Latest / Verbal Diorama / The Usual Suspects

Transcript

The Usual Suspects · Verbal Diorama

• 1:58
  Hi,
• 1:58
  everyone.
• 1:58
  I'm
• 1:59
  Em,
• 1:59
  and
• 1:59
  welcome
• 1:59
  to
• 1:59
  Verbal
• 2:00
  Diorama,
• 2:00
  not
• 2:01
  verbal
• 2:01
  Kint.
• 2:02
  Episode
• 2:02
  313
• 2:04
  the
• 2:04
  Usual
• 2:05
  Suspects.
• 2:06
  This
• 2:06
  is
• 2:06
  the
• 2:06
  podcast
• 2:07
  that's
• 2:07
  all
• 2:07
  about
• 2:07
  the
• 2:07
  history
• 2:07
  and
• 2:08
  legacy
• 2:08
  of
• 2:08
  movies
• 2:09
  you
• 2:09
  know
• 2:09
  and
• 2:09
  movies
• 2:10
  you
• 2:10
  don't,
• 2:11
  that
• 2:11
  might
• 2:11
  know
• 2:11
  who
• 2:12
  Keyser
• 2:12
  Soze
• 2:12
  is,
• 2:13
  but
• 2:13
  also
• 2:14
  isn't
• 2:15
  completely
• 2:15
  sure.
• 2:16
  Welcome
• 2:17
  to
• 2:17
  Verbal
• 2:17
  Diorama.
• 2:18
  Whether
• 2:18
  you're
• 2:18
  a
• 2:18
  brand
• 2:18
  new
• 2:19
  listener
• 2:19
  to
• 2:19
  this
• 2:19
  podcast,
• 2:20
  whether
• 2:20
  you're
• 2:20
  a
• 2:20
  regular
• 2:21
  returning
• 2:21
  listener,
• 2:22
  as
• 2:22
  always,
• 2:22
  thank
• 2:22
  you
• 2:23
  for
• 2:23
  being
• 2:23
  here.
• 2:23
  Thank
• 2:23
  you
• 2:23
  for
• 2:23
  choosing
• 2:24
  to
• 2:24
  listen
• 2:24
  to
• 2:24
  this
• 2:24
  podcast.
• 2:25
  I'm
• 2:25
  so
• 2:25
  happy
• 2:26
  to
• 2:26
  have
• 2:26
  you
• 2:26
  here
• 2:27
  for
• 2:27
  the
• 2:27
  history
• 2:27
  and
• 2:28
  legacy
• 2:28
  of
• 2:28
  the
• 2:29
  Usual
• 2:29
  Suspects.
• 2:31
  Thank
• 2:31
  you
• 2:31
  for
• 2:32
  your
• 2:32
  continued
• 2:32
  support
• 2:33
  of
• 2:33
  this
• 2:33
  podcast.
• 2:34
  It
• 2:34
  genuinely
• 2:34
  means
• 2:35
  so
• 2:35
  much
• 2:35
  that
• 2:35
  people
• 2:36
  keep
• 2:36
  coming
• 2:36
  back
• 2:36
  to
• 2:37
  this
• 2:37
  podcast.
• 2:38
  And
• 2:38
  the
• 2:39
  Usual
• 2:39
  Suspects
• 2:40
  started,
• 2:41
  unlike
• 2:42
  so
• 2:42
  many
• 2:42
  movies
• 2:43
  do
• 2:43
  with
• 2:44
  a
• 2:44
  name.
• 2:45
  But
• 2:45
  great
• 2:45
  things
• 2:46
  start
• 2:46
  with
• 2:46
  a
• 2:47
  name
• 2:47
  like
• 2:48
  a
• 2:48
  podcast,
• 2:48
  all
• 2:49
  about
• 2:49
  the
• 2:49
  history
• 2:49
  and
• 2:49
  legacy
• 2:49
  of
• 2:50
  movies
• 2:50
  you
• 2:50
  know
• 2:50
  and
• 2:50
  movies
• 2:50
  you
• 2:51
  don't,
• 2:51
  which
• 2:51
  started
• 2:52
  with
• 2:52
  the
• 2:52
  name
• 2:53
  Verbal
• 2:53
  Diorama.
