The Usual Suspects: My all-time favorite mystery movie

When “The Usual Suspects” first came out in theaters in 1995, it wasn’t a blockbuster hit. But those who got to see it left theaters wide-eyed and smiling, having seen one of the greatest Hollywood mystery movies of their generation. 

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Directed by Bryan Singer (who would later go on to direct most of the “X-Men” franchise), “The Usual Suspects” is a brilliant and stylish mix of mystery and action. The plot centers on five individuals accused of burning down a ship and killing all the mercenaries on it. These five men are all hounded by an FBI agent looking for the truth.

And there is one question everyone will be asking the entire time -- Who is Keyser Sose? Probably one of the most popular questions in film history, Keyser Sose here is referred to as “the Devil himself.” The harrowing tale of five hardened and formidable men reaches its climax in ways nobody could ever predict. 

The ending will hit you like no other Hollywood movie ever has, which is a testament to how great the buildup was. 

Truly, “The Usual Suspects” is Singer’s best film by far. Kevin Spacey, who has very recently, fallen from grace, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Verbal Kint, the person with disability among the five tough guys. 

Plus, a huge chunk of the movie takes place in New York City, my favorite place in the world. 

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I'm Joe Cianciotto, an architect from San Francisco. I’m also a film buff and love talking about movies in general. For more articles on the stuff I love, follow me on Facebook.

What Keeps 'The Fast And The Furious' Franchise Interesting?

Since 2001, people have been captivated by “The Fast and the Furious” films. Almost 20 years later, we're still waiting for the next films. Here are some of the reasons why I think the franchise is still gaining fans all over the world:

The diverse cast

While Dominic Toretto has always been the ringleader of the team, we can't help but root for Brian, Giselle, Han, Roman, Tej, and all the new additions to the squad. The ragtag team of anti-heroes and their adventures all over the world has exposed us to different cultures as well. The diverse cast shows us that different types of people can be represented in one film. For a movie that started in the early 2000s, the FF series paved the way for diversity on film.

Image source: Flavorwire.com

The nice cars

I'm not that much of a car geek but every time there's a scene where the characters pick their cars, I can't help but watch with jaws dropped. The vehicles are unbelievably beautiful, luxurious, and fast. Seeing our heroes drive through cities and terrains with these vehicles is exciting enough for me. My favorites are Brian's Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, the W Motors Lykan Hypersport that passed through skyscrapers, and Roman's bright orange Lamborghini Murcielago.

The unbelievable plot

Another thing that I love about the franchise is that every movie is fast and action-packed. Sometimes the scenes could seem ridiculous, but that's what why we're watching. We want our heroes to jump from planes, drive their luxury cars through military tanks and live through the whole experience. Adding The Rock and Jason Statham to the team guarantees more out-of-this-world action sequences.

Image source: Popsugar.com

What do you think? Is it time to schedule a movie marathon with friends?

Joe Cianciotto here. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I work as an architect and enjoy classic, superhero blockbuster, and indie mumblecore movies. Visit this page for similar reads.