I bought the DVD of The Usual Supects a couple of years ago, based on some very high recommendations, and some excellent reviews. I was told to expect great things, and a great twist; I think it was because of this that I really hated it when I watched it. I found it to be boring, and ultimately predictable (I had worked out the “surprise” ending barely halfway through). In a way I was looking forward to watching this film again so I could really slate it, and get my teeth stuck in with a bad review. So knowing the exact plot and what to expect, I finally forced myself to sit through it…
The Usual Suspects is based on the lives of 5 criminals, or the usual suspects as they are known. 
They are called to a police line up to try and identify one of them as a thief who stole a van full of guns. While none of them are charged, putting together the 5 criminals leads to them decided to pull off a “job”. While most of them are strangers to each other, they all have their own unique talents, and so decide to go ahead with the plan.
One job leads to another, and before long they are hired by a mysterious lawyer called Mr Kobayashi, who claims to be working for an even more mysterious Keyser Soze. Keyser Soze is an enigma, a legend, and an urban myth. He is likened to the devil, even the boogeyman, and even his existance is uncertain.
And so out intrepid 5 find themselves being controlled by this mystery man (if he even exists). 27 dead people later and the question remains - who is Keyser Soze??!
I was very surprised to find myself enjoying watching this film. Knowing the exact ending made me notice things throughout the film I had not originally seen on my first viewing. It was unexpected that knowing what to expect, made this film all the more interesting. The acting is solid even though none of the stars are what might be called A-List (Steven Baldwin for example :D). This film was cheap to make in comparisons to modern blockbusters, but that is never a problem on screen. There are even a few explosions to keep everyone happy.
The film, whilst a definite improvement on my first viewing, is still only average. Nothing much really happens, and its certainly the elements of surprise and the twisting plot that has helped it to score so highly. Worth watching, but now you know there is a twist, I may have just spoilt the whole thing for you too…
Rating: 6/10
Summary: Not perfect, but better than the ‘Usual’ Hollywood junk
Memorable moment: [0:08:05] - A line up, but no straight faces
Top 100 position: 18
IMDb: The Usual Suspects
Buy it from: Amazon
Films remaining: 85
Yo dude!
Nice to see an update and that you are continuing your IMDB quest, albeit at a lot slower pace. Thanks for the e-mail and sorry I haven’t replied yet, but it’s so difficult finding the time to get on the Internet and when I do, it’s SOOOOO SLLLLOOOOOWWWWW…..
Anyway, this is just a quick note to say hi, hope you are well and keep smiling and nodding!
Elaine xx
P.S. Any ideas on how to raise about 10,000 GBP by September? ;P
Elaine
March 29th, 2005
I have to disagree. I think this is a marvellous film, and deserves a much higher rating. Did you know that apart from the actual reading of the names, the line-up was entirely adlibed?
Johnno
March 29th, 2005
Its not as marvellous as one might hope. And did you know that the line-up was supposed to be a serious scene but as the actors couldn’t stop laughing, Brian Singer used the funny clips instead?
Jeronimo
March 29th, 2005
I thought it was. Did you know in the line up they used professional actors instead of trained monkeys?
Johnno
March 29th, 2005
Yes. Did you know that Kevin Spacey gets his name from the fact that his mother was Venusian?
Jeronimo
March 29th, 2005
Did you know that Venus sounds almost exactly like penis?
Johnno
March 29th, 2005
The answer is, only slightly… only slightly…
Johnno
March 29th, 2005
OMG! An update! Well done sire!
Even if I do disagree with you’re comments, I’ll defend your right to the death to say them.
Y2Neil
April 2nd, 2005