Pure thrilling bliss.

Rating: 10/10 (24 September 1999)

Don't expect to go to sleep after seeing "The Usual Suspects". Not because it's scary-it isn't, just a little creepy. It's because the ending will keep you up all night wondering what really happened and trying to interpret the movie for what you think it meant. Anyway, on with the plot
The story starts out with an encounter on a boat (Which happened the night before when the movie takes place), between Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne in a wonderful performance) and a mysterious stranger. The encounter goes like this.
Stranger: "How you doing, Keaton?" Keaton: "I can't feel my legs...Keyser" Keaton: "What time is it?" Stranger: "It's 12:30" The stranger then pulls out a gun and you hear two shots.

Flash back to 6 weeks ago when Keaton, McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fenster (Benecio Del Toro), Hal Hockley (Kevin Pollack), and Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey) are all pulled in to be questioned for the hijacking of a truck full of armed weapons. Since they all have had a history of hijacking, detective Kujan (Chazz Palmentieri) questions them for the crime. When the 5 are held together in an isolated room, McManus proposes to them a huge hijacking gig that requires 5 guys. Eventually, they all agree. Then flash back forward to present day, when there are only 2 survivors in a huge boat explosion. One is Verbal, and the other is a hungarian in a coma. Verbal is granted immunity for his testimony, but Kujan still wants to have a little chat with him. He eventually gets his way, and Kujan forces Verbal to tell him the story of what really happened. Since Keaton has been Kujan's nemesis for years, his main motive in grilling Verbal is to make sure Keaton is really dead. As Verbal tells his story, a gigantic story of crime, betrayal, and blackmail unfolds, and the name Keyzer Sozé comes into play when the other survivor wakes from his coma and starts shouting Sozé's name. While detective Jack Bear questions the survivor, Verbal tells Kujan the story of Sozé, who Spacey says is a ruthless criminal who can not be caught ("Keaton always said that he didn't believe in god, but he was afraid of him. Well, I believe in God and the only thing that scares me is Keyzer Sozé.")

This ensemble movie could not possibly be better acted, scripted, or directed. Though the ending leaves some flaws in the story, it is extremely satisfying. This film was nominated for 2 oscars-Best Supporting Actor Kevin Spacey, and Best Original Screenplay--and won them both, deservedly. A great movie, one of Spacey's best performances. definitely a must-see