"Who is Keyser Soze?" This one question took movie buffs around the world by storm in 1995 and the answer materialized in the form of Bryan Singer’s cult classic “The Usual Suspects”. The movie remains a fan favorite even today along with earning accolades from critics in considerable measures.

The film revolves around a heist movie plot told in a smart way. However the elements of pathos and irony truly open up this otherwise bang-up crime story about the wages of sin. The brilliant performances delivered by a carefully chosen ensemble cast consisting of Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollack, Benicio Del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Pete Postlethwaite, Chazz Palminteri and finally Kevin Spacey. Spacey’s Oscar winning turn in the movie is certainly the strongest feature in the entire film.

Singer shows a unique blend of quirk and confidence in directing the complexly structured script and despite being appearing somewhat excessive or over the top at certain points, it succeeds in painting a black and brooding imagination on the silver screen. One of the key elements that efficiently come into play in this regard is the use of lights in particular sequences and the cinematography. The rich use of colors or their absence gives rise to a disturbing sense of space and time when shot in wide screen and later edited with equal flair. On an entertainment scale this film scores quite high with lots of scenes filled with intense drama ending up in shocking twists.