The Usual Suspects is one of those films which is the film of it's own time. There are people from later generations who don't find this film very interesting and that is because they can sense the end from the very first few minutes but for people who watched it when nothing like that has came out, for those people The Usual Suspects is an amazing experience.
From great acting to intriguing screenplay, The Usual Suspects has all components required in a film knit in a perfect order and form.
Kevin Spacey's acting is at it's very best, so is every other acting. A character which even appears for two odd minutes has a strong presence in this film.

Bryan Singer's The Usual Suspects received widespread acclaim and commercial success when it was released in 1995. By drawing together a stellar cast to tell a convoluted tale, he created an entertaining take on the heist movie. Five criminals, McManus (Baldwin), Keaton (Byrne), Fenster (Del Toro), Hockney (Pollak) and Verbal (Spacey), are pulled in by the cops for a line up. Subsequently released, it becomes apparent that they were drawn together for a reason, when a spokesman for the elusive criminal mastermind Keyser Soze approaches them. Soze is a sinister and widely-feared gangster who wants them to raid a ship containing a drug shipment, kill everyone on-board and collect a large sum of cash.

Told primarily through flashback, by Verbal as the police interrogate him after the event, the mystery deepens and the tension builds to a surprising twist. it is this revelation that is the film's crowning glory, and its weakest point. The surprise is so unexpected that you could kick yourself for not seeing it coming. However, with the benefit of hindsight there are few clues that would enable you to work it out and hence the effect is rather contrived.

All the main actors do a great job in portraying their varied characters although it has to be said that none really inspire much sympathy. Spacey, in particular, is especially effective and gives the most memorable performance of the film; the Academy obviously agreed. The result is a baffling but entertaining story worth watching for the climax and the on-screen connection of some of Hollywood's most versatile and distinctive actors.

If plagiarism were a crime in film techniques, director Bryan Singer would be imprisoned for life. Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie would be serving a similar sentence. However, since it is not, Singer and MacQuarrie (who have joined forces again after the not-so-successful PUBLIC ACCESS) took advantage and duplicated nothing but the best. From CASABLANCA to PULP FICTION, and even a version of a line (intentionally or otherwise) from BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.

Many people oppose watching a film with a twist a second time. I disagree. By watching it again you can observe how the director and the screenwriter have hidden and revealed clues, how they have tried to steer the audience away from the ending. First time is for entertainment. Second time is for art. This film is certainly worthwhile to see again. To date, I have watched it five times. (Two of those five times I thought, 'well, I'll just watch about half-an-hour,' but ended up watching the entire film because it is so entertaining.) I'm not exactly a noir fan, so it is assured that this particular crime film appeals to a wider audience.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS has a skilled director, an engrossing screenplay, and ten praiseworthy performances. The film runs a fast 105 minutes. Don't miss a minute of it.

The Usual Suspects is the best type of great movie. It is not a great movie because of the special effects, but because of the plot. While I would never ruin the movie by revealing the plot beyond what is provided on this site, I will say that The Usual Suspects shows what happens when you have a great plot, great writing, a good director at the top of his game, and a talented cast (Kevin Spacey is first among equals) all working together to produce a great crime film. The Usual Suspects gets five stars out of five and I would highly recommend it.

(stagevu) Excellent Quality!! Awesome Great Classic. Cast of Character lineup is great. Every character played there part very well. Great storyline. Everything about this movie is good. I give it 10/10. Don't pass this one up, this can be added to personal collection, a keeper and a must watch. You won't be disappointed. Brilliant!!! Enjoy!!!

The Usual Suspect is one of those films which tell you that seeing is believing. Don't get me wrong it was a very good film and I am glad I finally got the chance to see it but with critics going on and on about it, they kind of kill the magic of the movie. However that really did not hinder my enjoyment as I decided to treat this just like any other movie. Basic concept of 5 cons on various heist missions until one goes terribly wrong and then the authorities try to establish what went wrong hearing this from the account of one of the crippled crooks (Kevin Spacey). Gabreil Bryne was a excellent in his role as the lead crook and Benico Del Toro was also a stand out performance but we all know that Kevin Spacey was the man who took joy in playing the audience like a piano. A film can start of slow but the ending is the most important thing in the whole thing and I am glad to say that this ending was nothing short of a slap in the face.

'The Usual Suspects' has received a lot of comment for its killer twist ending, which while by no means the first in movie history, has proved to be enormously influential (stand up Messrs. Fincher and Shyamalan...). But this movie is so much more than a surprise ending! It is a meticulously scripted, faultlessly acted masterpiece that stands up to repeated viewings. Every single time I watch it I notice some new detail, or get more enjoyment out of a performance or scene.

This movie really put Kevin Spacey on the map, but everyone in the ensemble cast is outstanding, even Stephen Baldwin(!), who has never appeared in a movie this good before, or since. I also got a kick out of the Paul Bartel ( 'Death Race 2000', 'Eating Raoul') cameo, and the ultra-cool Peter Greene's ('Laws Of Gravity', 'Pulp Fiction') all too brief appearance. Bartel is sorely missed, and Greene one day (mark my words!) will become the star he deserves to be.

Director Bryan Singer has yet to live up to the promise shown here with his subsequent movies, the average 'Apt Pupil' and the disappointing 'X-Men'. For all the acclaim he and the (admittedly superb) cast have received, the real star of 'The Usual Suspects' is Christopher McQuarrie's sensational script, one of the finest of the modern era, and one that genuinely deserved it's Oscar.

It really doesn't get any better than this!! One of the greatest movies ever made, any time, any where. A truly unforgettable experience.

Out of the mind of Christorpher McQurrie comes this incredible story of a man in search of the devil. The film is called " The Usual Suspects" and what could be more appropriate than an unusual movie about five suspects who are anything but usual. The story originates with the only survivor of what the police conclude was a murderous and explosive drug deal gone bad. His name is Roger Kint (Kevin Spacey is perfect) also known as 'Verbal.' From the mouth of this innocent storytelling, con-artist comes the fantastic tale of how he and his fellow criminals, Stephen Baldwin, is Michael McManus, Benicio Del Toro is Fred Fenster and Kevin Pollak as Todd Hockney were originally assembled and then set-up. Beginning with a mix-up by law enforcement to put several guilty men together in the same line up, the tale proceeds cross country and culminates with a powerful, but mysterious kingpin by the name of Keyser Soze. It's through his attorney, Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite), the men learn they are marked for death unless they undertake a dangerous assignment. The center piece of the Unusual group is their leader, a remarkable individual named Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne, incredible performance). What transpires in this movie from moment to moment is a lesson in sleigh of hand. What we and the police Dave Kujan, (Chazz Palminteri) are told is not what we see. Conversely, what we see is not what we have been told. In the end, this film with it's haunting theme by John Ottman, is nothing short of incredible. A superb classic in both mystery and action entertainment, by Bryan Singer. A great film indeed. ****