Not Your Usual Movie!

Rating: 10/10 (11 September 1999)

If only one movie was chosen to be placed in a time capsule to represent the 90's, it would be this one! Not only the movie but the script and the soundtrack would be in the time capsule! Not since Gone with the Wind and Casablanca, has there been such a great ensemble cast. (With the exception of L A Confidential. Which was released after this movie.) Suzy Amis, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollack, Pete Postletwaite, and last but not least the Superb Kevin Spacey, all turn in stellar performances! The movie has the feel of a 1940's film noir classic. And the mood is set deeply by the moving soundtrack scored by John Ottman. The film name comes from the classic line delivered by the late, great Claude Raines "Round up the Usual Suspects", from Casablanca. Christopher McQuarrie's script takes you on a roller coaster ride from the point of view of one of the five suspects brought together for a police line up. The line up hatches a plan for a heist as they wait to be released from police custody. From that point on we are led through a labyrinth of intrigue, danger, and mystery! All of them fear one name, "Keyser Soze"!!! You can almost smell the sweat when the men are blackmailed in to working for him. One simple job and they will be even with him. Or will they? The story is told by cripple Roger "Verbal" Kint, (played by Kevin Spacey) as told to FBI Agent Dave Kujan (played by Chazz Palminteri). The scenes between these two are a joy to watch. The chemistry flows across the screen. No matter how many times I view this movie, I am always left spellbound by their performances, the story and the delicious ending! Kevin Spacey won an Academy Award, too bad they don't give one for best ensemble cast. I won't reveal the ending, but I do have to say that no matter how many times I view this movie, I still get chill bumps! No one acts better with physical prowess than Kevin Spacey. It is said that he actually glued his fingers together to bring realism to Verbal's disability. Let's just say Spacey is the premier actor of our time! Who is Keyser Soze? Rent, no better yet, buy the movie and watch it! "And like that.....(phfft)...You'll know!!!!