• 2:54
  Everything
• 2:54
  else
• 2:55
  came
• 2:55
  after,
• 2:56
  which
• 2:56
  is
• 2:56
  probably
• 2:57
  why
• 2:57
  the
• 2:57
  start
• 2:57
  of
• 2:58
  this
• 2:58
  podcast
• 2:58
  was
• 2:59
  so
• 2:59
  haphazard
• 3:00
  back
• 3:00
  in
• 3:00
  2019.
• 3:02
  But
• 3:02
  back
• 3:02
  to
• 3:02
  the
• 3:03
  Usual
• 3:03
  Suspects.
• 3:03
  Though
• 3:04
  not
• 3:04
  a
• 3:05
  usual
• 3:05
  suspect
• 3:05
  for
• 3:06
  this
• 3:06
  podcast
• 3:06
  because
• 3:07
  it's
• 3:07
  a
• 3:07
  genre
• 3:08
  I
• 3:08
  rarely
• 3:08
  do
• 3:08
  episodes
• 3:09
  on.
• 3:10
  But
• 3:10
  as
• 3:11
  it
• 3:11
  turned
• 3:11
  out,
• 3:12
  the
• 3:12
  Usual
• 3:12
  Suspects
• 3:13
  would
• 3:13
  become
• 3:13
  one
• 3:14
  of
• 3:14
  the
• 3:14
  most
• 3:14
  widely
• 3:15
  celebrated
• 3:16
  Neo
• 3:16
  Noir
• 3:16
  films
• 3:17
  of
• 3:17
  all
• 3:17
  time.
• 3:19
  Here's
• 3:19
  the
• 3:19
  trailer
• 3:20
  for
• 3:20
  the
• 3:20
  Usual
• 3:21
  Suspects.
• 5:45
  Roger
• 5:45
  Verbal
• 5:46
  Kint
• 5:46
  is
• 5:47
  the
• 5:47
  sole
• 5:47
  survivor
• 5:47
  of
• 5:48
  a
• 5:48
  bombing
• 5:48
  and
• 5:48
  shootout
• 5:49
  that
• 5:49
  leaves
• 5:50
  27
• 5:50
  people
• 5:51
  dead.
• 5:52
  While
• 5:52
  his
• 5:52
  lawyer
• 5:52
  fights
• 5:53
  for
• 5:53
  his
• 5:53
  speedy
• 5:54
  release
• 5:54
  from
• 5:54
  police
• 5:54
  custody,
• 5:55
  Kint
• 5:56
  begrudgingly
• 5:57
  reveals
• 5:57
  the
• 5:57
  events
• 5:58
  leading
• 5:58
  up
• 5:58
  to
• 5:58
  the
• 5:58
  previous
• 5:59
  night's
• 5:59
  explosion
• 6:00
  to
• 6:00
  customs
• 6:01
  Agent
• 6:01
  Dave
• 6:01
  Kujan.
• 6:02
  Kujan
• 6:03
  is
• 6:03
  determined
• 6:03
  to
• 6:03
  get
• 6:04
  to
• 6:04
  the
• 6:04
  truth,
• 6:04
  no
• 6:05
  matter
• 6:05
  what
• 6:05
  it
• 6:05
  takes.
• 6:06
  Particularly
• 6:07
  the
• 6:07
  truth
• 6:07
  about
• 6:08
  Dean
• 6:08
  Keaton,
• 6:09
  one
• 6:09
  of
• 6:09
  Kint's
• 6:10
  fellow
• 6:10
  suspects
• 6:11
  and
• 6:11
  the
• 6:11
  target
• 6:11
  of
• 6:12
  his
• 6:12
  long-timebogeymanvendetta.
