The gimmicky
The Usual Suspects is a fiendish maze of a crime story that is jaw-dropping on first viewing - and reveals several subtle shades, especially in regards to Kevin Spacey's performance, on a second going over. It's a clever collaboration between the ensemble cast, the visually arresting direction by Bryan Singer and a nimble script from Christopher McQuarrie. Tying it all together is the unsung hero of the feature, editor John Ottman. It was up to him to piece this complex and devilishly clever puzzle together and make sense of it all. Yeah it's pure trickery and not everyone enjoys the ride, but I do. I think it's a blast trying to figure out what's what -- what's true and what isn't.
Note: I believe most of it was true, just heavily embellished. I think Soze/Verbal -and the filmmakers- got a kick out of pulling a "Rashomon" on us all. I could be wrong, but for me, half the fun is in weighing the facts as presented and deciding upon their veracity for yourself. Even then, much of it remains perplexing, as perplexing as 1945/46s The Big Sleep. And as with Bogart & Bacall's Noir classic - sometimes it's enough to simply allow yourself to get swept away and give in to a films irresistible charms - its dialog, tone, performance- even if it does stretch logic.
* Back to
1995
