The Usual Suspects

UK Release Date. 25 August 1995

Certification. 18

Running Time. 1 hour 46 mins

Director. Bryan Singer

Cast. Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Spacey.

Rating. 89%

Review.

"Keaton always said, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him." Well, I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze."

There was a freshness about The Usual Suspects. Five felons - the eponymous usual suspects - meet at a seemingly random police lineup, but Christopher McQuarrie's intricate storyline spans two, time frames - the present-day interrogation of Verbal Klint (Kevin Spacey) and a series of flashbacks leading up to the dramatic climax, an apparently botched drug deal leaving 27 dead bodies in San Pedro harbour. Christopher McQuarrie received the 1996 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Usual Suspects.

Director Bryan Singer ensures The Usual Suspects is a vehicle for the ensemble cast to have a rare old time immersed in these hip characters. A young Benicio Del Toro provides much of the light relief as the incomprehensible Fred Fenster. At times, his dialogue is almost indecipherable - both to the audience and other characters. However, as the film progresses the ominous spectre of Keyser Soze looms larger, ever more menacing. Is Keyser Soze real or a myth? A 'spook story' criminals tell their children?

 

The Usual Suspects is awash with instantly recognisable lines of dialogue. Combined with an accomplished resolution to the narration it is perhaps not surprising that The Usual Suspects garners such affection from audiences, 25 years after its release.