Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Usual Suspects (1995)
Director: Bryan Singer
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
This labyrinthine, very well played thriller - a huge improvement on the Bryan Singer's intriguing but awkward debut, Public Access - never lets up. It begins with the explosion of a docked ship, before one of the two survivors goes on to detail, to the cops and the audience, the events of the previous six weeks that led him to the vessel. It's a yarn involving five criminals unwittingly brought together in a police cell due to one thing they have in common: the master criminal Keyser Soze, who may or may not exist...Working from Christopher McQuarrie's marvellously tortuous, colourful script, Singer creates a classy, thought-provoking mystery that is pleasingly old-fashioned (the settings, characters and sassy mood recall Hammett and Chandler) and absolutely modern in the sly, slightly self-conscious play it makes with myth and methods of storytelling.Author: GA
User reviews of this film
-
- Adam said...
- Posted on Jul 29 2009 20:00 I was amazed to learn that one of the best crime / suspense movies of all time was made in 35 days on a budget of just $6m. Having discovered the true story at the end, watching the movie a second time reveals so much more. Also, the cinematography in this movie is beautiful.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Andy S said...
- Posted on Jul 14 2009 10:43 Stunningly brilliant - a great crime caper that hasn't dated a second. The entire cast of fabulous - particularly Spacey, but also Palminteri and Byrne, and even Stephen Baldwin. So good, so funny, so dark, so fantastic, see this film today.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Bryan Singer
Producer: Bryan Singer, Michael McDonnell
Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Giancarlo Esposito full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Duration: 108 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now