The Usual Suspects (Movie Review)

Movie Review
The Usual Suspects
1995
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey
Directed by: Bryan Singer

There are times when a story doesn’t make all that much sense but the film is entertaining nonetheless. While Bryan Singer did a good job putting The Usual Suspects together, the script he was confined to didn’t give him much to work with. It’s not the film as a whole is bad; the huge problem is that the beginning doesn’t make all that much sense. It gets better by the end but it feels like too little too late.

A group of five small-time crooks led by Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne) attempt to rob a jewellery dealer when everything goes horribly wrong. The story is told through the eyes of “Verbal” Roger Kint (Kevin Spacey) as he’s telling the tale to investigators of the case in exchange for immunity. Kint reveals how the group was haphazardly put together and started off doing small jobs until they pulled a heist and got in over their head. Things go from bad to worse for the rag-tag bunch when they’re blackmailed to do a job for Keyser Soze; a mysterious Turkish drug dealer who’s identity is well-guarded but is still one of the most feared and ruthless mobsters around. Soze’s job puts the group in serious jeopardy. When they attempt to do what Soze asks, things get even bleaker.

The film stumbles out of the blocks. It takes some stretching of logic as to understand why this group of guys would decide to team up for this heist. It feels like the only way this could happen is through the pages of a Hollywood script rather than occur naturally in reality. Because the introduction is so faulty, it hurts the rest of the movie because you’re kept wondering how everything in the story keeps progressing. You’re left waiting for an explanation that never comes.

The poor introduction could be a result of the multiple plot twists to keep the viewer questioning what will happen next. The problem is that these twists are not well executed all the time. Oddly enough though, there are a couple of instances where it is done to perfection and it give the viewer a sense of amazement that they something truly interesting happened. The final twist which ends the movie is excellent and nearly saves the film. In fact, because of the incredibly strong ending, some may actually forget about how bad the beginning of the movie was.

The acting is fantastic as well. Gabriel Byrne plays the conflicted former conman perfectly. You get the real sense that the man feels a strong compulsion to go back to his sleazy ways but doesn’t want to lose the straight and narrow life that he has developed for himself since reforming. Same goes for Kevin Spacey who plays the guy who seems not to be all there. His interaction as Roger Kint with Jack Baer (Chazz Palminteri) is very entertaining as it both acts as a narrative to the story as well as helps develop the complexity of Kint’s character. Spacey feels very natural in the shoes of Kint and gives an amazing performance. The entire supporting cast do a really good job, especially Kevin Pollak, at helping add to the whole scenario.

The Usual Suspects has a lot going for it but only once the movie is over does the viewer feel some redemption for watching a poorly started film. It falls on its face out of the gates and stumbles around until it finishes amazingly strong. If you’re looking to be blown away by a superb ending, watch this film. However, be warned that the journey there isn’t at all smooth. Whether it’s worth it in the end is highly debatable.

☆☆