a masterpiece of cinematic intrigue and suspense

Rating: 10/10 (3 September 2002)

The Usual Suspects is, quite simply, a masterpiece of cinematic intrigue and suspense. At various points throughout its runtime, it is almost disarmingly comic, action-packed and insightful, yet at any given point when the film seems to be conforming to the cliches of its genre, the director is merely toying with the viewer and laying the foundations for one of cinema's most memorable climaxes.
The plot largely involves a police interrogation of Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) as to the events between the meeting of him and four other prolific criminals at a line-up and an arson attack on a suspected drug boat six weeks later. There is a series of flashbacks detailing how the band became implicated in the labyrinthine affairs of the fearsome criminal mastermind, Keyser Soze. This character is particularly fascinating, in spite of - or perhaps because of - the fact that he scarcely appears in the film.
The Usual Suspects benefits enormously from a lively (and Oscar-winning) script, especially during dialogue amongst the criminals themselves, but also because of the idiosyncracies of Verbal, who suffers from cerebral palsy. There are also several memorable acting performances, notably from Benicio del Toro, who steals every scene he speaks in with his bizarre and invariably profane accent.
Perhaps there are many weaknesses to this film, but the fact is that the strength of the conclusion is such that the viewer would be hard-pressed to recall them. The sheer originality of Bryan Singer's artistry overshadows any such flaws [Irish-American is one thing, but Gabriel Byrne's accent is surely closer to Bray than Boston]. The director preys on the assumptions and prejudices of the audience to draw it in, and as the final piece of the puzzle is about to be placed, the folly of these assumptions is exposed in spectacular fashion.
I feel anything further would be a spoiler so I'll conclude. Watch this movie, fall for its charms, take the bait and be utterly bowled over by what transpires. . .