Directed by:
Bryan SingerScreenplay:
Christopher McQuarrieCinematography:
Newton Thomas SigelComposer:
John OttmanCast:
Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Suzy Amis, Giancarlo Esposito, Dan Hedaya (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that the mythic crime lord not only exists, but was also responsible for drawinghim and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro Harborleaving few survivors. But as Kint lures his interrogators into the incredible story of this crime lord's almost supernatural prowess, so too will you be mesmerized by a lore that is completely captivating from beginning to end! (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (12)
This film simply has pacing and charm! The mythical feel gives the story just the right substance, the music is demonically divine :)), the acting couldn't be better, and Singer, at only 30 years old, already proves that he is more than capable of pulling off a "big" film. The top of its genre, all of whose almost perfect components are enhanced by the famous final outcome.
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A police interrogation of a criminal outcast pieces together a flashback mosaic of past events leading to the tragic explosion of a boat in the harbor. Sophisticated dark film-noir in which, in the end, everything is completely different than it seems even at the penultimate glance. A perfect screenplay built on flashback sequences and detailed characterisation, made for an unbelievable $6 million. One actor who was still unknown at the time got very lucky here in that he got a role that made him a demigod for quite some time. I want a sequel in which I can enjoy his character for more than ten seconds so that he doesn’t remain just a mythical revelation to me!
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A script this perfect would have deserved a little more dynamic direction in my opinion. Singer does conjure up the occasional really playful scene (Kobayashi in the elevator, the cut from the scene where the cops pick up Kevin Pollak), but the whole thing has too much of an 80s static feel for me. It's helped quite a bit by the literally brutal scenes (plus, where else are you going to see a child getting killed in a shot). Otherwise, though, it's a terribly entertaining film.
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Let's face it, the final punchline does a lot. Tremendously. It shakes the entire movie, everything you've watched. Otherwise, it would be a fairly good detective case, but the punchline and the mastery of Kevin Spacey, primarily, is the spice that brought Singer into the spotlight. However, it cannot be taken away from him that he knows how to shoot individual scenes.
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If you've seen this film and for some reason stopped watching a few minutes before the end because you thought you had it all figured out, I guarantee you've seen a completely different film. Does it sound weird? Not for this film, not at all. A brilliant ending that in the last few seconds turns everything on its head. By the way, first Oscar for Kevin Spacey and Oscar for screenplay.
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