If you like this sort of thing, then you'll like this sort of thing. Solid escapist crime movie.

Rating: 7/10 (14 June 2013)

"The Usual Suspects" falls in the same genre as "Reservoir Dogs," which is a crime subgenre in the setting of a fantasy universe populated with brilliantly intelligent career criminals and elaborate heists. The compelling thing about the genre is the complexity of the plots, which often involve several twists and several layers of deception.
The "problem" with the genre is that you've got to be buying what it's selling, which not everyone is. Roger Ebert famously gave this movie a pretty poor review. I sort of / kind of agree with him, in that I largely felt alienated from the whole thing. There were some great surprises along the way, but I never really felt invested enough in the plot to feel the impact of these surprises.
It's a well-made film with colorful characters, sweet lighting and camera-work, and enough mystery to keep your attention. If you like the genre in general, you'll love it.