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The Usual Suspects on DVD (1995)

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Average rating: 83%
111114517920
4.0
from 17,307 members
 
Starring: Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Spacey, Suzy Amis
Director: Bryan Singer
Studio: MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 102 mins
Certificate: 18
Collections: 100 Cops & Robbers, 100 must-see movies
User collections: Top 10 Twists, Best thrillers and movies with a twist, Everybody Loves A Bad Guy, Films that play with your head., Mindblowing Films, Bishys Selection, My Favourite Films Ever, must-see-movies, Ajee - Movies that leave you thinkin, Tip Top Movies For A Good Night In!
Genres: Thriller
Languages: English
Dubbed: French
Hearing-impaired: English
Subtitles: Dutch, English, French
Released: 29/04/2002
Also Available on: Also Available on: BLU-RAY

Brief synopsis of The Usual Suspects

Director Bryan Singer's labyrinthine crime drama centers on five career criminals (played by Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, and Stephen Baldwin) who meet after being rounded up for a standard police line-up. Upon their release, the men band together to pull off an intricate heist involving $3 million worth of emeralds. Their success brings them to the attention of the enigmatic Keyser Soze, an unseen, nefarious, and mythic underworld crime figure who coerces them into pulling off an important and highly dangerous job. The scenes that follow make THE USUAL SUSPECTS one of the most fascinating crime thrillers in cinema history. Working from the Oscar-winning screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, Singer adroitly tells the complex story through flashbacks, cross-cutting, and voice-over narration. Such nimble handling of the intricacies of the nonlinear narrative adds to the suspense, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats until the clever, satisfying finale. Singer's expertise in the technical aspects of filmmaking--his use of a dioptic filter to keep two close-up faces in focus, as well as his inventive use of six-frame step printing--helped him earn his reputation as a visually impressive and stylish director. Filled with excellent performances from veteran actors (Kevin Spacey won his first Academy Award for his breakthrough role as Verbal Kint), THE USUAL SUSPECTS placed Singer squarely on the cinematic map.

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Critics Reviews

Tom Charity, LOVEFiLM
I must have seen Bryan Singer's brilliant 1995 mystery thriller three times, maybe more, but this supplementary disc (a) told me all sorts of background details I never knew; and (b) read more »
Rating of 5 stars out of 5 Radio Times

You can forgive Britain's major movie magazines for not spotting the impact this audacious thriller was going to have. Few had even heard of director Bryan Singer or screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, and there wasn't much feature potential in the jobbing actors of the mug-shot line-up. Yet, by the end of the year, it was vying with Shallow Grave and The Shawshank Redemption for the number one spot in most people's top tens and Kevin Spacey was suddenly the coolest actor in Hollywod. So what made this the must-see film of 1995? Was it because it gave the world the criminal mastermind Keyzer Soze? Maybe it was the intricacy of the flashback-packed script and the deft sleights of hand executed by its fledgeling director. Perhaps everyone admired the outstanding ensemble acting. Yes, Spacey stole the show and fully merited the best supporting actor Oscar for his mesmerising performance, but everyone in that rogues' gallery played their part to perfection, not to mention the mysterious Pete Postlethwaite and confused cops Dan Hedaya and Chazz Palminteri. Or was it simply that noticeboard that kept coming back to haunt everyone? Whatever the reason, this is a film that demands to be watched repeatedly — good old-fashioned pulp fiction told in the slickest 1990s style. A true modern classic.

Rating of 3 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Excellent, gripping thriller that plays tricks with its audience, leading it down one blind alley after another, dealing in deliberate confusion and double-cross. Its refusal to come clean until its final revelation may infuriate some, but it is part of i

Variety

"...An ironic, bang-up thriller about the wages of crime. A terrific cast of exciting actors socks over this absorbingly complicated yarn that's been spun in seductively slick fashion..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 4 starsUnusually good

A customer from Leeds, Yorkshire , 20/09/2003

Bryan Singer's film, the Usual Suspects is one of those rare gems that demands multiple viewings to confirm how great it was. Five felons are lined up and interrogated in a New York Police station and afterwards in their cell, they plot to get back at the NYPD. It soon becomes apparent however that a mythical crime lord, Keyser S?ze (a name that strikes fear into the heart of any criminal) is controlling the events that soon surround them. If you haven't already done so, buy this film and watch it, preferably in the wide screen format. The final two minutes consists of the most brilliantly edited piece of footage, soundtrack and theme music in the history of American cinema.

The Usual Suspects is one of the sharpest, most intelligent films I've ever viewed. McQuarrie's script deserved the Oscar it earned and Singer's direction should of gotten him one too. He manages to keep the complex film understandable to most casual viewers and he moves the all-star cast around well. The cast is also great: Spacey deserved his Oscar too, and Gabriel Byrne and Kevin Pollack were also deserving of recognition. This is one suburb film that throws a colourful cast of characters into a maze of well written intrigue and suspense. A personal favourite.

  98 out of 102 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsSecond only to The Prestige.

younglochinvar younglochinvar from Prestatyn [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/09/2007

How anyone can consider The Shawshank Redemption a greater acheivement than this is incomprehensible. One word - ORIGINALITY.

  37 out of 47 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsHow do you shoot the Devil in the back....?

Andyhjam from Stockport , 20/01/2004

This film defines the modern film noir thriller. By engrossing the viewer within its multi-layered story, Singer is able to provide a flawless performance from all the characters. Kevin Spacey acts as the seducer and reveals bit by bit the events leading to the climax by analysing the traits and lore surrounding each character. The unseen villain at the heart of the story is the perfect combination of film noir mystery and intrigue, only given a voice by his associate Pete Postlethwaite in another excellent performance.

The central themes of The Usual Suspects revolve around pride, honour, arrogance, betrayal and fear as methods to manipulate the human mind. The final act of the plot is well known, but it is still mesmerising again and again.

Each viewing of the film opens a new layer to the story or a new angle that was missed previously. If you haven't seen it, please do; if you have seen it - see it again.

  23 out of 23 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsThe Usual Suspects

LasVegas2010 from North West , 14/11/2003

Basically agreeing with the other two reviewers above, 'The Usual Suspects' is a clever and innovative movie with one of the best movie twists ever! I'd recommend it to anyone, and another surprising factor is that for a detailed and complex movie, it's very easy to follow and understand!

  20 out of 20 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 5 starsRound up the usual suspects

compcomps from Greater London , 07/06/2004

Every now and again a film comes along that is described as a gem. This is because the film just like a gem is a surprising pleasure to find especially amongst the mass expanse and typical rubble of moviedom. The Usual Suspects...is just such a gem!

The film is described as a classic by all who have seen it even though it was released as recently as 1995. The title of the film itself is said to be borrowed from the much earlier classic, Casablanca. When the film was released, it contained a host of 'unknowns'. However, do not associate the word 'unknowns' with 'untalented'; as is proved by the star of the film, Kevin Spacey, who picked up an Oscar for his mesmerising performance as Verbal Kint.

I confess that I will not try and give you a detailed synopsis of the film as I do not want to spoil your viewing (or perhaps more appropriately I would not know where to start my synopsis!) Quick Synopsis: Five Criminals Are Brought Together In A Police Line-Up.

If you are going to see the film for the second/third/whatever time, I hope you enjoy the film again and have fun trying to answer the immortal question: Who is Keyser Soze?

  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsUsual suspects - Bonus Disc.

Brian Collins from Essex. England. , 28/04/2007

Nothing to say about this Disc. I made a mistake and should not have ordered it. I didn't realise that it would be just talk and clips about how the film was made and information on the actors. My fault, others may like it.

  3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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