Rating: Summary: A wonderful film from beginning to end! Review: This is one of the best films it has been my priveledge to see, and one of the few I cannot stop thinking about. Some people object to the ending, or say that once you figure it out it makes it boring or predicatable. Wrong! I figured out the identity of Soze early on, but I have to say when the ending came on, my jaw dropped on the floor nevertheless. There's something there that will surprise you no matter what. The best things about it are the uniformly excellent cast, led by the ever-incredible Kevin Spacey as a crippled crook Verbal, and the wonderful Gabriel Byrne as the intelligent, crooked ex-cop Keaton, who is trying to go straight. And kudos to Pete Postlewaite as Soze's lawyer. Menace and good manners were never so brilliantly combined. The witty, startling script is full of memorable one-liners, and incredible twists. Don't take my word for it, watch it for yourselves.
Rating: Summary: Kevin Spacey is the Man Review: I admit when I first heard about this movie, I had no desire to see it. But then my buddy sat me down and made me watch it from beginning to end. I watched it once, and I have loved it from that day to this. The cast is incredible, the story is twisted and interesting, and to top it all off, it's very, very funny. I didn't really think much of Kevin Spacey before this movie, but after this one performance, I was hooked. His ability to physically and emotionally transform himself completely into Verbal Kint really blew me away. I have been a major Spacey fan ever since. If anyone has yet to see this, I pity you. It is really one of the best kept secrets in the video world.
Rating: Summary: What's the Fuss? Review: Part of the 'cult' appeal of this film, I'm fairly sure, lies in its trick ending. This is all very well, but it's not a trick ending in the sense that it provides any clue to preceding events. This reduces it to nonsense. The Usual Suspects is well acted, though shoddily filmed, clearly low-budget and cringingly self conscious. The premise itself - five criminals rounded up by a character who may or may not be Kaiser Szoze to commit a crime that we are never sure was actually committed - is the stuff of graduate film school. It's clever, but finally not clever enough. If you're going to take the best part of two hours to play an elaborate hoax, make sure the hoax is worth waiting for. This isn't. Don't give youself a headache trying to figure out what the ending really means. It doesn't mean anything at all. This, apparently, is Bryan Singer's 'trick' on his audience. Let's hope that Bryan is quite finished.
Rating: Summary: What's the Fuss? Review: Part of the 'cult' appeal of this film, I'm fairly sure, lies in its trick ending. This is all very well, but it's not a trick ending in the sense that it provides any clue to preceding events. For all the central characters to have spontaneously exploded would have been as relevant, certainly more entertaining to watch. The Usual Suspects is well acted, though shoddily filmed, clearly low-budget and cringingly self conscious. The premise itself - five criminals rounded up by a character who may or may not be Kaiser Szoze to commit a crime that may or may not have been committed - is the stuff of graduate film school. It's clever, but finally not clever enough. If you're going to take the best part of two hours to play an elaborate hoax, make sure the hoax is worth waiting for. This isn't. And as for the 'the trick is that there is no trick' school of thought; Sorry, that doesn't cut it either. Something either works or it doesn't.
Rating: Summary: A modern classic Review: Isn't it strange that almost every time a funny, entertaining, intelligent film like this one comes out, it does poorly at the box office only to later achieve its deserved classic status when it's released on home video? Kevin Spacey gives one of the best of his always cool, always creepy performances; personally, I think he should have been nominated for best actor since everybody else seems to be supporting his contribution to the film. If this movie has one flaw, it's that the main bulk of the story is too complicated to understand upon a first viewing--you probably won't understand much of what goes on until the second or third time you see it, after you already know the movie's big secret. And about the movie's surprise ending, the people who claim that The Usual Suspects dies once you know its tricks are completely incorrect. Think about Psycho or Citizen Kane or The Empire Strikes Back, movies that all end with mind-warping twists like this one; they're actually more entertaining when you watch them again because you get to see how the filmmakers build up to the big conclusion, and because you get to trace all the little clues that make the final revelation seem painfully obvious now that you already know what it is. A great movie for those of you who liked Pulp Fiction (the guy who played Zed even has a role!), and one of my favorites.
Rating: Summary: Usual Suspects to Usual Stars Review: Believe it or not, Usual Suspects was actually somewhat of a sleeper when it first came out in 1995...but no longer. Suspects combines a great cast, an intricate story (don't find too many of those these days), and outstanding directing. What was likely the breakout role for Kevin Spacey is quickly becoming a cult film noir worthy of quality DVD collections and has even reached the level of being consistently quoted by fraternity boys... "Give me the keys ..." Joining Spacey is Stephen Baldwin (one of those Baldwins) which turns in a solid performance as a slightly nuts, yet cool under pressure, McManus (also check him out in Threesome); Chazz Palminteri (Analyze This, Bullets over Broadway) plays a tough acting fed who gets played like violin; Benicio Del Toro who does a great job with smooth Fenster. I'll stop here, but the whole cast is great. The beauty of this movie is how the story develops and leads your little brain into believing the events, names and characters that populate it. And when the puzzle finally seems to come together and you think you are so cool for having "known it all along" and satisfied to have watched a great movie, director Bryan Singer and writer Chris McQuarrie tear the puzzle apart like your mean older brother would do only to leave you with a thousand pieces that could come together in a completely other way. Watch Suspects over and over again and discover the subtleties and clues that are sprinkled around the film. You'll be continually amazed and entertained.
Rating: Summary: BEST ENDING EVER Review: THIS MOVIE ROCKS MAN. IT IS FULL OF ACTION AND HAS SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUCKLE UP BEFORE WATCHING. IF YOU LIKE ACTION, SUSPENCE, AND A GOOD THRILL RIDE THIS MOVIE IS FOR YOU. YOU WILL WANT TO GO BACK AND WATCH IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!
Rating: Summary: Best movie Review: This is one of the rare films that gets better and better as time goes on. There are jokes, clues and situations that you notice more and more as you watch it. As always Kevin Spacey is the best.
Rating: Summary: The Best Film Ever...... Review: What can i say except if you haven't seen this film you haven't lived!
Rating: Summary: Absolutely the best movie I have ever seen! Review: I can't put a review of this movie into words. Simply stunning and brilliant. The acting is wonderful. I can honestly say that Kevin Spacey is the most talented actor in Hollywood today. Anyone who has not seen this movie has to see it, at least once.
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