Indepentdent Film Research 2-3: The Usual Suspects (1995)

Writer: Christopher McQuarrie Director: Bryan Singer

Plot

Following a truck hijack in New York, five conmen are arrested and brought together for questioning. As none of them is guilty, they plan a revenge operation against the police. The operation goes well, but then the influence of a legendary mastermind criminal called Keyser Söze is felt. It becomes clear that each one of them has wronged Söze at some point and must pay back now. The payback job leaves 27 men dead in a boat explosion, but the real question arises now: Who actually is Keyser Söze?

Cast

Stephen Baldwin - Michael McManus

Gabriel Byrne - Dean Keaton

Benicio Del Toro - Fred Fenster

Kevin Pollak - Todd Hockney

Kevin Spacey - Roger 'Verbal' Kint

Opening 3 Minutes

0:01 - Camera: Extreme close up. Props: Matches. Setting: Boat dock. Non-diagetic sound: Striking matches.

0:02 - Camera: Mid shot. Character: Dean Keaton. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Cigarette, Matches. Setting: Boat docks Non-diagetic sound: Bells, Oil Spilling.

0:08 - Camera: Close up. Props: Oil barrels. Setting: Boat docks.  Non-diagetic sound: Oil Spilling.

0:17 - Camera: Mid Shot. Character: Dean Keaton. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Fire/Flame, Matches, Cigarette. Setting: Boat docks. Mise-en scene: Crates, Rope, Barrels. Non-diagetic sound: Fire/Flame.

0:20 - Camera: Close up. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Dead body, Fire/Flame. Setting: Boat docks. Non-diagetic sound: Fire/Flame.

0:24 - Camera: Close up. Props: Urine, Fire/Flame. Setting: Boat dock. Non-diagetic sound: Urine, Fire/Flame.

1:23 - Camera: Close up. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Lighter. Setting: Boat dock. Non-diagetic sound: Egniting Lighter.

1:42 - Camera: Close up. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Watch, Cigarette. Setting: Boat dock.

1:56 - Camera: Close up. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Gun.  Setting: Boat dock.

1:57 - Camera: Long shot. Setting: Boat dock. Mise-en scene: Boat, Lights. Non-diagetic sound: Gun fire, Background music.

2:18 - Camera: Extreme close up. Costumes: Smart, Dark. Props: Cigarette, Fire/Flame Setting: Boat dock. Non-diagetic sound: Fire/Flames, Background music.

2:32 - Camera: Mid shot, Zooming. Props: Crates, Rope. Setting: Boat dock. Mise-en scene: Crates, Rope. Non-diagetic sound: Explosion, Background music.

2:37 - Camera: Close up. Props: Explosion. Setting: Boat dock. Mise-en scene: Light. Non-diagetic sound: Explosion, Background music.