Film Review: The Usual Suspects

Director: Bryan Singer

Some films don't age particularly well, especially when they are groundbreaking in plot or script because they become endlessly copied and imitated by films that follow and end up becoming cliché. It was certainly a concern I had sitting down to watch The Usual Suspects having not seen it for around 15 years but fortunately this was not the case, it still had that clever edge to separate it from the rest. It's a film that was still easily enjoyable for the slick dialogue and clever plot device even if you know how it all ends.

Following a truck hijack in New York, five conmen are arrested and brought together for questioning. As none of them is guilty, they plan a revenge operation against the police. The operation goes well, but then the influence of a legendary mastermind criminal called Keyser Söze is felt. It becomes clear that each one of them has wronged Söze at some point and must pay back now.

The now infamous scene

Although there are certain questions left unanswered at the end, it is a superb twist which makes up for any other flaws and leaves you caring a lot less about the imperfections. The cast is stellar and is reminiscent of the cast in Reservoir Dogs but without the obvious violence and menace. Naturally Kevin Spacey works himself to be the focal point but this is one of the films that was part of his upward trajectory rather than the lazier attempts later in his career. But most important of all, the film expects you to keep up with a complex storyline and treats the viewers intelligence with respect which is sadly lacking in films at the moment.

3.5/4 Still as clever as it was 18 years ago