The Usual Movie? Far From It

Rating: 9/10 (29 January 2002)

What to say about this movie: it feels like a gem, a one-piece jewel with perfect contours and precise craftsmanship. Some movies (books, plays, etc) will shoot all over the place, trying to please everybody, losing its soul in the process. The Usual Suspects is so concentrated towards a goal it is enshrouded into itself, which is what a flawless work of art should be. The characters exist only for this story, it appears; the world the filmmakers create seems at once from this world and independent from any known point of reference, which is what any good avant-garde movie should claim. On a more down to earth, technical level, the rhythm and the editing look and sound like a piece of music which start with a slow bang, let you float for a while but never linger in limbo, rather make you wonder constantly, which is also what the acting of Kevin Spacey does so well. The five main characters feel they're being controlled by somebody else, but so will you: the filmmakers are leading you where they want. Singer is a master at manipulating the different aspects of the movie and, in the process, us. Watch it more than once.