The Usual Suspects (1995)

A sole survivor tells of the twisty events leading up to a horrific gun battle on a boat, which began when five criminals met at a seemingly random police lineup.

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writer:

Christopher McQuarrie

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri

Top Rated Movies #32 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 35 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Baldwin	...	McManus
Gabriel Byrne	...	Keaton
Benicio Del Toro	...	Fenster
Kevin Pollak	...	Hockney
Kevin Spacey	...	Verbal
Chazz Palminteri	...	Dave Kujan
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Kobayashi
Suzy Amis	...	Edie Finneran
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Jack Baer
Dan Hedaya	...	Jeff Rabin
Paul Bartel	...	Smuggler
Carl Bressler	...	Saul Berg
Phillipe Simon	...	Fortier
Jack Shearer	...	Renault
Christine Estabrook	...	Dr. Plummer

Storyline

Following a truck hijack in New York, five criminals are arrested and brought together for questioning. As none of them are 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 payback job leaves 27 men dead in a boat explosion, but the real question arises now: Who actually is Keyser Söze?

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | suspect | criminal mastermind | flashback | mind game | 

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Taglines:

Five Criminals . One Line Up . No Coincidence

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and a substantial amount of strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

All the actors were encouraged to ad lib perplexed reactions to Benicio Del Toro's oddball vocal stylings.

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Goofs

In the robbery of "New York's Finest Taxi Service", it is implied that Internal Affairs division fights corruption. However, in real life, NYPD IAD is equally likely to cover for "New York's Finest Taxi Service" as the ring itself.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Keyser Soze: How you doing Keaton?
Keaton: I can't feel my legs... Keyser.

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Crazy Credits

The editor, John Ottman, edited the movie on film. He felt that all the editing done electronically at the time was horrible because all the good editors were still working on film (which is much more difficult). Because of this he thought about putting "Edited on a piece of s*** Steenbeck" at the end of the credits, but instead settled for the more subtle line "Edited on film." Tim Robbins was directing 'Dead Man Walking' at the time and heard about John's idea, which sparked that film's credit ending of "This film was edited on old machines."

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Alternate Versions

When Redfoot hits McMannus with his cigarette, there is a reaction shot of Verbal looking surprised and scared. In the Special Edition it is changed to a reaction shot of Fenster.

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Connections

Spoofed in Stealing Harvard (2002)

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Soundtracks

Old MacDonald Had a Farm
(uncredited)
[Tradition American nursery rhyme first published in 1916]
Parody version performed by Stephen Baldwin

User Reviews

" The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled"

Out of the mind of Christorpher McQurrie comes this incredible story of a man in search of the devil. The film is called " The Usual Suspects" and what could be more appropriate than an unusual movie about five suspects who are anything but usual. The story originates with the only survivor of what the police conclude was a murderous and explosive drug deal gone bad. His name is Roger Kint (Kevin Spacey is perfect) also known as 'Verbal.' From the mouth of this innocent storytelling, con-artist comes the fantastic tale of how he and his fellow criminals, Stephen Baldwin, is Michael McManus, Benicio Del Toro is Fred Fenster and Kevin Pollak as Todd Hockney were originally assembled and then set-up. Beginning with a mix-up by law enforcement to put several guilty men together in the same line up, the tale proceeds cross country and culminates with a powerful, but mysterious kingpin by the name of Keyser Soze. It's through his attorney, Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite), the men learn they are marked for death unless they undertake a dangerous assignment. The center piece of the Unusual group is their leader, a remarkable individual named Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne, incredible performance). What transpires in this movie from moment to moment is a lesson in sleigh of hand. What we and the police Dave Kujan, (Chazz Palminteri) are told is not what we see. Conversely, what we see is not what we have been told. In the end, this film with it's haunting theme by John Ottman, is nothing short of incredible. A superb classic in both mystery and action entertainment, by Bryan Singer. A great film indeed. ****

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Hungarian Spanish French

Release Date:

16 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Usual Suspects

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$645,363, 20 August 1995

Gross USA:

$23,341,568

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,341,568

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Spelling Films International, Blue Parrot

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1