I have read many opinions dismissing The Usual Suspects as an exercise in the perfect twist ending, where everything you see is meaningless as it's all a set-up. But the movie is the masterpiece others hail it to be--the ending may leave you reeling and wondering "what was the point of it all?" but look again and you'll see the five leads (even Stephen Baldwin) are all suitably mysterious and bounce off each other perfectly. The writing is hard-edged, funny and crisp, John Ottman's brooding, ominous score and skillful editing create a fantastically dark atmosphere, and Singer's direction is startlingly good. He perfectly presents one of the most hard-boiled, well constructed stories with a barrelload of cinematic style. Kevin Spacey is the standout here, who is a masterclass in slimy deadpan style, but all of the cast are well suited to their roles. The ending is perfectly executed, and if you watch it without knowing the twist it will send shivers up your spine. A masterclass of the 90s.
*****