Again, I'm being benched tonight in favor of a good friend of mine, all the way from the depths of hell known as Portugal, in his at-bat, this time Bryan Singer's popular 1995 hit THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Here is Carlos Saraiva, and hes got a hell of a spoiler for you!

http://www.andersonvision.com/The_Usual_Suspects.html
Published March 28, 2006

The Usual Suspects
A Film Review by Carlos Alberto Saraiva
-----------------------------------------------------------

USA/Germany, 1995
U.S. Release Date: 8/16/95
Running Length: 106 min.
MPAA Classification: R
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Giancarlo Esposito, Suzy Amis, Dan Hedaya and Clark Gregg
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie
Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel
Original Score: John Ottman
Studio: Gramercy Pictures

For all purposes, every film is about misdirection. Movies pretend to offer a certain reality, even though everything involving in their making is artifice. But some movies fully embrace misdirection. In this particular case, the whole plot is about just that. This movie blowed my mind the first time I saw it, simple as that. I love it dearly on so many levels. I love it as a victory of grand achievement over an extremely low budget. I love it as an ensemble piece to where nobody commits a false step. I love it for the directorial bravado. I love it for the story they wanted to tell (and it won the Oscar, which for once was totally deserved).

The film opens on five career criminals are lined up for interrogation about a robbery that none of them can confirm that they committed. To get even on the cops that screwed them over, this unlikely bunch join forces for some payback, with a nice sideline of profit as well. Weeks later, all but one of them is dead, and the survivor, a small time crippled crook nicknamed Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) tells the whole story to a skeptical cop. A strange, complicated tale that involves a near mythical criminal called Keizer Soyze, the shadow uber-mastermind and boogeyman of the crime world.

It's impossible to not talk about this movie and not mention the Superb cast. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlewaite, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Chazz Palminteri, Giancarlo Esposito, and Dan Hedaya. A dream cast alone for a major Hollywood movie, but for a 4 million dollar movie, this is amazing.

This is one of those cases where not having a big budget helps, I guess, as not allowing for a big star, in this movie we truly have our attention on all the characters, and not just on the matinee idol.

This great film is helped as well by the superb editing and musical score, both of which were amazingly performed by the same man in John Ottman. Truly a jack of all trades!

This is one of those eye opening movies. I saw it before director Bryant Singer went on to make bigger movies involving mutants and spandex. When I saw this movie back in 1995, it made me realize a new exciting talent had arrived. As much I love to revere the old masters, it's also a great joy to see new talented kids bring new blood to the movies, to spice up the medium. This movie sure helps bring back to me why I love to go to the movies, which is to see gems like this.

For young people out there, you have no idea how jaded a movie lover could be. After enduring the stupidity of the high concept crap pictures of the 80s and early 90s, cinema seemed to be dead. The year of 1995 brought much excellence onscreen that it renewed and justified my love for the medium. Along with Michael Mann’s “Heat,” Martin Scorsese’s “Casino,” and Oliver Stone’s “Nixon,” Bryan Singer’s “The Usual Suspects” certainly had its heavy share on that.

The ending! Man, the ending of this movie! Talk about misdirection and manipulation of the audiences. Many people resent this aspect about this movie, but I didn't. For once, I saw a movie that was smarter then what the audiences expected to witness. That, in my book, is cool. Not to mention it's one of those endings where more questions are raised, and no answers are provided, a puzzle inside a puzzle.

Some people can't simply dig this. For my part, I can't phantom why. I thank the filmmakers very much for that. I know that I have not talked about the ending of this movie in this review, and then you might ask, why I warned about spoilers. My answer is that the movie’s final twist IS a spoiler. People should watch this movie NOT KNOWING it has a twist ending. I respect this movie, any movie, too much not to make that mistake, if you know what I mean. Simply said, this movie is great, a true kick ass movie in its entire punk ass attitude.

As for why I have not answered to the possible question as to why this movie is so punk ass, well, this movie doesn’t answer the questions it raises, so why then should I in my review?

Film Rating - *****/5 - Masterpiece

© 2006 Carlos Alberto Saraiva

Mr. Silva did a very good job in my opinion at least, reviewing a movie that cannot have justice done to it in a review. I'm pretty sure everyone on the bb has seen it more than a few times already, but if you haven't, drop everything else in your life at the moment take a couple of hours and prepare to watch one of the best movies of the 90s and one of the best movies of all time bar none. Genius, just pure genius.

"The greatest trick the devil ever played, was convincing the World he didn't exist...and like that. Poof! He was gone."

I'll tell Mr. Saraiva that he did a good job. He'll appreciate it.

Mr. Saraiva eh? Why did I say his name was Silva? Whatever, must have had Silva on the mind I guess.

(Carlos Silva, SP, Minnesota Twins, who I just dropped from my Yahoo team maybe?
:p )

Despite all of the great things I've heard about this movie, and its description - which makes it sound exactly like the kind of film I most enjoy - I've started to watch it maybe 4-5 times and for some reason was never able to get through it .