• 6:13
  Kint'sstorybeginstocentrearoundthepresence
• 6:17
  of
• 6:17
  a
• 6:18
  criminal
• 6:18
  mastermind
• 6:19
  named
• 6:19
  Keyser
• 6:20
  atfirstdoubtstheexistenceoftheboogeymanofthecriminalunderworld,butasKintcontinueshisstory,
• 6:27
  Ku
• 6:27
  Yaneventuallyrealizesjust
• 6:29
  howdeepthisparticularrabbithole
• 6:31
  goes.Let'srun
• 6:33
  throughthe
• 6:33
  castof
• 6:34
  this
• 6:34
  movie.WehaveKevinSpacey
• 6:36
  asRogerVerbalKint,GabrielByrneas
• 6:39
  DeanKeaton,Chaz
• 6:41
  Palminterias
• 6:42
  Agent
• 6:43
  DaveKujan,StephenBaldwinasMichaelMcManus,Benicio
• 6:48
  DelToroasFredFenster,KevinPollock
• 6:51
  as
• 6:51
  ToddHockney,Pete
• 6:53
  PostlethwaiteasKobayashi,SusieAmisasEdieFinneran,giancaGiancarlorloEspositoasFBIAgentJeffBaerandDevinHedayaasSergeantJeffRalong-timebintheUsualSuspectswaswrittenby
• 7:08
  ChristopherMcQuarrieanddirectedby
• 7:10
  BrianSinner.AndlikeI
• 7:13
  mentioned,theUsualSuspectsistherare
• 7:15
  moviewherethe
• 7:15
  namecame
• 7:16
  first.ChristopherMacquarrMcQuarrieiewasaskedbyafriendwhathis
• 7:20
  nextscriptwasabout,andhereadanarticleinSpy
• 7:23
  magazinecalledtheUsualSuspect,thinkingthatwasagreatnameforamovie.The
• 7:28
  phrase
• 7:28
  originatedfrom
• 7:29
  ClaudeRain'slineinCasablanca.McMcQuarriequariehadgrownupinPrincetonJunction,NewJerseyandknewa
• 7:36
  guy
• 7:36
  ayearoldercalledBrianSinger,whomadeeightmmhomemoviesalong
• 7:41
  withanotherschoolfriendcalledEthanHawke.MMcQuarriecquariewoulddohisfriendasolidandstarinone
• 7:46
  ofthesehomemademovies,
• 7:48
  buthissceneendedupon
• 7:49
  thecutting
• 7:50
  roomfloorbecauseteenageboyscanbescathing.
• 7:53
  WhenMcQuarriewasarrestedforshopliftingthe
• 7:56
  year
• 7:56
  before
• 7:56
  hissenioryearinhighschool,hewassentencedtoa7pmcurfewfor
• 8:00
  acouple
• 8:01
  ofmonthsin
• 8:01
  thesummerandSingerwouldcome
• 8:03
  overtohis
• 8:03
  housetowatchmovies.Theyalso
• 8:05
  spenttimewritingshortstoriesand
• 8:07
  screenplays.The
• 8:09
  twolost
• 8:09
  touchtheyearafter,butMcquMcQuarrieariewassurprisedtohear
• 8:12
  fromfromSingerintheearly90safterhisshortfilmLion's
• 8:16
  Den
• 8:16
  hadhelpedhimraise$250,000forhisfirstfulllengthfeature.But
• 8:21
  heneededascript.MMcQuarriecquarieheadedtoLAandthepairropedPublicAccess,whichledtoShedthe
• 8:28
  GrandJuryPrizeatthe
• 8:30
  1993Sundance
• 8:32
  FilmFestival.
• 8:33
  WhenI
• 8:33
  spot
• 8:33
  areporteratSundancewhattheirnextfilmwasabout,Mcquariereplied.Iguessit'saboutabunch
• 8:39
  ofcriminalswhomeetinapolicelineup.Whichincidentally,wasthefirstvisualideathatheandSingerhadfortheposter.AfterSundance,SingerwasscreeningPublicAccessatafestivalinJapanandthoughthecouldsecurefinancingforhisnextfilm.SingercalledMacquariefromTokyoandaskedhimtowriteupthe
• 8:58
  calledMcquariefromTokyoandaskedhimtowriteuptheUsualsuspectsidea.MacquariewasMcQuarriewasworkinginthecopyroomofanLAlawfirmat
• 9:10
  thetimeandhewouldusemuchof
• 9:14
  hisexperiencesworkingthere
• 9:15
  toshapethe
• 9:17
  screenplayfortheUsualSuspect.
