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Storytelling & Commission: Fantastic Voyage

Cutting Edges Film Review

The Usual Suspects (1995)Directed by Bryan Singer.

Figure 1

Bryan Singer directed the Usual Suspects, which was his first blockbuster film.Hes since brought us films such as the X-Men series, Superman Return, the

remake of Jack and the beanstalk - Jack the Giant Slayer and the hit TV series

House.

The whole film is based upon twists and not revealing too much at any one time,

then Singer unloads it all on you leaving your mind blown. Itsdefinitely the 2nd

or 3rdtime round that makes the film

clearer and you start piecing the mystery

together yourself. The film starts off on a

boat with a guy about to set himself and the

boat on fire when this mystery man comesalong and puts a bullet in his head. It then

cuts back and forth between flashbacks and

present time as too how we got to that

place. These flashbacks are all based

around Kevin Spaceys crimpled characterVerbal, whosapart of some robberies

with guys he met in a police line up; these

flashbacks can get very repetitive: The

interrogation between the cop and the

suspect falls into a monotonous pattern:friendliness, testiness, hostility, a big blow-

Figure 2

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up, threats, reconciliations and then full circle again.(Ebert, 1995)As none were

found guilty of a crime, all were sent free but they set up to revenge the police.

Catching those who were double-crossing the police system by smuggling in

drug dealers, getting a nice wage for helping them out. During present day, all

the detective asks Verbal about is whos Keyser Soze?

Each of these 5 men are very different from one-another but all have a criminal

side, while in the police line this is where the film shows its comedy side when

they all have to say "Hand me the keys, you rucking cocksucker." Each does as he's

told. But the variations in the line readings reveal these thugs as master thespians.

(Travers, 1995) They each start laughing at one another as they read because

none of them are taking it seriously at all, but each knows that the other is just as

bad as a criminal as they are.

Verbal narrates the whole film and Singer has done this on purpose, the film's

elaborate narrative and offering the viewer ample opportunity to uncover the

identity of the mysterious criminal mastermind Keyser Soze, whose presence hangs

over the film like a leaden cloud. (Nathan, 1995) Its a reminder to the audience,

but as your being given the information you dont actually pick up whatsunderneath and thats where the truth lies.

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Bibliography:Text:

Ebert, Roger. Available at:http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-usual-suspects-1995(Accessed online on 25th March 2014)

Nathan, Ian. Available at:

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132353

(Accessed online on 25thMarch 2014)

Travers, Peter. Available at:http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-

usual-suspects-19950816(Accessed online on 25th March 2014)

Images:

Fig 1. The Usual Suspects (1995) From: The Usual Suspects. Directed by Bryan

Singer [Film Poster] American.http://vicvapor.com/the-usual-suspects-movie-

poster

Fig 2. The Usual Suspects (1995) From: The Usual Suspects. Directed by Bryan

Singer [Film Still] American.http://cdn.mos.totalfilm.com/images/t/the-usual-

suspects-03-400-80.jpg

Fig 3. The Usual Suspects (1995) From: The Usual Suspects. Directed by Bryan

Singer [Film Still] American.https://reader008.{domain}/reader008/html5/0416/5ad46cc0dcd2

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