P.L. I assume you're being serious about not being able to get through the whole thing so what I've gotta say to you man, JUST WATCH IT! Trust me, all the clichees you've heard about all the movies people have told you to watch are true for this movie and then some. I can say without hyperbole or exaggeration that this as I mentioned above is one of the best movies of the 90s and one of the best of all time. The Usual Suspects is sheer brilliance and is must view material for anyone who wants to be completely captivated and taken in by a movie. The movie is so well done and so important that I'm willing to do a signature line bet with you if after watching the whole thing you are not at least a little impressed if not completely floored. Just watch it brother!

Of course I'm being serious....I don't know what it is or why, but I can never seem to make it past the first half hour or so without losing interest or fallling asleep.

As I said...with all the great things I've heard about it, I know I have to give it another try one of these days, or as many more tries as it takes to watch the whole thing. I can't figure out what the problem I have with it is.

The Usual Suspects is a great movie, but I don't consider it one of THE best of the 90's, at least top ten-wise, let alone of all time.

Yeah I've seen it twice and feel it's very mediocre.

I don't know maybe I should change my statement to one of my top 10 movies of the 90s and one of my top 10 movies of all time. I don't want to get into the whole personal preference/favourites vs. objective quality argument but I think that by any standard the movie can stand up as one of the best of all time. I know not everyone and maybe, or probably, most people will not share this opinion about the film, but seriously, can you name a movie that has been done within the last 10 years that was as original, thought provoking and striking?

I can name many.

It's your opinion to love it but ok. These are films of the 90's I put over it.

Ten Best
American Beauty (Sam Mendes;1999;USA)
Dead Man (Jim Jarmusch;1995;USA/Germany/Japan)
Fargo (Coen bros;1996;UK/USA)
Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese;1990;USA)
Insider, The (Michael Mann;1999;USA)
Magnolia (P.T. Anderson;1999;USA)
Open Your Eyes (Alejandro Amenábar;1997;Spain/France/Italy)
Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino;1994;USA)
Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg;1993;USA)
Short Cuts (Robert Altman;1993;USA)

Other better films
American History X
Batman Returns
Casino
Chasing Amy
Clerks
Ed Wood
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Election
Fight Club
Following
Heat
Jackie Brown
JFK
Reservoir Dogs
Saving Private Ryan
Seven
Silence of the Lambs, The
Unforgiven

As for creativity, 2000's Memento would take the cake for me. The Usual Suspects was a great ride I could watch again and again, but I never thought of it as thought provoking like I do with Memento.

I think THE USUAL SUSPECTS is a great movie that came from many other great fucking movies in 1995, which arguably is the best year of the decade in terms of film quality output.

Is it the best of 1995? No.
Is it the best of the decade? No way
Is it the most shocking surprise ending ever? Maybe
Is it a great movie neverless? Hell ya sucka!

(NOTE: I return to the review plate in a few hours with my first take on Robert Altman. Let's just say that is does have a happy ending!)

I couldn't have said it better than Plawrence. I never understood why people thought this was such a great movie. I found it extremely boring. Different strokes for different folks...

Don V. of the ones you mentioned the ones that I would even consider placing in the same category as The Usual Suspects (of the ones I've seen) are: Goodfellas (I said in the last 10 years, but I also mentioned the 90s as a whole so yeah whatever), Pulp Fiction, American History X, Casino, Heat, JFK and Reservoir Dogs. There are some movies on your list that I do have problems with. I just don't think that Batman Returns, Clerks (very good movie but not better than Suspects), Fear And Loathing (good movie as well but same), or even Heat, or JFK or Reservoir Dogs are better than Suspects. They are all solid and much above average films and I know that they are personal favourites to some, hell, they're some of my personal favourites, I just think that Suspects is better. It really does boil down to personal preference I think, cuz if you get into that whole argument about which movies are objectively better it opens up a whole big can of worms. As for Jackie Brown, well, P.F. and R.D. were better and Suspects is probably better than Dogs and Fiction so you do the math. One more thing, Chasing Amy??wtf?! :p

well I definitely do not agree with Don Jasani if we're discussing the Toronto Blue Jays, but in this case, I'm down with the Don!

I'm not 100% sure I'd say The Usual Suspects is among my all time favorites, but I don't see why people wouldn't place it at least in a top ten list for the 90's. I just love the way it ends, all of a sudden, leaving you begging for more.

Hi, i'm Carlos Silva, err, i mean, Carlos Alberto Saraiva, and i wrote the The Usual Suspects review that Ronnie posted. I hope you guys dug it and if you have any coments or ask anything to me, please, fell free to do so.

And yes, my last name is Saraiva

I just think it's overrated. The script is the only thing great about it. It's almost brought down with a bland direction. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot and it used to be in my top ten but it's just overrated.

Kevin Smith's Clerks is a masterpiece of comedy, and Chasing Amy is a wonderful, realistic view on a relationship for the most part.

Michael Mann's Heat is much more absorbing. The direction, acting, everything. I rate it four stars, while The Usual Suspects three.

Batman Returns is Burton's second best film and manages to stay not only a great comic book film with an excellent score and amazing atmosphere, but it also manages to be slightly more memorable.

