Die üblichen Verdächtigen

Das Polizeiverhör eines jungen Kriminellen klebt ein Flashback-Mosaik der vergangenen Ereignisse zusammen, die zu einer tragischen Explosion eines Schiffes im Hafen führten. Ein ausgefeilter schwarzer Film noir, in dem schließlich alles anders ist, als es auf den vorletzten Blick scheint. Ein perfektes Drehbuch, das auf Flashback-Zusammenhängen und einer detaillierten Charakterisierung der Figuren basiert und für unglaubliche 6 Millionen US-Dollar gedreht wurde. Ein Schauspieler, der damals noch unbekannt war, hatte hier ein Riesenglück. Er hat eine Rolle bekommen, die aus ihm für eine lange Zeit einen Halbgott gemacht hat. Ich möchte ein Sequel, in dem ich seine Figur länger als zehn Sekunden genießen kann und in dem sie für mich nicht nur eine mythische Erscheinung bleibt! (23.06.2002)

It’s funny how some films are fully appreciated only after a second screening, and The Usual Suspects is one of them. The story, which at first I found uninteresting and didn’t understand, now completely engrossed me, and I enjoyed every clever scene, all the sharp dialogue and, above all, I admired the performance of Kevin Spacey, which was absolutely amazing and deserving of an Oscar award as few others have. Thanks to its relatively short runtime, the story flows like water, Singer's imaginative and stylish direction, together with a precisely scored soundtrack, gives it enormous depth and power, and then there’s the final twist with the legendary villain Keyser Soze, who gives his rivals the shivers just by his name alone, puts the crown, making it one of the best crime films of all time. Simply brilliant craftsmanship, with a refinement, rawness and elegance that cannot be fully grasped in one viewing. 98% (02.08.2012)

A refined, quality script allows creators to constantly surprise and play with the viewer like a cat with a mouse. Until the last shot, the viewers don't know what is actually happening, and thanks to the film's originality and cleverness, a famous thriller emerged that is often stolen from and referenced in other films and series. Overall impression: 95%. (21.01.2009)

If you've seen this film and for some reason stopped watching a few minutes before the end because you thought you had it all figured out, I guarantee you've seen a completely different film. Does it sound weird? Not for this film, not at all. A brilliant ending that in the last few seconds turns everything on its head. By the way, first Oscar for Kevin Spacey and Oscar for screenplay. (13.04.2003)

A script this perfect would have deserved a little more dynamic direction in my opinion. Singer does conjure up the occasional really playful scene (Kobayashi in the elevator, the cut from the scene where the cops pick up Kevin Pollak), but the whole thing has too much of an 80s static feel for me. It's helped quite a bit by the literally brutal scenes (plus, where else are you going to see a child getting killed in a shot). Otherwise, though, it's a terribly entertaining film. (17.12.2010)