Winner of two 1995 Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Original Screenplay, this masterful, atmospheric film noir enraptured audiences with its complex and riveting storyline, gritty, tour-de-force performances (including an OscarÂ(r)-winning* turn by Kevin Spacey) and a climax that is truly deserving of the word stunning. Also starring Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak and Pete Postlethwaite, this 'thoroughly engrossing film (HBO) is so gripping and diabolically clever (The Wall Street Journal) that it becomes a maze you'll be happy to get lost in (Los Angeles Times)! Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that the mythic crime lord not only exists, but was also responsible for drawinghim and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro Harborleaving few survivors. But as Kint lures his interrogators into the incredible story of this crime lord's almost supernatural prowess, so too will you be mesmerized by a lore that is completely captivating from beginning to end!
::READERS REVIEWS::
Exercise in futility - To paraphrase Jeff Shannon's fair warning: a) this production ultimately makes little or no sense at all, and; b) the final scene renders the entire movie pointless. An enjoyable cast (Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palmintieri, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benicio Del Toro) pursues a twisted plot where much suspension of disbelief is expected. Consequently, its audience should extend a considerable degree of tolerance. Also, despite the admittedly intriguing premise, true wit is lacking, for which I would instead turn to Rene Clair's 'And Then There Were None;' Howard Hawks' 'The Big Sleep' or to Herbert Ross' 'The Last Of Sheila.'
Complex Scheme, w ith Surprise Ending - The Usual Suspects stars Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Benico Del Toro and Kevin Pollak as five small-time criminals that get involved with a strange scheme I found hard to understand. The first scene is a line-up for a trumped up charge and as they wait together a plot is hatched to combine forces.
Several crimes are committed successfully, leading up to one big hit for $91 million dollars. Beyond that there is a sub-plot of Keyser Soze, a terrible, secretive, underworld killer gang leader that no one can prove is real, other than stories of his cold, horrendous temper and killing binges.
Because some of the dialogue is not easily understood, it was hard to keep an interest in most of the movie. The final thirty minutes make the Usual Suspects worth watching, strange yet fascinating surprise ending.
See this movie, and see it again, and again - What do five criminals in a lineup do? 5 criminals in a lineup? This starting point already sets the tone of this movie. And it only gets better from here. This movie describes in flashbacks how a group of 5 criminals is gently or not so gently persuaded to do a job for the mysterious Keyzer Söse, a master criminal, the great puppet player. Every cut offers some new take on reality, offers yet another look at the interpersonal dynamics between the main characters and always leaves the viewer with the feeling that something is still amiss, like that puzzle piece which nearly but not perfectly fits, this nagging doubt in the back of ones head about a story too perfect to be true.
And thus we follow this gang on their path towards self destruction. Slowly all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, slowly one realizes that each and every move of them had somehow been preordained, that even in their rebellion they were still following the masterplan of Keyzer Söse.
The final scene, in which the agent interviewing Kevin Spacey manages to raise some of the obscurantist veil covering the whole real story is memorable and marvelous - and I will not say anymore here, not to spoil the movie for others.
The Usual Suspects (Special Editon) - Police investigating an exploded boat on a San Pedro pier discover 27 bodies and $91 million worth of drug money. The only survivors are a severely burned and very scared Hungarian terrorist and Verbal Kint, a crippled con-man. Reluctantly, Kint is pressured into explaining exactly what happened on the boat. His story begins six weeks earlier with five criminals being dragged in by New York police desperate for suspects on a hijacked truck and ends with the possible identification of a criminal mastermind. "The Usual Suspects" is a complicated puzzle of a movie that I you can't watch just once. An amazing original screenplay and tight direction keep up a substantial amount of tension throughout. Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chazz Palminteri all give top-notch performances. But it is Kevin Spacey that makes "The Usual Suspects" work on all levels. Enjoyable the first time you watch it, even more enjoyable the second time round.
great movie - all of actors together in this movie really makes worth watching again and again.
I have it on vhs,dvd and now blu-ray
A great suspenseful movie - I have seen this movie a dozen times and never get tired of it. I waited to get a copy at a good price and this answered that wait. The service is great. Delivery fast and the quality of the DVD is as if it was new (I purchased a used copy rated Very Good). I have since purchased another movie from the same supplier and anticipate it being another good buy.
Bad Movie - I am 67 years old and have seen lots of movies over the years. I don't consider myself a "prude", but as long as movies like this one are made the public will buy them and that is a crying shame. It makes a horrible example to young people and older people as well because the language is horrible (and to my way of thinking is not necessary).
To my way of thinking also, it was a ridiculous movie.
::AMAZON REVIEWS::
Bad MovieI am 67 years old and have seen lots of movies over the years. I don't consider myself a "prude", but as long as movies like this one are made the public will buy them and that is a crying shame. It makes a horrible example to young people and older people as well because the language is horrible (and to my way of thinking is not necessary).
To my way of thinking also, it was a ridiculous movie.
A great suspenseful movieI have seen this movie a dozen times and never get tired of it. I waited to get a copy at a good price and this answered that wait. The service is great. Delivery fast and the quality of the DVD is as if it was new (I purchased a used copy rated Very Good). I have since purchased another movie from the same supplier and anticipate it being another good buy.
Exercise in futilityTo paraphrase Jeff Shannon's fair warning: a) this production ultimately makes little or no sense at all, and; b) the final scene renders the entire movie pointless. An enjoyable cast (Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palmintieri, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benicio Del Toro) pursues a twisted plot where much suspension of disbelief is expected. Consequently, its audience should extend a considerable degree of tolerance. Also, despite the admittedly intriguing premise, true wit is lacking, for which I would instead turn to Rene Clair's 'And Then There Were None;' Howard Hawks' 'The Big Sleep' or to Herbert Ross' 'The Last Of Sheila.'
Complex Scheme, w ith Surprise EndingThe Usual Suspects stars Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Benico Del Toro and Kevin Pollak as five small-time criminals that get involved with a strange scheme I found hard to understand. The first scene is a line-up for a trumped up charge and as they wait together a plot is hatched to combine forces.
Several crimes are committed successfully, leading up to one big hit for $91 million dollars. Beyond that there is a sub-plot of Keyser Soze, a terrible, secretive, underworld killer gang leader that no one can prove is real, other than stories of his cold, horrendous temper and killing binges.
Because some of the dialogue is not easily understood, it was hard to keep an interest in most of the movie. The final thirty minutes make the Usual Suspects worth watching, strange yet fascinating surprise ending.
See this movie, and see it again, and againWhat do five criminals in a lineup do? 5 criminals in a lineup? This starting point already sets the tone of this movie. And it only gets better from here. This movie describes in flashbacks how a group of 5 criminals is gently or not so gently persuaded to do a job for the mysterious Keyzer Söse, a master criminal, the great puppet player. Every cut offers some new take on reality, offers yet another look at the interpersonal dynamics between the main characters and always leaves the viewer with the feeling that something is still amiss, like that puzzle piece which nearly but not perfectly fits, this nagging doubt in the back of ones head about a story too perfect to be true.
And thus we follow this gang on their path towards self destruction. Slowly all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, slowly one realizes that each and every move of them had somehow been preordained, that even in their rebellion they were still following the masterplan of Keyzer Söse.
The final scene, in which the agent interviewing Kevin Spacey manages to raise some of the obscurantist veil covering the whole real story is memorable and marvelous - and I will not say anymore here, not to spoil the movie for others.
