The Usual Suspects poster & wallpaper

Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Gabriel Byrne

When a truck loaded with stripped gun parts is hijacked outside of Queens, five notorious thieves become overnight guests of the NYPD, but that's all they need to hatch a plan that brings them to Los ...( read more  read more... )Angeles for the ultimate take, $91 million in hard cash. Roger "Verbal" Kint, an apparent victim of cerebral palsy yet an accomplished con man, soon falls under the persuasive powers of U.S. Customs Special Agent David Kujan, who's hot on their trail. Kint weaves a tale that begins six weeks ago, back at the police shake-down in New York. Assembled among the professional felons are hardware specialist Todd Hockney, entry man Michael McManus and Dean Keaton, an ex-cop whose hijacking and smuggling exploits have incurred Kujan's wrath. Customs has been building a case on Keaton for three years, and despite Kint's claim that Keaton is dead, Kujan looks to squeeze Kint until he gets his man. In a surprise plot twist, a pitiable con man is being outwitted by an eager Fed. Or is he?

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385,169 ratings

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89% liked it

44 critics

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Release Date: August 16, 1995

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DVD Release Date: December 9, 1999

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Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects Verbal Kint Gabriel Byrne as Dean Keaton The Usual Suspects gorgeous boy!!! Give me the keys... The Usual Suspects line-up The Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects Gabriel Byrne The Usual Suspects <b> He has such a sweet smile. I just adore this guy. The Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects
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Flixster Reviews (29,864)

  • AgentLexi2132
    November 6, 2009
    AgentLexi2132
    ''The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist. And like that... he is gone.''

    A boat has been destroyed, criminals are dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with fiv...( read more)e career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup.

    Gabriel Byrne:Dean Keaton

    The Usual Suspects is simply a fascinating piece of film-making and story telling from director Bryan Singer. Because of the trick ending conclusion, it is debatable as to what is truth and what is fiction. If you watch it objectively, it is just a damn entertaining, complex, a well structured film noir piece with a breath taking climax. If you take the subjective route, then what you've got is perhaps the most puzzling film ever made, one that even with multiple repeated viewings will make you doubt your own conclusions.

    The Usual Suspects begins with the supposed protagonist, Dean Keaton (superbly played by Gabriel Byrne), being assassinated by a mysterious unknown figure, named Keyser. I think it's safe to say that this opening scene is objectively told, it really happened. Then Keyser burns the ship that Keaton and a bunch of other men (who we find out about later) are on. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the cops and FBI question the sole survivor of this massacre, Verbal Kint (played by Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Kevin Spacey). Verbal is the only one who can tell what happened. He is our link to the flashbacks and story of The Usual Suspects.

    ''One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.''

    Leading the investigation is US Customs Agent Dave Kujon (effectively played by Chazz Palmentieri). Kujon grills Kint relentlessly in order to piece together all the events that led up to the massacre. Kint begins with the events weeks before when Kujon and his fellow agents had arrested Keaton and the other 'usual' suspects Kint, Michael McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro), and Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak). These 5 men were suspected of a hijacking and were brought in for questioning.

    As Kint continues and the film progresses, we find that the 5 criminals were manipulated into the situation by Keyser Soze, a Turkish uber-gangster/drug dealer who they all think is really a myth until his #1 lackey Kobyashi (played with cold efficiency by Pete Posthlewaite) pays them a visit and tells them that indeed Soze is behind all this. Soze wants them to to do job for him by killing his Hungarian competitors, who are making a huge drug deal with some Argentinians on a ship docked in LA. This leads us to the climax and back to the events that started the film.

    The Usual Suspects, whatever ones feelings about the surprise at the end, is one brilliant example of modern day film noir. Nobody is innocent, yet every major character is multi-dimensional and draws you into the conflict. There is quite a bit of action and violence, but it is tight, well-placed, and crisply realistic. The beauty of the film is that you can watch it in at least two different ventures, objectively to be entertained and secondly to subjectively attempt to complete the puzzle and solve the goings on! The acting is uniformly superb, the Oscar-winning screenplay crackles, and never becomes tedious or boring. The Usual Suspects is simply Bryan Singers best film to date and among the best films of the decade!

