The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Plot

The movie starts off with Verbal Kint being interrogated by the cops. Agent Kujan grills him even though he has immunity from the DA. Verbal tells the story through his testimony to the cops.

The NYPD arrests 5 guys – McManus, Fenster, Hockney, Verbal and Keaton in a case of a hijacked truck having arms. It is a setup and all these 5 guys have some sort of a criminal history with Keaton being a former cop himself. Keaton was even believed to have been dead earlier.

The 5 guys are embarrassed and after they come out of prison they plan to get back at the NYPD by busting the illegal Taxi Service that is run by the NYPD cops. They pull it off and they are also led to another job in LA with a person called Redfoot.

This job goes a bit haywire and then they come to know that a lawyer called Kobayashi is behind all this. This lawyer works for a man called Keyser Soze, who has a legendary and mysterious persona and everyone is shocked at hearing his name.

These 5 guys are given a job to destroy a boat in the harbor that allegedly has a lot of cocaine. The rival Argentinians are out to close this cocaine deal worth 91 million$. They are initially reluctant to take up the job but are finally forced to take up the job after seeing the damage that Keyser Soze can do to them (Fenster is brutally murdered when he tries to escape).

The remaining 4 take up the job and they blow up the ship at the harbor but they find no cocaine. One by one they get killed by the mysterious man who is expected to be Keyser Soze. There is also a mystery behind whether Keaton is killed or not.

Kujan convinces Verbal that Keaton is indeed Keyser Soze as he doesn’t believe Verbal’s testimony that Keaton was killed. Kujan says that Keyser employed all of them to kill the one guy on the boat who could identify Keyser. Kujan also tells Verbal that he was used all along by Keaton aka Keyser because he was a cripple and a stupid. Verbal walks away dejected and cheated by all the cops (Keaton included).

Just as Verbal is walking out, Kujan realizes something earth shattering and he comes to know of the truth behind who is Keyser Soze and also the whole drama that unfolded. The climatic twist is legendary and much acclaimed.

                                                                          

Hits

• The suspense element is amazing. The tension and the thrill in the script behind who is Keyser Soze is enthralling and palpable.


• Kevin Spacey is A Rate among the huge star cast. A huge role pulled off spectacularly. To act timid and stupid comes naturally to him


• The musical score has the dramatic and tragic thrill quotient running through.


• The rest of the cast is adequate without being over the top. Just what is required. Be it Fenster or Kobayashi or Keaton etc. etc.

Comment

• Quite complex and multi-layered with a lot of characters and situations. 

VERDICT

One of the all-time suspense classics with a terrific twist in the climax. Tense and riveting stuff. 

THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL EVER PULLED WAS CONVINCING THE WORLD HE DIDN'T EXIST AND LIKE THAT HE'S GONE ...