The Usual Suspects
In 1995, we had the release of two startling, shocking films. Each was released within a month of each other. One, of course, was Se7en. The other was THE USUAL SUSPECTS. One is a glorious return to film noir with a graphic and unsettling subject. The other is another return to film noir, this time with a plot that circles around and around and finally hitting its mark. And boy does it hit its mark.
I remember clearly what happened on that day in August. My family wanted to go see A Walk in the Clouds and I wasn't in the mood to see Keanu Reeves. Another film was playing in the biggest theater in the multiplex. THE USUAL SUSPECTS? What was that? Looking at the poster, I figured I would watch it anyway. Buying the ticket, I hurried in to catch it. Looking around, I noticed a complete lack of audience. There was about 25 people total. So I sat down and hoped for the worst. Little did I know that by the end, I would have seen one of the best films of 1995.
Reading back over the reviews, I've noticed that there are a lot of people that do not like it. Roger Ebert said that the plot that he did understand didn't interest him. He gave the film a very bad review. After I saw it the first time, I knew I had just witnessed a great film. I immediately saw it again the next day. There is something quite refreshing about a film that has a plot that is hidden under deceit, lies, and misgivings. Nothing is clear, because everything is told from the perspective of one person. Could that person be lying? Or is he just a pawn of a darker and more evil force and doesn't realize it? Maybe he's just giving us the facts. The shades of gray allow viewers to decide for themselves.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS begins in the present day. Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey) has been arrested for being in the location of a massive explosion on a Hungarian boat. Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) wants to get the truth out of Kint, but Kint has already posted bail. In about two hours, he will be a free man. Kujan has Kint brought into his office where he asks Verbal to retell the story. Kint begins, and the film jumps back six weeks. An armored car filled with gun parts was hijacked, and the cops are rounding up the usual suspects: Spencer McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Fred Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollack), and Verbal Kint. They are all locked up for a few hours, and interrogated one by one. Verbal says that the cops were the ones at fault. Had they not locked up five criminals together, nothing would have happened.
But something did happen. The five plan a heist of the New York City's finest taxi service. Criminals could buy policemen and their squad cars to get them into the country safely. But they are criminals and they can't quit. Dean Keaton used to be a cop but was fired for criminal behavior. Keaton is trying to get his life back in order, but the cops won't leave him alone. Keaton is virtually forced to side with the other four "suspects." All of this leads up to the Hungarian ship, which contains $91 million dollars worth of cocaine. But the bloodbath seems peculiar considering that the coke could not be found. So what was Kint and the others doing there?
Approached by Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite), the five were told that they must do it or else they would be killed. If they did it, the ones who lived would be able to split the $91 million amongst themselves. Kobayashi is the lawyer of Keyser Soze. Soze is the mysterious leader: a man so evil that criminals shudder at the very name. But is Soze real? Or is he just a myth to scare? Kint says, "I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze." The power Soze has over criminals is startling, but most cops don't believe in him. But Kint believes.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS is a postmodernistic tale in the purest sense of the word. Controlled by an invisible force, criminals will do anything to please Soze. But he is like a god... he can eliminate any one he chooses, and replace him with another. Human life is of no importance to Soze. These types of controlling forces is not unusual. We've seen it done in Jurassic Park, Dark City, and The Truman Show. But here, the presence is more frightening because we never see the controller. All five of these men virtually cower at the sound of Soze's name. Soze is the ultimate in evil: a force so morbid that he can do anything he wants without ever showing his face. In one scene, Kobayashi tells them, "You can't be betrayed if you have no people." This power is a frightening aspect, and the film plays it out as skillfully as you will ever see.
Director Bryan Singer has only done one film prior to this, Public Access. But THE USUAL SUSPECTS is an incredible improvement as he shows the makings of a great film maker. Thankfully, this film isn't completely story. The style is vivid and luscious, more like a film noir of the 40s. Singer's of visuals is surprisingly effective, especially during the final scene which is completely dependent on visuals. You know when some critics say films should show and not tell? This is what they were talking about. The final moment requires the full attention of the audience or else it doesn't work. And the final moment is quite possibly the most shocking ending to a movie ever. Singer will probably be a household name someday. His next film, Apt Pupil, is supposed to be one of the most horrifying films of recent years. I hope so.
Two of the most important aspects of THE USUAL SUSPECTS are done by the same person, which is rather unusual. John Ottman not only edited the film, but he wrote the musical score. And while it may seem strange to have the same person doing quite unrelated jobs, Ottman does them very successfully. His editing is exquisite with sure-handed cuts. His skill provides the film with a lot of suspense. The final scene also incorporates some great editing. But Ottman is an even better song writer. His score is haunting, thematically rich, and stunning. A full orchestral score accompanies the film, and it's surprisingly effective. His score makes the final scene a complete horrifying moment.
As you can tell, this is one of those films that lives and dies on its final scene. Writer Christopher McQuarrie won an Oscar for his screenplay and completely deserved it. Some critics call it ploying, but it's fascinating entertainment at its best. Full of smart and witty dialogue, the screenplay does something most films fail to do: surprise with a disturbing ending. The ending is what it's all about. Arguably, it's the best sequence as everything falls apart (or rather comes together). It's a masterful work of film making. If Singer wanted to show producers what he could do, all he would have to do is show that one scene. McQuarrie is mostly responsible for making it work. His screenplay leads up through a maze of tricks, deceit, and surprises. Never in a million years had I guessed what was coming. The first time you see this is for the initial impact. The rest of the times you go back to see if it all works. Surprisingly, it all fits together very well. Ebert says he didn't understand it. I did, so maybe Ebert should see it more. Or maybe I'm just smarter than him. No... that couldn't be it.
Kevin Spacey is a miracle. This is the film that jump-started his career. This, and Se7en. He starred in both, and both had a similar shocking surprise ending. Kevin Spacey's face works perfectly as a mystery itself. Hidden behind his cute and seemingly innocent front, underneath lies a man waiting to scare us. His performances in both of these films accomplish that. His smaller stature makes him that much more frightening. But here, he is a pawn of everything around him. Keyser Soze is in charge, and he can't stop what will happen in the end. As you know, Spacey received an Oscar for this performance. But it's not just him. Gabriel Byrne does a great job as Dean Keaton who's trying to get back on the right track. Stephen Baldwin is effective and scary as McManus. Benicio Del Toro is funny as Fenster, the comic relief guy. Kevin Pollack is good as the cynical Hockney ("Really? I live in Queens. You got a team of monkeys working around the clock on this?"). Pete Postlethwaite has amore obligatory role, but he's actually quite frightening. Chazz Palminteri is very, very good as Kujan. His reaction in the final scene is more than perfect. And Suzy Amis is a comforting, human character. Obviously, she's the most human of them all. A cast of this type deserves recognition.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS is rated R for strong language, violence, and some gore. This is a masterpiece of film making. A film so original in the way it handles the events. It's not original in the sense of its elements. But combined, it's quite a unique story. And nothing will prepare you for the ending. It shocked me. It shocked everyone in the theater. During the credits, we stood up and applauded it for its audacity at taking the route so many studios would have wanted to avoid. Bryan Singer is a guy to be reckoned with. Teamed up with John Ottman and Christopher McQuarrie, we can expect some great things from them in the future.