It's crazy, I almost forgot
about The Usual Suspects. It used to be one of my favourite films. It's just
that over the years I've been so busy watching other films that I haven't gone
back to rewatch this masterpiece.
And that is what The Usual Suspects is, a masterpiece. Be in no doubt. This is why I love this guest post by Amila Gacanica - It reminded me of how special this film is. Her passion and genuine love for The Usual Suspect leaks all through this piece.
Have a butchers.
...
When
I first saw the Usual Suspects in my A-Level film studies class, it completely
transformed the way I watched movies. I was already a big film enthusiast, but
Suspects made me want to look deeper into films. After Suspects, I was more
analytical of every bit of information offered by the director.
When
people ask me about my favourite film, I base the answer on the impact that
film had on me. Sometimes I’ll mention Nightmare on Elm Street, simply because I
watched it when I was 9 years old and it truly scared the crap out of me when
it came to bedtime.
But
The Usual Suspects is by far my favourite film, because as soon as it finished
I left college, bought the film, and watched it again. I was so amazed by the
ending.
…
The Usual Suspects
(1995!!!) tells the story of five criminals brought together for an
interrogation (fun fact: all the actors were drunk in the famous interrogation scene)
about a truck hi-jacking. While held for a crime they didn’t commit, they hatch
a plan to get their revenge on the police. They pull the plan off perfectly.
While
out in LA, a lawyer called Kobayashi gets in contact with them on behalf of a
legendary criminal mastermind named Keyser Soze. Each one of the suspects has wronged
Soze at one point and to excuse their past wrongdoings he has set them a
mission. The survivors of this extremely dangerous mission stood to earn a
split of a massive $91m jackpot. What criminal could decline? The mission was
to interrupt a massive drug deal that’s taking place on board of a
boat, docked in San Pedro. They are instructed to destroy the
cocaine onboard and of course take the money afterwards. Obviously.
The
story is told through a series of flashbacks by one of the survivors, a
crippled small time crook, named Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey). He tells his story
to a police detective, Officer Kujan. Kint is one of two survivors telling the tale, the other is
in hospital with 65% of his body badly burnt, describing how Keyser Soze looked
like while FBI attempt to construct a picture.
...
There
is so much going on in this film. On one hand it’s a great action adventure
film, but there are hints of film noir peppered throughout it. Bryan Singer
does a great job directing this film in a superb style, making what could have
been an average caper storyline seem unique.
…
The
Usual Suspects made such a cultural impact that even for some who haven’t seen
the film, they know who Keyser Soze is. He is described as an international
underground criminal, who uses people like “pawns" to carry out his work.
Almost all the people doing his bidding do not know they are working for Keyser Soze. The film does a great job in building this mythical persona, this
puppet master that you are left asking the question pretty early on 'Who is
Keyser Soze?'
“The
greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
Even the cast didn’t know who he was. All five suspects thought they were Soze at
one point. Gabriel Byrne was particularly shocked at a film screening that he is said to have had a few words with the director.
…
As
the story nears to its end, Officer Kujan presses Verbal to admit that Keaton
(Gabriel Byrne) is Soze. Keaton was the only one (being an ex-cop) that could
have all the information on the five criminals, and have the knowledge to set-up
the whole botched mission.
Verbal
buys Kujan’s story. I bought Kujan’s story and I thought it was an amazing end
to an amazing film.
But
what happened next blew me away.
…
Verbal
is distraught after talking to Kujan and refuses to accept police protection.
As he leaves the police station, the FBI is faxing a photo-fit picture of
Keyser Soze provided by the other survivor in the hospital.
Kujan is seen talking to his colleague facing a board with
unsolved cases on it. Suddenly the camera is drawn to specific cases, and words
and phrases on the board - words and phrases that have been used by Verbal
during his interview with Kujan. Kujan finally realises that he’s been had and (in
shock) drops his mug of coffee. What’s written on the bottom of the mug? The word
‘Kobayashi’ (Kujan, you’re a mug mate).
For moral reason, I cannot tell you what happens next, just in
case you haven’t seen it. But you've probably guessed.
…
This
film was ahead of its time in 1995 and that is still the case today. It leaves
you with a lot of questions, one of them being, was Verbal that clever? Was the
whole story false?
When
the film was over, I jumped to my feet and started clapping and when a film
makes you want to physically do that, you know you’ve seen something special.
...
Thank
you to Mr Bear for giving the opportunity to ramble on about this fantastic
film. If you haven’t seen it, what is wrong with you?
