a couple of legendary movie moments

Rating: 10/10 (26 July 2004)

SPOILERS
There are not many characters in cinema who achieve as large an element of mystery as that of Keyser Soze. Described by criminals as the Devil, "the Usual Suspects" would have us believe that everyone knows someone who knows someone else who knows someone who's worked for Keyser Soze. Nobody knows who Soze is however, and this along with some other unanswered questions, makes up this brilliant crime mystery thriller.
Staring Kevin Spacey as Roger "Verbal" Kint, an unintelligent cripple who ends up working with a group of long time thieves and killers, "The Usual Suspects" tells it's tale in the form of flashbacks and story telling by Spacey. The five criminals (Spacey included) are united at a Police Organised Line-up. Coming from different forms of life, they decide to unite for a job worth their fortunes. Eventually however, all five will meet the lawyer Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite) and his employer, the mysterious and evil Keyser Soze.
With most modern crime thrillers, there is a habit for the film to be transformed from a decent idea into a hideous piece of straight to television quality. With "The Usual Suspects" however, this habit has been ignored as a brilliant film has been created. Whilst perhaps taking it's time getting started, this film is more than willing to set up it's conclusion by dropping minor hints throughout. With a superb, amazing script which would seem complicated, but is made to look obvious, Christopher McQuarrie has made a piece of writing which some of the great murder writers would be truely proud of.
The beauty of this film is not purely down to it's script however. Kevin Spacey puts in yet another excellent performance as "Verbal", and he is joined by Postlethwaite, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio Del Toro, the particularly superb Gabriel Byrne and many others. Byrne as former corrupt cop Michael McManus demonstrates his skill as he combines his typical intimidating manner with a sense of love for the lawyer (Suzy Amis) who has made him go straight.
Added to the cast and the script is Bryan Singer as director. Singer would later go on to direct "X-Men" (2000) and it's sequel (2003), but as only his third film (after 1988's "Lions Den" and 1993's "Public Access"), it is this piece which demonstrates his true potential. Singer's image is excellent as there are one or two moments which are made ten-fold better as a result of particular camera angles. Singer generally helps to make this film the gem that it is.
So to summarise, there's little way to fault "The Usual Suspects". With a cast of some of the finest actors of the last few years, Brian Singer has had the resources to create this masterpiece. Without even the finest cast and director available however, no film is complete without a masterful script. This piece of writing which would eventually become Singer's brilliant movie, was superbly written by Christopher McQuarrie as he kept the plot flowing as it leads to it's powerful, revealing conclusion. "The Usual Suspects" is one to remember, and one to treasure.