The Usual Suspects, directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, is a masterclass in cinematic deception.
The film opens with a fiery boat explosion at the Port of Los Angeles, leaving only two survivors: a severely burned Hungarian mobster and Roger “Verbal” Kint (Kevin Spacey), a crippled con man with cerebral palsy.
Detective Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) interrogates Verbal, who recounts the intricate story of how he and four other criminals—Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Michael McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak), and Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro)—were brought together for a police lineup, which they used to plot their revenge.
Verbal’s captivating and seemingly disjointed narrative weaves a tale of escalating heists, double-crosses, and the ominous presence of the legendary, mythical crime lord, Keyser Söze.
As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a cast of memorable characters, including a slick fence named Redfoot (Peter Greene), a lawyer named Edie Finneran (Suzy Amis), and an associate of Keyser Söze, Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite).
The film expertly plays with the audience’s perceptions, blurring the line between truth and fabrication.
Just as Kujan believes he has unraveled the puzzle, the stunning final twist reconfigures everything we thought we knew, cementing the film’s reputation as a genre-defining thriller.
Dan Hedaya and Giancarlo Esposito round out the supporting cast.
The won two Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actor for Spacey and Best Original Screenplay for McQuarrie.
The Usual Suspects (Photo/Gramercy Pictures)
Reception for The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects grossed $3 million on its opening weekend in wide release, finishing fifth at the box office.
The film would gross $67 million worldwide.
Legacy
The Usual Suspects has left an undeniable mark on film history with its innovative narrative structure, which relies on an unreliable narrator, has been imitated countless times but rarely with the same effectiveness.
The film’s iconic and meticulously crafted ending is one of cinema’s most famous and celebrated reveals.
Its legacy is not just in its plot twist, but in its ability to challenge the viewer, demanding attention to every detail and rewarding it with a truly unforgettable experience and remains a benchmark for clever, complex storytelling in the crime genre.