    ''What the cops never figured out, and what I know now, was that these men would never break, never lie down, never bend over for anybody. Anybody.''
  • middleeasternfilms
    October 30, 2009
    middleeasternfilms
    You can have your X-Men movies, but when Bryan Singer dies this film will be on his gravemarker. One of the greatest films ever made, pure and simple. The build-up, done through flashbacks, keeps you going and guessing as to what will happen next and the cast isn't full of all-st...( read more)ars, but each character works because of the actor chosen to portray him. Kevin Spacey won an Oscar for his portrayal of Verbal Kint, a small-time crook and con man with a visible limp. He narrates the story to two detectives while all the while namedropping Keyser Soze. The ending is classic - as the entire story is pure bullshit concocted with names made up from various things around the office he's being interviewed in. Calling this a cult film is an insult.
  • ironclad1609
    October 19, 2009
    ironclad1609
    Already a crime thriller classic, mostly due to outstanding performances (Oscar or Kevin Spacey), great direction by Bryan Singer and a very intelligent, complex and well worked out script that requires quite some attention of the audience, who will gladly participate in the ridd...( read more)le of Keyser Soze's identity (and yet will never see it coming). Especially the final twist is so wonderfully delivered that you can't help but grin all throughout the end credits. For those who have not heard it yet and still have to watch the film: I envy you for still having this experience ahead of you. Outstanding.
  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    Bryan Singer's debut is fantastic. Shame all his other films since have been quite bad. The Usual Suspects is a modern classic but it's never going to be as good as the first time you see it!
  • irisheyes686
    August 26, 2009
    irisheyes686
    Spacey was a genius in this. The ending was totally unexpected. Awesome movie.
  • blizzpirate
    November 14, 2009
    blizzpirate
    this movie kinda confused me alot, however it was a good movie. If i watch it again sometime i may understand it even more and may even give it more then the 3 and half i get it. good movie pretty cool ending
  • bbcfloridabound
    November 12, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    Outstanding Movie. I chose this movie because Suzy Amis was in it, I have seen this movie a total of three times now, and I never get tired of it. Kevin Spacey plays a the coolest part, if you enjoyed this movie you will also enjoy 2 Days in The Valley. Its more or less a con. Wh...( read more)ets hard to believe about this movie is that it came out almost 15 years ago. A fine addition to any collection. If you like movies with a twisted ending this is your movie. 4 1/2 Stars.
  • amie12342
    November 8, 2009
    amie12342
    Brilliant :) Really enjoyed watching this film :)
  • InfamousHugo
    November 5, 2009
    InfamousHugo
    THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
    dir. Bryan Singer
    cast. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri

    «Keaton always said: «I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him.» Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze.»

    When a filmmaker needs

    ...( read more) to manipulate his audience to make them appreciate his films, it means he doesnt have much talent. A good example of such a director is Michael Bay, with his over-patriotic films using syrupy score forcing the viewer into thinking he is entertained. The Usual Susepcts is a very manipulative movie. But not in the Michael Bay way. Its manipulative cause the characters manipulate each others, and the clever script by Christopher McQuarrie had to mess with us at the same time to get into the story, the same way the characters do. His script wouldnt have worked without the nearly perfect performance of Kevin Spacey, the «narrator», in a way, of the story told in the film and the always very precise direction of Bryan Singer, who needs to stop making superhero flicks and get back to his roots.

    Spacey is «Verbal» Kint, a con artist suffering from cerebral palsy. He is apparently the only survivor of an attack on a boat the previous day. He sits there in an office and Custom Officer Dave Kujan comes in not to interrogate him about the previous night, but about his relationship with four other con men, and especially Dean Keaton, whom he's been after for a few years.

    It all began six weeks prior to that moment, with a fake line-up at the police station. All five men found themselves in a cell overnight, it was just long enough for them, to become a team and pull jobs together.

    Gabriel Byrne is Dean Keaton, an ex-cop, a ruthless killer apparently, but in Verbal's words, he seems to be a nice guy. Byrne gives a very ambiguous performance, feeding the movie with mystery as of what is really going on. Kevin Pollack is Hockney, the guy who can provide the «hardware» on a job. Stephen Baldwin is McManus, the one with contacts and Benicio Del Toro is his fast-speaking partner and in some sort of way the comic relief, cause there is no way to understand what he says. Of course Verbal is the one who comes up with the plans to get as little casualties as possible. The entire ensemble give terrific performances, and it helped them have a career for a little while, while others did get to stardom like Spacey and Del Toro.

