Film Analysis - Week 42 - The Usual Suspects (1995)

Film Analysis – Week 42

The Usual Suspects (1995) – Directed by Bryan Singer

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne and Chazz Palminteri

This film is a Crime Drama told in reverse, about a horrific drug deal gone wrong and a gun battle that takes place on a boat. The film uses mystery as one of its key elements in the film to careful construct a story in front of the audience. The mystery genre often does this where, the events are laid out before the audience, yet it takes the length of the film for the true story to unfold. The Usual Suspects is cult film that is famous for its approach to the genre and it’s unique approach to storytelling. I believe that films should embrace this methodology of storytelling, and focus their narratives around the conclusive moment in the film, in order to fully expand on what the film is trying to convey. By telling the story in small fragments as this film does, the audience gains a better insight into the inner working of each of the characters and their role in the film. The beginning of the film is the climax, what would usually come at the end of a chronological story, however by telling the lead up to the climax in small segments, a unique perspective is gained in the way in which the characters reach the end. The makes the final moments  of the film all the more tense and gratifying. Bryan Singer would go on to do films in the Fox’s X-Men franchise after such critical acclaim was brought to The Usual Suspects, he realised what audiences look for in Crime Dramas and therefore he captured the most exhilarating moment of all first, relieving the immediate tension and informing the audience of the events to follow.

One of the most significant and most well sighted scenes in the film comes right near the beginning. Following the title sequence, the 5 protagonists, McManus, Keaton, Fenster, Hockey and Verbal are brought into a line-up room, humiliated and all. This is used to introduce the characters to us, they are deliberately placed in the centre of attention so that the following events can be presented as streamlined as possible. When discussing a multiple protagonist film, it can be difficult to keep a track of all the traits that they all possess. It can become confusing or disorientating for the audience. This line-up scene perfectly sums up the personality traits of each, from calm, to silly, to outright insane, each character displays the way they will act to the audience, all with the same line while in a line-up, “Hand me the keys, you fucking cocksucker”. The act of deliverance between the five characters not only sets the tone for the film but also enables the characters to truly express their chemistry between each other and to lay the groundwork for the following conversations to come. Opening scenes can be difficult to pull off since they are so important. This comedic entrance means that the audience are settled in and ready for a comedic style Crime/Drama. However this gag is not kept up the entire film, jokes are played with, but the chemistry is what the characters coast on for the rest of the film. Rather than turning the film into a ‘Lethal Weapon’ style Crime/Comedy, I which the battle between crime and justice is toyed with, the filmmakers rather would explore the fine lines of subversion, hiding the mastermind of all the criminal plans they set foot on, and never fully revealing the identity of Keyser Soze.

Possibly the most outstanding part of this film and the part that is most often remembered is that of the tale of Keyser Soze. A menacing gangster that does not have a true identity nor a face, he has henchman but no agenda, not will or power, yet control through fear over all those who know of him. This fairy tale is spouted around through the film as though it is common knowledge, it relays it into the subconscious of the audience, hinting at a plot point, but struggling to reveal it until it becomes necessary. As a cult film this brings the film into the territory of spoilers, with or without prior knowledge, an audience member is fully under the films shock and awe that is creates for itself. Especially if one has been hinted towards the existence of Keyser Soze, it raises the stakes of his identity and sends the audience members mind racing. This element of surprise has been lost on certain films lately. The act of surprise has somewhat vanished due to the existence and prevalence of the internet, it removes the ability to go into a film completely blind as it takes oneself a great amount of effort to remove all knowledge and information about up and coming pop culture. I myself went into the film with some knowledge of Keyser Soze, ruining part of the charm, mystery and even sense of adventure one can feel while watching. This however raises the films value, giving those who do go in blind an even heightened sense of enjoyment.