A real villain with menace who may not even exist!

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2009)

I'm posting here to have real good moan. Not at the film which is absolutely stunning but the moronic comments posted here.
Point 1 - Gabriel Byrne's accent? A number of posts complain about Mr Byrne's stupid accent. It is an Irish accent. He is from Dublin. It is HIS accent!!
Point 2 - I guessed the plot twist? No you didn't. Why do I say this? Because the vast majority of smart arses who say they guessed the plot twist hate the film. I think the reality is that these people feel some inadequacy about being duped and then not getting the twist at the end. Well I didn't get the twist and for me it made the film even more enjoyable. Just take it on the chin like I did.
Point 3 - anyone of them could have been Keyser Soze? Sorry did I miss something? Keysor Soze could be the greatest movie villain of all time that doesn't even exist. Is Verbal Kint Key Soze? Or Kobayashi perhaps? The fact is we are left not knowing - Keyser Soze could be the most elaborate confidence trick of all time which adds to the films overwhelming charm.
So why is The Usual Suspects so good? Whilst all the actors give a first class performance (Byrne's struggle between staying on the good side of the law or accepting what he is, Baldwin's psychotic lust for the big job or Spacey's persona as a loner and low life), for me Pete Postlewaite steals the film. Steven Spielberg has stated that he considers him to be the best character actor on the planet and here is a fine example of his work.
Mysterious, sometimes sinister, lulling the 5 protagonists with an air of vulnerability stemming from his fear of not carrying out his masters orders, he probably only appears in the film for no more than 15 minutes and yet his presence is there throughout.
The film isn't perfect (no film can rightly lay claim to perfection)but as an entertaining and engaging thriller its pretty damn close.
So in summary, accept the film for what it is - a cracking yarn which ramps up tension about a monster gangster who may just be a figment of Kint's and Kobayashi's imagination. For me it's in the same class as LA Confidential as a 90's thriller par excellence.
If you haven't seen it buy it - its a must have for your collection.