Blu-ray Review: THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995): Limited Edition: Bryan Singer

The Usual Suspects: Limited Edition Blu-ray Review, a 1995 movie directed by Bryan Singer, starring Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey, and Pete Postlethwaite.

Release Date: May 10, 2011

The Usual Suspects Review

A non-linear mystery film whose parts end up equaling the whole they create. The Usual Suspects is a dissimilar crime film that is equal parts thriller and action film. Director Bryan Singer builds a story in the forefront of the film while telling what led to its eventuality in a series of flashbacks. The viewer finds out quickly that the story began with a unlitigious police lineup, an incident from which the film’s title is derived as well.

The flashbacks, mostly re-sighted from the mouth of a partially paralyzed confidence scammer named Verbal Kent (Kevin Spacey) give insight into the film’s main and supplemental criminal characters as they are compelled then enlisted into bigger and more aggrandized criminal enterprises.

Verbal is weak and that weakness is manipulated by his interrogator (Chazz Palminteri) whenever convenient to keep Verbal talking. As the film is propelled more and more toward the present day point and time, so also are Verbal and his criminal cadre. They sink deeper and deeper into an exquisitely exhausted quagmire whose depths contain a baited snare disguised as something else, a man-trap they tickle until it snaps into action.

The Usual Suspects Video

The video for this version of The Usual Suspects is a Widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio. I never saw The Usual Suspects in theater, only on TV. This is the best I have ever seen the film. The cocaine heist with all the different colors used in that scene is where the picture shines the most.

The Usual Suspects Audio

The score to The Usual Suspects (presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio) always lets you know when something major is going to happen, as a dramatic element is introduced.

The Usual Suspects Bonus Features

The Usual Suspects Theatrical Trailer

Trailers for other films (a pretty lame extra to have for this film)

This edition of The Usual Suspects is missing the following Bonus Features found on the 1995 Special Edition DVD:

• Never before seen deleted scenes
• Audio commentaries by director Bryan Singer & writer Christopher McQuarrie
• Interview with composer/film editor John Ottman
• Featurettes: Pursuing the Suspects & Keyser Soze, Lie or Legend
• Original Featurette: Heisting Cannes
• Gag reel with introduction
• TV spots

Final Thoughts

Great presentation for the film (the video and audio) but the booklet case is not worth the extras that have not been included with this edition of The Usual Suspects.

Buy The Usual Suspects: Limited Edition Blu-ray