• 9:19
  Healso
• 9:20
  workedata
• 9:21
  detectiveagencyand
• 9:23
  thisalsoheavilyinfluencedthe
• 9:25
  depictionsofcriminalsandlawenforcementofficials.Manyofhis
• 9:30
  formerworkcolleaguesinspired
• 9:32
  thecharactersnames.One
• 9:34
  ofthelawyersatthefirmhadavery
• 9:38
  striking
• 9:38
  anduniquename.KeyneighboursserSume.McQuarriecouldnamethevillainafterhisformerboss.
• 9:44
  Soze
• 9:45
  istakenfrom
• 9:47
  aTurkishidiomwhichI'mgoingtomispronounceterribly.
• 9:51
  SozeBokmak,meaningtodrownin
• 9:53
  aseaofwordsortalkingtoomuch.Coincidentally,
• 9:58
  justlikethe
• 9:59
  nameVerbal.Alsocoincidentally,whythispodcastiscalled
• 10:03
  whatItIsKeyser
• 10:05
  Soze
• 10:06
  isa
• 10:07
  mythic
• 10:07
  figurein
• 10:08
  the
• 10:08
  underworld,describedasaspookstorycriminalstell
• 10:12
  theirkidsat
• 10:13
  night.HeisaTurkishdrug
• 10:17
  dealerwhogunneddownhiswifeandchildrenratherthanlet
• 10:22
  themfallintothe
• 10:23
  handsofhisHungarianrivalsbeforeexacting
• 10:27
  vengeanceon
• 10:27
  thecrewanddisappearinginto
• 10:30
  thenight,nevertobeheardfromdirectlyagain.ButSoze
• 10:35
  wasalsobasedona
• 10:37
  realLife
• 10:38
  CriminalIn
• 10:39
  1971,inanextensivemansioninWestfield,NewJersey,neighboursneighbourreportedpolicethey'dnotseenafamilyAllofthemhadbeenkilledbyasinglebullettothehead,exceptforJohn,whohadbeenshot10times.Theonlymemberofthefamilynotaccountedforwasthefather.JohnListSenior,adevoutLutheranandaccountant,hadpreviouslyannouncedthefamilywasgoingonholidayandthendisappeared,butnotbeforeremovinghisfacefromeveryphotographinthehomeandleavingaconfessioninhisstudyaddressedtohispastor.Intheconfession,headmittedtolosinghisjobandowing$11,000onthemortgage,stealingfromhismotherandkillinghiswholefamilysotheydidn'thavetolosetheirhomeandlivealifeofpoverty.Hisreasoningformurderingthemwasthatbydoingsotheyweregoingtoabetterplaceandbythetimehereunitedwiththeminheaven,they'dhaveforgivenhim.PolicetrackedhiscartoKennedyAirport,buttherewasnorecordofhimtakingflight.Ayearlater,anarsonattackonthehousewoulddestroyanyremainingevidenceandlikethat,he'sgoneheremainedonAmerica'sMostWantedlistbutwasnevercaptured.Eighteenyearslater,in1989,America'sMostWantedcommissionedabustofJohnListSr.Usingageprogressiontechnology.Andremarkably,awomaninDenver,ColoradocalledintosayitlookedlikeheroldneighborwhowasgoingbythenameRobertClark.ClarkhadsincemovedtoRichmond,Virginia,wasadevoutLutheran,wasalsoanaccountant,andwasalsohavingsomemoneytrouble.History,itseems,alwaysrepeatsitself.Butonthetip,RobertClarkwasapprehendedbylawenforcementanddeniedhewasJohnListuntilhewasfingerprintedanditbecameapparenthewasJohnListen.JohnNistwassentencedtofivelifetermsin1990forthefivemurdershecommittedandhewoundupdyingfrompneumoniain2008inahospitalneartheNewJerseyStatePrison.Heinsisteduntilhisdyingdaythatforgivenessawaitedhiminheaven.Fromthefamilyhehadmurdered.KeyserSoze,ofcourse,wasnevercaught.Butthestoryofthismotleycrewofanineupturnedcriminalgangwithanonlinearstorylineandanunreliablenarratorwasn'ttheeasiestscripttosell.Theysentthescripttoover50differentcompanies,allofwhompassedaconnectionfromCannes.RobertJones,theproducerfromtheGermangroupwmg,offeredtofinancethemovie.Sobelievingtheyhadthefinancinginplace,theymoved
• 13:29
  John
• 13:29
  Listuntil
• 13:30
  hewasfingerprintedanditbecameapparenthewasJohn
• 13:34
  Listen.JohnListwassentencedtofivelifeterms
• 13:38
  in
• 13:39
  1990forthefivemurdershecommittedandhe
• 13:43
  wound
• 13:43
  up
• 13:43
  dyingfrompneumoniain2008inahospitalneartheNewJerseyStatePrison.Heinsisted
• 13:50
  untilhisdyingday
• 13:52
  thatforgivenessawaitedhimin
• 13:54
  heaven.Fromthefamily
• 13:56
  hehad
• 13:57
  murdered.
• 13:57
  KeyserSoze,
• 13:58
  ofcourse,wasnevercaught.Butthe
• 14:01
  storyofthismotleycrewofanine
• 14:05
  upturnedcriminalgangwithanonlinear
• 14:07
  storylineandanunreliablenarratorwasn'ttheeasiestscript
• 14:11
  tosell.Theysentthescripttoover50differentcompanies,allofwhompasseda
• 14:18
  connectionfromCannes.
• 14:19
  RobertJones,
• 14:21
  theproducerfrom
• 14:22
  theGerman
• 14:23
  groupwmg,offeredtofinancethemovie.So
• 14:26
  believingtheyhadthefinancingin
• 14:29
  place,they
• 14:29
  moved
• 14:30
  forward
• 14:30
  withcasting
• 14:31
  themovie.
• 14:32
  Theywantedtogetabignamecast,butthe
• 14:37
  limitedfundsmeantcastingwellbelow
• 14:39
  the
• 14:39
  actor'susualpay.
• 14:41
  VerbalKinthadbeenwrittenwithKevinSpacey
• 14:45
  inmind,butSpaceywasinterested
• 14:47
  in
• 14:47
  playingtheroleofDeanKeatonorDaveKujdemeanouran,andhewassurprisedtobeofferedtheroleof
• 14:55
  Kint.Hewouldmeetwithexpertsanddoctorsto
• 14:59
  portraythecharacter'scerebralpalsyaccuratelyand
• 15:02
  how
• 15:03
  it
• 15:03
  couldfitintothemovie.The
• 15:06
  characterwas
• 15:07
  writteninthescriptashaving
• 15:09
  cerebral
• 15:10
  palsywithphysical
• 15:11
  limitationsaffectinghislefthandandleftfoot,causinghimto
• 15:16
  walkwitha
• 15:17
  limp.This
• 15:18
  isoneofthe
• 15:19
  mostcrucialelementsofthe
• 15:22
  film's
• 15:22
  famoustwist
• 15:23
  ending.Thedisabilityisrevealedtobecompletelyfake.VRBLdropsthedisabledactas
• 15:30
  hestrollsfrom
• 15:31
  thestation.TheportrayalofcerebralpalsyaspartofVerbal'sdisguiseservesthenarrativepurpose
• 15:38
  of
• 15:38
  makinghimappearharmlessandnonthreateningtoboth
• 15:42
  the
• 15:43
  othercharactersandtheaudience.
• 15:45
  His
• 15:46
  apparentphysical
• 15:46
  limitationscombinedwith
• 15:48
  his
• 15:48
  nervous,cooperativedemeanorhelpsselltheillusionthathe'sjustasmalltimeconmanratherthanthecriminalmastermindheactuallyis.ThisaspectofVerbal'scharacter
• 16:00
  hasbeensomewhatcontroversialovertheyearsbecauseitusesdisabilityasaplotdeviceanddeception.Thefilmpresentsfakedisabilityaspartofanelaboraterusetomisleadlawenforcementandaudiencesaboutthecharacter'strueidentityandcapabilities.Now,inthe
• 16:19
  80sand90s,youcouldn'treallygoanywherewithoutgettingaBaldwininyourmovieoraroundyourmovie.Andthisisno
• 16:29
  exception,becauseoneofthefamousBaldwinbrothersthistime,StephenBaldwin,hadaparticularlymemorableauditionexperiencebecausehewasfrustratedwiththeroleshewasgetting
• 16:41
  inindiefilms.AndwhenhemetwithBryanSingerdirectly,hewentintoa15minutetiradetellinghimwhatitwasliketoworkwithdifficultdirectors.AfterBaldwin
• 16:54
  finishedhisrant,Singertoldhimexactlywhatheexpectedandwantedfrom
• 17:00
  theactors,whichactuallyimpressedBaldwinandhelpedhimlandtheroleofMichaelMcManus.
• 17:06
  GabrielByrnewas
• 17:07
  castasDeanKeatonafterbeingrecommendedbyKevinSpacey,bringinghisestablisheddramaticcredibilitytoanchortheensemble.ByrnewasalreadyawellknownactorfromfilmslikeMiller'sCrossing,sohisinvolvementhelpedlegitimizetheproject.Buthewasdealingwithsomepersonalproblemsatthetime,sothefilmmakersagreedtoshootthefilminLosAngelestoaccommodateByrne'sschedule.AcademyAwardnominatedPetePostlethwaitewasoneofBritain'smostwellrespectedcharacteractorsandhecouldbeguaranteedtobring
• 17:44
  gravitasandamenacingpresenceto
• 17:47
  the
• 17:47
  roleofthemysteriousKobayashi.ChazPalmiteriwasunavailablefortheroleofAgentDaveKuyan.Therolewas
• 17:55
  offeredtoChristopherWalken
• 17:57
  andRobertDeNirowhobothdeclined.AlPacinoalsoturneddowntherole.WhenPalminteribecameavailable,hewasonly
• 18:06
  freeforaweekandallofhisfilmingwasPalminteriduringthattime.Buthissigning
• 18:14
  AgentDave
• 18:15
  Kujan.Thethefinancialfutureofthefilm.Theycastthefiveprincipalactorsofthefilm,PetePostlethwaite,StephenBaldwin,KevinSpacey,ChazPalminteriandGabrielByrne.AndthentheyfoundouttheGermanfinancieractuallydidn'thavethemoney.
• 18:32
  Sotheyhadtogobacktothefiveactors,explainthattheyhadafinancial
• 18:39
  issueandaskedthemtosigna10dayoptiontocommittothemovie.All
• 18:46
  fivediditandthatcombinedstarpowerhelpedattractotherfinancierstopayforthemovie.PolygramFilmedEntertainmentandSpellingFilmsInternationaloffered$6.5millionandagreedtopurchasethefilmonceitwasdone.Inotherwords,theydida
• 19:05
  negativepickupdeal.Sothenthemoviewasbankfinanced.SoitmeantthatBryanSingergothisfinancialdealandalsogotalotoffreedomandpowerbecausethemoneywascomingfromthebank.Aslongasthemoviestayedonscheduleandonbudget.BenicioDelTorowasn'tthefirstchoiceforFredFenster.ThepartwaswrittenforsomeonelikeHarry
• 19:33
  DeanStanton.DelTorodidn'twanttoauditionbecausehedoesn'tlikethem,sohewascastwithoutone.AndwhenherealizedFensterwasgoingtodiemidwaythroughthemovie,hedecidedtobringhisownuniqueinterpretationtoFredFenster.Hisdistinctive,mumblingdeliverystylebecameoneofthemostmemorableaspectsofhisperformance,andthiswaslargelyimprovisedduringtheproductionwiththeblessingofBryanSinger.It'simportanttoaddthatDelToroneveroncestraysfromwhat'swritteninthescript,butdeliversitinsuchawaythatmakesitunintelligiblebutmemorable.Therewasalotofimprovisationonsetandalotofreactiontostuffthatjustrandomlyhappenedduringfilming.LikeStephenBaldwinbeinghitbyalitcigaretteintheface.Agenuinereactionthatstayedinthemovie.KevinPollockwasknownforhisworkincomediesandAFewGoodMenandbroughtbothdramaticchopsandhisexperiencewithensembleworktotheroleofToddHockney.Healsoimproviseda
• 20:50
