Pure Genius

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 1999)

The most hardened criminals in the world fear no one... except Keyser Soze. When 27 dead bodies are found in Long Beach Harbor with only one dying witness that utters the name Keyser Soze, the U.S. Customs Agent Daniel Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) has got to find the dreaded killer, but only one guy has the clues Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey). A small-time crook, Verbal tells Kujan an incredible story of the job of their lives with and Keyser Soze at their backs. But somehow their job of a lifetime did not turn out as they expected and soon the five men, Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Hockney (Kevin Pollak), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), and Kint himself have to ask themselves: Who is Keyser Soze?
The plot and characters in the film are priceless. The amount of great actors in this movie is astounding, not to mention a great story with a surprising and impossible to guess ending. Kevin Spacey is the best of the bunch and flawless in his role as Verbal Kint and the extras are are also great. The movie continually startles with originality and dynamic sequences and make this a thrilling film. Director Bryan Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie (Both men worked on Public Access, winner of the 1993 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance) team up well with cinematographer Howard Cummings to create a brilliant and timeless crime story that should eventually be considered a classic of the genre.