Sleek and Stylish Thriller With Some Great Acting and Direction

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2007)

The movie opens 'last night' in San Pedro, California. A boat has been destroyed and twenty-seven men are dead. The only two witnesses are a cripple and a severely burned Hungarian that speaks of Keyser Soze. US Customs agent Dave Kujan is flown in from New York to interrogate the cripple--Verbal Kint, played by Kevin Spacey. What follows is a twisted story about five criminals in the midst of a cat-and-mouse game.
An ensemble cast of actors fills the shoes of the characters quite effectively. Gabriel Byrne plays Keaton--the bent cop desperate on going straight. Steven Baldwin and Benecio Del Toro play McManus and Fenster, two crooks working for a Californian mob. Kevin Pollack plays a petty thief named Todd Hockney, 'truly the one man that didn't give a f--- about anything.' Pete Postelwaithe plays a shadowy lawyer named Kobayashi, a creepy and enigmatic man working for...well, you'll have to wait and see. And, of course, Kevin Spacey plays Verbal Kint, the palsy victim who's actually quite an asset when it comes to big jobs.
From the opening scene to the very last shot, you are wanting to know what happens. The plot is confusing at times, but not in a frustrating way. The film raises a lot more questions than answers, but again, it is not frustrating. The ending is one of the most delightful and euphoric twists ever put onto film, and then you realize that you have been completely fooled--caught up in a storyteller's web.
The direction is perfect for the low-budget, independent nature of the movie. Bryan Singer's choice of clever shots and hidden clues that you don't pick up on until your second viewing shows a articulate and thoughtful director--one who truly cares about the craft. It's hard to imagine that this was only his second film.
The music by John Ottman adds another feeling to the movie--one of mystery and suspense. What surprised me about the score was the 'un-hip' feeling to it. His score is very unconventional and quite effective. His theme for Soze is magical and mysterious, breathing a legend into the character.
Finally, Christopher McQuarrie's script. One hell of a script. Without knowing that he spawned one of the most effective and popular mysteries ever made, I'm sure that he was surprised with its cult following--as well as his own Oscar win.
Truly a great thriller. Watch it as many times as you can. The first viewing is for the enjoyment. The second is pure revelation.