The Usual Suspect

The Usual Suspect was released in 1995 and was directed by Bryan Singer. It also had a budget of $6 million which was quite small compared to US films of £24 million.

• As it begins it puts you into a frame of mind/certain mood - not fast pace - not an action thriller.
• Intriguing.
• Slow music (piano, violin) as the camera pans.
• Actors in alphabetical order.
• Music, edited by, financial producer, co-producer, executive producer, writer and director.
• Setting mood.
• Set the scene - time (last night).
• Extreme close up - medium close up.
• Mystery.
• Who's vision of kaiser soce is it?.
• not part of confession/statement.
• gives audience privileged info.
• Plays with audience - continues all the way through.
• Low-key lighting (one of the conventions of thrillers).
• Cut between two characters.
• Non-diegetic sound of footsteps.
• Voice disguised so audience is still left in mystery.
• Killings aren't graffic.
• Important we don't see killing of Keaten.
• Leaves open option that Keaten's still alive.
• Attachment to verbal.
• Slow motion - unrealistic - dramatic effect.
• Dissolve into shot of verbal - Americn court - 6 weeks ago - testemony - cut to flash back.
• Over-lapping sound from shots (non-diegetic then when in shot it's diegetic).
• Police are faceless - pointing guns in faces.
• Lack of respect.
• See criminals faces - more attached to them - feel sorry for them - on their side.
• Non-diegetic sound (music) goes with each character.
• Longest on last criminal (Keaten) more important.
• Cut away shot.
• Low-angle shot represents detective as important/superior.
• Slight him angle on crimal - everything collapsing around him.
• Only one camera.