Pulp Fiction is one of the 100 greatest films ever, far away from The Usual Suspects. Both Tarantino's script and direction are taut beyond comparison.

JFK and Reservoir Dogs need a rewatch, but I remember them being better. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is slightly better to me mostly due to the performances and direction from Gilliam, who made what seemed impossible, possible.

Jackie Brown is close to a four star film, and it manages to acieve a humanity that rivals Tarantino's other work. DEfinitely better, IMO.

Short Cuts is on my Top Ten Best ever.

That's just my opinion. I love The Usual Suspects, but I don't even know if it would be on my top 500 ever with all the films I've seen. Hell, Michael Mann's Collateral destroys it IMO.

Below are some more, all four star films and not even all I consider better then TUS, just for the sake of opinion.

Last Days
Elephant
Gerry
Broken Flowers
Mulholland Drive
Memento
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Closer
About Schmidt
21 Grams

Don V., fair enough. As for the others you mentioned, Last Days is a movie that anyone who knows me would have thought that I would have seen it more than a few times already but to my embarrasment I have yet to watch it. Elephant is another one I plan on giving a watch (what's the one with Chloe Sevigny? Man, I've had a pretty big crush on her ever since I saw Kids and then American Psycho). I actually own Memento on video cd or wmv or something but I can't find the disc and I've been meaning to look for it so I can finally watch this movie I've heard quite a bit about. Funny thing about 21 Grams, I actually own the movie on dvd (my brother bought it on a trip to Mexico or Cuba or Spain or somewhere), but I have never gotten around to watching it. It has Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts right? Really good cast, that's prolly next on my list.

Chloe Sevigny has a brief role in Broken Flowers.

As for Last Days, it's a very different film from most, and is a required taste I think. I lot of people hated the quiet lack of dialogue and lack of major events in it.

Naomi Watts was also in Mulholland Drive, which has an amazing direction. It'll be ridiculously strange when you see it, but once you figure the general idea of it out, you might like it. Personally it's one of the most meticulous and entrancing directions I've seen.

Don V., I know you're probably gonna jump on this as being inaccurate, but Last Days is the one that is supposed to bring to mind the "last days" of a certain Rocker whom we both very much admire. His name escapes me at the moment, oh wait a minute, there it is, KURT COBAIN right?! :p Man, I wanted to see this one in the theatres bro but I just couldn't or didn't or whatever. However, I'm definitely gonna catch the dvd one of these days regardless of what the director's intent was or if it is partially based on Cobain's demise or fully based on it or entirely fictional. I still don't know whether Cobain really did off himself as the convential wisdom would have it, or whether Courtney Love killed him. If Love killed him (unless it was some sort of euthanasia and even then the issue is so debatable) and she continues to deny it then she is a cuntbitch who will burn in hell. If, however, she had nothing to do with his death then, whatever, I guess the conspiracy theories (evidence?) are wrong. Either way I will most definitely see this movie. Whether it is better than The Usual Suspects (at least to my eyes) remains to be seen.

Eh Vercetti?! You're up at this hour? Did you just wake up, about to go to sleep or are you just a crackhead like me that's up at all different hours of the day/night?! Either way, Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night/Morning!lol! lol! :p Later brother.

So, am i to understand that some people think THE USUAL SUSPECTS is merely an average movie? I can't be flippant about movies liek this. If i start to get so picky about truly good movies, then the bad movies will eventually win because the good movies crowd are too absorved kiling each other and shooting down good movies, while the cinematic crap passes unnotived and under the radar and when it's too late, they win and the other people are asking "what happened, why didn't we saw this coming?" and the answer is "you were not paying attention, you were too much entertained by bashing good movies agaisnt one another". This is why hollywood went into the high cocnept formula and started not caring aboutn the critics and opinions of quality inthe early 80s, because the movie fans people thatr cared were too busy nick picking on good movies to death.

Personally, i learned my lesson, and i learned it the hard way!

Just woke up in that post.

All the evidence I read seems 100% solid that Courtney Love had Cobain and her bassist killed.

Anyway, don't see Last Days just for that. There are many references die-hards might notice like the box he digs up at one point and such, but it's more for Cobain then about him. It's really just a depiction of social and mental isolation, and it's almost as if Pitt is really a man lazying around in his final days. People expected more, but there's not much more then what would've happened in the movie.

As for Van Sant, he doesn't seem to take a position on it aside one or two possible references in the film, and an interview where he told a reporter he thinks Cobain could've been killed. It's not about the death itself.

Hold on, back up a sec. Courtney Love has been accused of killing Cobain her husband, and her bassist from hole? I never knew about this, the bass player I mean. Again, if she's innocent then she should be very forthright, soft spoken and calm when she speaks (yeah, and I'm a liftime member of P.E.T.A. :rolleyes: ) because she litterally would have nothing to hide. On the other hand, if she is indeed guilty of these crimes she is, as I said a cuntbitch and she should be prosecuted. It's not against the law to be a cuntbitch but it is against the law to kill two people in cold blood.