Twist in the tale films can be very hit and miss affairs and it’s a problem that M Night Shyamalan now encounters with many of his films that audiences expect and right from the start are trying to second guess the ending. For director Bryan Singer and writer Christopher McQuarrie they would have no such problem. Both had worked on their debut feature ‘Public Access’ but that had made little impact. The Usual Suspects would change all that.
After a brutal massacre on a cargo ship off the coast of Los Angeles leaves 27 men dead, Special Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) interrogates one of the only two survivors, small-time con artist Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey). During the interview, Kint tells Kujan of how he was recruited by the fearsome crime lord Keyser Söze to commit a series of daring heists with four other crooked misfits: Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Mike McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro) and Todd Hockey (Kevin Pollak). But as Kint’s account of the events leading up to the massacre becomes more convoluted, Kujan becomes increasingly sceptical and determined to discover the identity of the elusive Keyser Söze.
Ultimately a two hander between Palminteri and Spacey with flashbacks the crux of it was the nystrious Keyser Soze that is if he even existed with film frqunetly remdinfin audiences that The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn’t exist. It leads to one of THE great twist endings of any film. Anyone who tells you that they worked it out is lying. McQuarrie’s brilliantly labyrythine script had been inspired by a police line-up poster and his dialogue gave each of the actor’s moments to shine.
The film only eanred $23m workediwde but it was a stunning calling card for both writer and director winning McQuarrie Best Screenplay Oscar and Spacey a Best Supporting Actor and it’s a worthwhile reminder that despite the allegations made that saw him ostracized even when found innocent, Spacey was and remains a great screen actor.
Out now on 4K UHD blu-ray limited edition this new release has the following bonus features:
- 4K restoration from the original negative approved by cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director Bryan Singer and writer Christopher McQuarrie
• Audio commentary with editor and composer John Ottman
• The Devil in the Details, an archival interview with Newton Thomas Sigel
• Archival interview with John Ottman
• Round Up: Deposing the Usual Suspects, a two-part featurette delving into the creation and production of The Usual Suspects with exclusive clips, interviews with key figures, and raw footage from the making of the film
• Keyser Söze (Lie or Legend?), an archival featurette
• Heisting Cannes with The Usual Suspects, archival footage from the film’s world premiere at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival
• Introducing The Usual Suspects, an original EPK featurette
• Deleted scenes with introduction by John Ottman
• Gag reel
• Interview outtakes with Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benicio del Toro, and Bryan Singer
• International trailer
• U.S. trailer with introduction by John Ottman
• TV spots
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Barry Forshaw
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
Though much of this is archival it still rewards a revisit and there are so many gems amongst the features- a particular favourite is the line up where Singer allowed each of the five actors in the gang to improvise a moment when the police ask them to take a step forward. It’s Del Toro (often deliberately incomprehensible much to the concern of the producers at the time of filming) and Baldwin who provide some hilarious lines.
McQuarrie went on to bigger thrillers with the Mission Impossible franchise whereas Singer regrettably went on to ignominy after a number of allegations that saw him removed from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and has not directed since. But The Usual Suspects is a film that can be re-watched multiple times in an attempt to pick up any clues you missed previously and this re-release in 4K UHD makes an already excellent film even more of a delight.
related feature : Neil Maskell talks, ‘Bull’ – the extraordinarily brutal yet brilliant British film with a great twist in the tail
related feature : Those Mission Impossible films rated….
Here’s The Usual Suspects trailer……
The Usual Suspects – 4K UHD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION is released on 6th January 2025
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