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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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The Usual Suspects (1995)

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Who Is Keyser Soze?

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Usual Suspects on DVD

To many young film buffs, this is where film history begins and ends. And I guess you can't blame them with a thriller this clever and satisfying. This is great storytelling, in a movie so confident that it dangles clues right in front of your face, where you're not used to looking for them. (While you're relaxing, you should be looking for clues.) Even if you know the ending, the puzzle still snaps together with such terrific precision that multiple viewings are hugely rewarding. That may be why MGM released this new disc, eclipsing its 1999 release. The new DVD contains two brand-new commentary tracks: one by director Bryan Singer and writer Christopher McQuarrie, and one by composer/editor John Ottman. Highlights include deleted scenes, and a weird gag reel. I don't even need to mention the delicious performances by Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Stephen Baldwin, etc.

Starring: Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Giancarlo Esposito, Suzy Amis, Dan Hedaya, Clark Gregg
Written by: Christopher McQuarrie
Directed by: Bryan Singer
MPAA Rating: R for violence and a substantial amount of strong language
Running Time: 106 minutes
Date: June 25, 2002