Don't take two hours out of your life and waste on this total screw-up

Rating: 1/10 (5 November 2005)

Before I watched the movie, I've read many comments comparing "The Usual Suspects" with "L.A. Confidential", which concluded that this one is even better. So I held an eminent anticipation on it. But two hours later, I just could not understand why this nonsense got so much higher votes and evaluation than "L.A. Confidential".
I'm saying this, not because of the labels people usually will put on this movie: confusing, twisted and so on. Actually, I don't think the plot is hard to comprehend. To be honest, I figured out who Kaiser is just at the very beginning. It was so obvious.
The reason is, many fabulous elements in "L.A. Confidential", or should I say, a successful movie, are missing. First of all, the most important thing: the vivid sculpture of the characters. From "L.A. Confidential", we remember the three young cops, the evil captain, the gorgeous hooker, the sly and sneaky little old news reporter So many impressive roles there. But what is in "The Usual Suspects"? I feel sorry to say, nothing. Maybe Kevin Spacey's performance can be a little compensation, but not enough at all.
Second of all, the conflict. In "L.A. Confidential", conflicts are everywhere, between justice and crime, between righteousness and personal career, between love and cheat, between different parts or even in the deep soul of one part. While in "The Usual Suspects", without these conflicts, the movie is not dramatic and attractive but cadaverous and boring.
The third one, ambiance. In "L.A. Confidential", I can sense the emotion the director planed to deliver to us. Sometimes intensive, sometimes thrilling, sometimes dangerous, sometimes love-filling, sometimes nervous, sometimes horrifying.Well, when I watched this one, I almost fell asleep in the middle.
I don't think we need a fourth reason to prove this crap. I hate these plays which consider themselves intelligent and tricky enough to make up some mendacious tales to bluff the audience, and turn out to be so stupid and fake. There is always a wire-puller in such movies, who seems to be omnipotent and can do whatever he wants, conniving some brilliant schemes. But finally these schemes are always deliberately mystifying and illogical. I prefer real and organized films like "L.A. Confidential". You know, we audience are also smart.