    Soon, a lawyer comes to them with a job. He says it comes from Keyser Soze. A very powerful man, but nobody can identify him. They have to get on a boat and destroy a drug cargo. They have to do it, cause they all stole from Soze in the past, even though they werent aware of it, and if they refuse, he will hunt them down. Thats what happens when one leaves, he is found dead.

    Chaz Palminteri is David Kujan, the Custom Officier. He tells Verbal he is smarter than him and will get the information he needs whether Kint wants it or not. He wants to know more about Keaton and wants the proof that he is dead. Maybe he is Keyser Soze. If he isnt. Who is Koser Soze ?

    Watching this film many times I realized Bryan Singer gives us tons of hint to figure out the end but we concentrate too much on the story that we dont see it coming. Its a killer twist, it really is. After watching it several times I came to ask myself what is really true, what are the actual facts in the film. All that manipulation is so well-done and the film is very complete as itself. There is no scene missing and it doesnt need anything else to make it better. The Usual Suspects is one of the best cop thriller ever made. Its came out of nowhere and took everyone by surprise. Its a little masterpiece, perfectly crafted. John Ottman's score and editing - yes he did both - add a lot to the mood and atmosphere in the film. It has great dialogues and lots of inspired shots. Its simple, its the film that made me like cinema back in the mid-90's, when I was still just a kid.
  • jonathanswinter
    November 5, 2009
    jonathanswinter
    One of my all time favorites, Kevin Spacey at his best

View All The Usual Suspects Reviews

Critic Reviews

May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The Usual Suspects is the freshest, funniest and scariest crime thriller to come along since Pulp Fiction. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Once again, my comprehension began to slip, and finally I wrote down: 'To the degree that I do understand, I don't care.' full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

As entertainment, the film is a lukewarm experience. But as a piece of construction, The Usual Suspects is a slick bit of business. full review

View more The Usual Suspects reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • ActionFan
    May 13, 2008
    ActionFan
    Vote for your favourite Usual Suspect on my poll:

    http://www.flixster.com/poll/who-is-your-favourite-usual-suspect
  • notneo57
    February 3, 2008
    notneo57
    OMG!!Can you believe a comic book spoiled the plot for me?!A series called Identity Crisis,which I read a long time back.I never knew it was based on the movie.Now I know.
    Anyway,neglecting that,it's still a really interesting movie and a must-watch (if you haven't read the comic yet!)
  • SoulSweeper
    January 7, 2008
    SoulSweeper
    Keaton always said, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him." Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze.

    Who is Keyser Soze? He is supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody believed he was real. Nobody ever saw him or knew anybody that ever worked directly for him, but to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Soze. You never knew. That was his power. The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And poof. Just like that, he's gone.
  • MorpheusOne
    October 5, 2007
    MorpheusOne
    I didn't give it 5 stars only bc it was so good that I wanted more... Certainly one of the best films I've ever seen.
  • ActionFan
    September 1, 2007
    ActionFan
    Only watched this film for the 1st time recently, after hearing so many good things about it.

    I have to say, I wasn't disappointed at all! This was great, especially Kevin Spacey's performance - brilliant!
  • ShadyAdly
    March 9, 2007
    ShadyAdly
    this is one of the Best Mystery Thrillers in the world. It contains one of the greatest endings ever seen in any film. Kevin Spacey delivers the greatest performance in his career. Chazz looks ultimately smart and supposingly is an intelligent investigator. But Spacey turns out to be 10 steps ahead. Superb, brilliant and any other great ways to describe this film. watch the movie and enjoy it to know whether this keyser soze is real or not.
  • TakeItEasy
    September 2, 2006
    TakeItEasy
    The best of the best

    oh dear god it is soo brilliant ..
  • mazesof40ounce
    July 13, 2006
    mazesof40ounce
    One of the best movies that anybody with a brain should see...
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The Usual Suspects Trivia

  • From the film "The Usual Suspects" (1995) The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was:  Answer »
  • Who has starred in the movies Se7en, The usual suspects and L.A Confidential?  Answer »
  • What film has this quote:What the cops never figured out and what I know now , was these men would never break , never lie down, never bend over for anybody .Anybody ?  Answer »
  • In which movie would you hear this quote: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."  Answer »
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