Certain events in The Usual Suspects are presented a number
In Bryan Singer's 'The Usual Suspects' we are presented with a number of different situations where character opinion and manipulation alters the view we get of a scene. A prime example of this is the contradictory manifestations that arise from the character of 'Keyser Soze', whose true identity is shown in various ways from different characters points of view. The boat scene is also an integral part of the mystery where the events that occur are presented slightly differently in relation to the character that is telling them. It is this multiple focalization that has created the question as to whether the film has an open or closed ending and because of the differing presentations from Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) the ending can be argued in favour of each case. Without Verbal's overall presentation of events the mystery to the story would be lost and it is this stylistic presentation that allows him to manipulate the audience and Agent Kujan (Chazz Palminteri), which in turn emphasises the intelligence and power that he possesses.The opening visual dynamics immediately presents us with a scene that will be replayed a number of times and the contrasting mia scoro in the boat scene symbolises the struggle for life against quick
The way in which events are told in the film have a clear link to the character that is telling them, with the unsuspecting Agent Kujan confirming arguably the audience's initial view that Dean Keaton is Keyser Soze after Verbal's story. However he, like the audience has been manipulated and it is from Verbal's persuasive presentation that we are drawn into thinking that he watches Keyser murder Keaton, even though this is not the case. The clear contrast in the way Verbal reflects on events in the boat scene to the way things are presented initially helps to emphasise his cunning and subtle power and it is through his storytelling techniques that we are able to learn more about his character, particularly after we learn that he is in fact the omnipotent Keyser Soze. Verbal explains events leading up to the explosion on the boat and because of this the audience get a better interpretation of how and why events are occurring, in contrast to the beginning scene which leaves a number of matters unresolved. The ironic thing about this however, is that a lot of the information Verbal gives has been manipulated and the only thing we can really be shore of is the little information we are presented with in the opening boat sequence.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Keyser Soze, Agent Kujan, Usual Suspects', Verbal I'm, Soze Verbal's, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Spacey, Verbal Kint's, Soze Due, keyser soze, agent kujan, Gabriel Byrne, coffee mug, events boat, stylistic presentation, boat scene, information verbal, dean keaton, dean keaton keyser, soze power, kujan manipulated, dropping coffee mug, keaton keyser soze, keyser soze power,
Approximate Word count = 1466
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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