The Usual Suspects (1995)

It was the question that reigned supreme in 1995, "Who is Keyser Söze?" And the inevitable question that followed was who is Bryan Singer?

So the plot of this movie is an intricate web of crime and deceit which unfolds at an unrelenting pace, and delivers a full scope of movie magic for the viewer to enjoy. The gist of it is that five criminals of varying degrees and characters are unceremoniously picked up by the cops and forced to participate in a line-up - one of the funniest line-ups in movie history, the original idea of which was the inspiration starting point for the piece, you can just imagine the minds that took that single image and came up with one one of the most ingeniously twisted plots ever conceived.

Moving on, thrown together in a cell, these five criminals decide to do a job together, but it all goes awry when it is revealed that a legend of the criminal underworld called Keyser Söze has taken an interest in each of them.

Some movies and performances are just worthy, and always a joy, to rewatch...

This is the movie that launched the career of Bryan Singer, the young director had only made one independent feature film before this movie, but armed with an ingenious screenplay (which would win its author Christopher McQuarrie an Academy Award for best Screenplay), Singer, who would go on to direct some of the biggest blockbusters of our age, had a little movie of major impact to make. The film was shot in 35 days with a shoestring budget of 6 million, but the plot was so great that many actors took pay cuts to participate in movie magic.

The cast is stellar, in excellent roles in an excellent movie, but also with the freedom to play at their parts, the line-up scene earlier alluded to was supposed to be seriously, but the energy of the cast literally rewrote not only the direction of that scene, but of many enhancing aspects of the movie. You have Gabriel Byrne as a former cop gone astray, the main character at the cruzx of the mystery. Benicio Del Toro as the unintelligible Fred Fenster, originally not the first choice Del Toro would own the role making it his own, and getting the subtle nuances spot on which equalled big laughs. Stephen Baldwin, tired of being the exploited Baldwin, sick of indies, took the chance and has never been better in any role, ever (i mean, who seriously rates Stephen Baldwin for anything?). Kevin Pollack as the explosions freak with an explosive personality. Chazz Palminteri as the agent who will not let sleeping dogs lie. And last, but not least, Kevin Spacey, in his Academy Award winning supporting role of crippled conman Roger "Verbal" Kint, who would leap into cinematic history as the soul survivor of this crew, and into a new age of his career deserving of his talent.

Kevin Spacey winning this Academy Award is one of my personal favourite Oscar moments of all time. I remember it vividly as a particularly inspiring moment, already having seen the movie and rooting for him as I watched, it is one of the most dream affirming moments I have witnessed.

All I can say is that if you have not seen this piece of cinematic history you have to make the time to view it. I recently found out that Roger Ebert was not a fan, and I have mad respect for his opinion, but even the greatest reviewers get it wrong, because apart from him and a few other detractors, the general consensus is that this movie is a piece of genius, and I am in the heaviest of agreement in this regard. C'mon, when even Al Pacino states that turning down a role in this movie was the biggest mistake of his career, you have to take notice...

So The Usual Suspects is the 2nd movie watched from the 68th Academy Awards and the 47th Academy Awards movie watched overall since I started this blog. Kevin Spacey's win, one of the greatest Oscar moments.

nuff said...