tight, well-placed, and crisply realistic. The beauty of the film is that you can watch it in at least two different ventures, objectively to be entertained and secondly to subjectively attempt to complete the puzzle and solve the goings on! The acting is uniformly superb, the Oscar-winning screenplay crackles, and never becomes tedious or boring. The Usual Suspects is simply Bryan Singers best film to date and among the best films of the decade!

''What the cops never figured out, and what I know now, was that these men would never break, never lie down, never bend over for anybody. Anybody.''

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astonishing cast

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 27 April 2008 11:32 (A review of The Usual Suspects)

Possibly one of the best original scripts out there, it has complicated plotting, macho repartee, Bryan Singer’s remarkable direction and an astonishing male cast: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Pollak, Benicio del Toro and Giancarlo Esposito.

This is truly of the best thriller movies about blackmail and betrayal.


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Anything but usual

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 8 February 2008 07:17 (A review of The Usual Suspects)

One of my personal favorites of all times. Maybe not THE best film ever. But one of those few films that everyone should see at least twice.

Everything about this film is great. Great acting, great script, great directing, not to mention the unforgettable ending. It's hard to believe that is the same director of Superman Returns (I'll get to that some day).

All actors (yes, ALL) fit perfectly in their characters, from the main parts to the smaller ones.

Gabriel Byrne as Dean Keaton is convincing as the ex-con trying to build a new life when he gets drawn back into his old life. Stephen Baldwin as Michael McManus is the smart-mouthed and cocky professional criminal. Kevin Pollak takes a big departure from his usual good comedy self to take a more dramatic role.

But the best of the film are Benicio del Toro, who literally takes a one-dimensional character with absolutely nothing in the script to give him character and he fleshes it out with brilliant mannerisms and memorable mumbling to show incredible acting creativity and Kevin Spacey who was simply born to be in this movie. His manners and fast-talking yet shy gimp nature are a treat to listen to throughout the film.

Without giving away much of the plot, the best and most genius parts of the movie are the subtleties. After you see the ending (I won't spoil) and the truth hits you like a ton of bricks, you have to watch it again. On a second time through, you'll jump up and point at the screen whenever a clue missed the first time is spotted.

It's even possible to watch the movie many times and see something new every time around. It's that attention to detail that make the deceptively innocent-looking Usual Suspects one of the greatest movies of all time.

And I'd like to recognize too the work of John Ottman, the composer of the soundtrack, it matches the action, the suspense and the acting, what makes the film even more delightful to watch.

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The Usual Suspects review

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 4 October 2007 03:19 (A review of The Usual Suspects)

Fantastic movie! I loved it in every way, its brilliant storyline, amazing cast and to end it had the best ending possible. If you havent already, you should really see this movie. One for everyone to enjoy =)

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UnUsual Originality

Posted : 3 years, 2 months ago on 13 October 2006 05:55 (A review of The Usual Suspects)

The originality of perhaps the best written movie I have ever watched has left me only to describe my favorite movie of all time. Never before has a movie challenged the viewer with such a web of twists and turns, an entangling of the mind reminiscent of a true Kansas City Shuffle.

From the beginning to end, we are left questioning the outcome to the movie that single-handedly reshaped the crime drama genre. The aura that writer Christopher McQuarrie surrounds villian Keyser Soze with adds to the mystique of this true cult classic. And the ending, which stands at the pinnacle movie making, will now and forever leave first time viewers in complete awe of its mastery. I highly recommend this movie to anyone with a mind and appreciation for brilliant writing.

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