Product ReviewsThe Usual Suspects Special Edition (DVD, 2002)

The Usual Suspects (Review)

Mention this movie to any guy within a 20 year age range and you're likely to hear "Cooooool." Bryan Singer has crafted an intelligent crime caper that constantly has the audience guessing who's who right along with the characters. Set amongst a group of 5 thieves caught in a string of events they can't necessarily understand, they come to believe they are being manipulated by the legendary - yet possibly non existent - criminal Keyser Sose. A terrifically styled film that serves to add atmosphere to the story and not just fancy camera work, some people have criticized the complex ending as a cheat but it's an invalid claim. I won't give away the ending but the story holds up under repeated viewings and even increases the enjoyment. Well cast, the movie elevated Chazz Palminteri Benicio Del Toro and of course Kevin Spacey to fame and fortune and slots great pieces in all the supporting roles from Pete Postelthwaite to Peter Green. A fabulous movie that manages to be smart, unique and stylized at the same time without being overbearing.Read full review...

The Best Mystery Thriller Movie

After we had heard the buzz about how good this movies was, one night back in my college days, a bunch of friends and I got some beers and sat down to watch “The Usual Suspects”. Yeah, in the beginning I wasn’t too thrilled nor did I know what to expect, since it looked like another crime/mystery type of movie. However, the more I watched the more I was pulled into the story. I believe that the actors and the script were absolutely fantastic. They couldn’t have chosen a better cast for this movie. Of course, Bryan Singer’s direction was phenomenal in catching the viewer’s interest in the web of such a complex story. The final five minutes of the movie were the eye popping and absolutely jaw dropping. I remember that everyone in the room was absolutely silent as the credits came on the screen. Seconds later, we were watching it again since the first time wasn’t enough. Until now I can watch this movie again and get the same goose bumps I had when viewing it for the first time. Truly is a classic and one of my 10 all time favorite movies.Read full review...

The Usual Suspects

Police investigating an exploded boat on a San Pedro pier discover 27 bodies and $91 million worth of drug money. The only survivors are a severely burned and very scared Hungarian terrorist and Verbal Kint, a crippled con-man. Reluctantly, Kint is pressured into explaining exactly what happened on the boat. His story begins six weeks earlier with five criminals being dragged in by New York police desperate for suspects on a hijacked truck and ends with the possible identification of a criminal mastermind. "The Usual Suspects" is a complicated puzzle of a movie that I you can't watch just once. An amazing original screenplay and tight direction keep up a substantial amount of tension throughout. Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chazz Palminteri all give top-notch performances. But it is Kevin Spacey that makes "The Usual Suspects" work on all levels. Enjoyable the first time you watch it, even more enjoyable the second time round.Read full review...

Clever Twist to Standard Crime Story

This film achieves suspense and surprise in almost every sequence. The viewer has the feeling of almost grasping the essentials, but of missing just one last clue that will make everything come clear. Only at the end, and only if one has been attentive throughout, will that wish be satisfied.

You have to assume that super-criminals operate on a higher level of brainpower than mere mortals. You have to assume that there is a whole world that operates independently of the dull real world. That other world is inhabited by super-villains, super-cops, super-snitches, and all those who live and feed off them. Is there such a place? Is there a master-criminal pulling all the strings? Watch and you'll find out.

This is a classic thriller in the sense that all the clues are there. But it takes a smart detective mind to catch all the clues first time around. That feeling of piecing everything together adds to the intricate drama, as the viewer is struggling along with the police to make sense of a series of crimes. The film is compelling and dark in its portrayal of true amorality. It is curiously sympathetic in its treatment of violent criminals; it totally avoids making any moral judgement from first to last.

The viewer is involved in a game of wits that leaves morality at the entrance, engaged in the subtle battle of wits between villains and police - and the success of the film is that the viewer really becomes engaged without being concerned with the morality of any of the characters. That is an achievement, like it or not.Read full review...

Spacey Superb...As Usual

Kevin Spacey is superb in his role as a disabled, weak, slightly mentally feeble crook who is allegedly made a "patsy" in a series of crimes by the "Master Mind" of it all and left to the cops to get caught. The crimes start in NYC, then move to LA as the crooks plan to retire, but are then offered a deal too good to refuse. Other cast members are excellent in their roles as well. Definitely worth seeing!!!Read full review...

Amazing

Such films like this should be enshrined in museums, simply due to the fact it destroyed the entire genre of mystery films. While this film was unique and captivating, no other mystery will ever accomplish this sort of cult status, single handedly shaping a genre. While most mysteries try to shock you too often with twists and even more twists, it turns out to be overkill. This film encompassed such ideas with flair and originality, which is probably the reason Brian Singer is sticking to sci-fi action films. Only Memento and The Game are the only recent mystery movies worthy enough to stand beside this film. Sadly, Singer has somewhat sold out by doing the X-Men movies, but I guess trying to make films like this would be too taxing. This film will always bring a smile to my face when I watch it with someone who hasn't seen this movie. A good viewing every time I watch it, the new special edition DVD is awesome.Read full review...

EBay is a GR-R-REAT resource for us.

The movie stand up well. Great value. We are MOST frequent Ebay customers.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: paswe_952

The Usual Suspects but there is nothing “usual” about them in this case!!

Awesome and one of the most intriguing movies I’ve ever watched. Kevin Spacey is Amazing. You’ll love the Movie and the surprise it has in store for you!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

Whoa!

When I watched this movie for the very first time, it had just come out on VHS. I watched it so intently. It was intriguing and captivating the entire way through. Then, when the ending hit, I was stunned. I was like... "WHOA!" I immediately watched it again to piece it together. It wasn't that I missed anything the first time around, it was that the ending was just such a surprise. It was one of the first movies that I had seen in a very long time that I wasn't able to figure out within the first 30 minutes.

This is a movie that not many people have seen. I always recommend it to my friends when I find out they haven't seen it.

And, yes, I own the movie and still love to watch it. This was the movie that made me a Kevin Spacey fan.Read full review...

An intricate and interesting tale of five seemingly random criminals...

A very compelling film from the 90's featuring a few young up'n comers, Kevin Spacey - long before his current troubles, as well as Gabrielle Byrne, Benicio Del Toro and Stephen Baldwin.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale