* * * * (four stars)

Rating: 9/10 (27 January 1999)

An absolutely fantastic film. Few films have ever kept me so deeply engrossed as this movie did. Every minute is vital to the film, thus a trip to the restroom during it will leave you utterly lost when you return.
Five criminals, Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Hockney (Kevin Pollak), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), and Verbal (Kevin Spacey) are dragged into a lineup in New York for a hijacking. While in jail, they plan a job together that will get back at the cops. Eventually this leads them out to California, and into the hands of Keyser Soze. A mythical crime lord. The whole movie is told in flashbacks, by Kint. He is the last survivor of the group, and is relating the tale to Special Agent Kujon (Chazz Palminteri).
This is a movie that must be watched several times to be fully appreciated. The first time I saw it, I was utterly lost for the first half hour or so of the film. Now, after having seen it several dozen times, I still pick up little things that I've missed. Special mention must be made of Kevin Spacey's unparalleled acting in this movie, which he won a best supporting actor oscar for.
* * * * - classic, see it right away