  lotoflinesforcomediceffect.ThecastingwascrucialbecauseSingerneededactorswhocouldworkwelltogetherasanensembleandhandleMacquarie'sintricatedialogueheavyscreenplay.Thefivemainactorsspentweeksrehearsingtogetherbeforefilmingtobuildthechemistryandcamaraderiethatwasessentialforthestorytowork.Thisrehearsalperiodwasparticularlyimportant
• 21:16
  sincemuchofthefilm'ssuccessthatstayed
• 21:19
  inthe
• 21:19
  movie.KevinPollok
• 21:21
  wasknownfor
• 21:22
  criminalswhohadsupposedlyjustmetina
• 21:25
  policelineup.Thatdidn'tmeaneveryonealwaysgoton,though.BaldwinandPollockwouldacknowledgethattheirlongstandingfeudwitheachotherbeganonthe
• 21:36
  setofthisfilm.Thoughneitheractordirectlystateswhatcausedtheiranimositytowardeachother.PollockdoesmentionthatBaldwin,inanattempttostayincharacterasMcManus,wouldgoaroundactingtoughandsometimesbullytheotheractors.Baldwin
• 21:54
  doesadmitthathewasbullyingtowardsPollockonthefilmwith
• 21:59
  theirnumerousstandoffconfrontationswork.
• 22:02
  Thisrehearsalperiodwasparticularlyimportantsincemuch
• 22:06
  of
• 22:06
  thefilm'ssuccessdependedonthe
• 22:09
  believablerelationshipsbetweenthese
• 22:11
  careercriminalswhohadsupposedlyjustmetinapolicelineup.Thatdidn'tmeaneveryonealwaysgoton,though.BaldwinandPollockwouldacknowledgethat
• 22:22
  theirlong
• 22:23
  standingfeudwitheachotherbegan
• 22:26
  on
• 22:26
  the
• 22:27
  setofthisfilm.Though
• 22:29
  neitheractordirectlystateswhatcausedtheiranimositytowardeachother.PollockdoesmentionthatBaldwin,inanattemptto
• 22:38
  stayincharacterasMcManus,
• 22:41
  wouldgo
• 22:41
  aroundactingtoughandsometimes
• 22:44
  bullytheotheractors.Baldwindoesadmitthathewas
• 22:48
  bullyingtowardsPollockonthefilmwiththeir
• 22:52
  numerousstandoffconfrontationswith
• 22:54
  eachothershownonscreen.McQuarrieworkedonaboutninedraftsofthescriptoversixmonthsand
• 23:02
  hehadtheidea
• 23:04
  foratwist.Andthe
• 23:06
  twistwas
• 23:07
  whatmadethewholethingworthdoing.Originally,whenhestartedwriting,itwasgoingto
• 23:15
  bea
• 23:15
  story
• 23:16
  aboutfive
• 23:17
  felonswhomeetinalineupand
• 23:20
  theposterwouldbethefiveguysinthelineup.ThenamewouldbetheUsualSuspectsandthetagline
• 23:29
  wasallofyoucangotohell.Singerfully
• 23:33
  admitstotakinginspirationfromReservoirDogs.ItwasMMcQuarriecquariewhosuggestedwhatifthisallcameoffthisbulletinboardandthatbecame
• 23:45
  thereasontomakethemovie?Todo
• 23:48
  this
• 23:49
  bigreveal,theyneededtogobackintothe
• 23:53
  movieandfindeveryscrapof
• 23:55
  footage.Alternatetakes,creepy
• 23:57
  shots,
• 23:58
  interesting
• 23:58
  shots.Toconvincetheaudience
• 24:01
  thatGabrielByrne'sDeanKeaton
• 24:03
  wasKeyserSoze,theyusedouttakes,bloopers,audiotracks,whatever
• 24:07
  theycouldfindto
• 24:09
  substantiate
• 24:10
  DaveKujan'ssuspicionsaboutKeaton,tomaketheaudience
• 24:14
  feelandtrulybelievethatthey'regettingtheclimaxofWithGabriel
• 24:19
  Burns
• 24:20
  revealas
• 24:20
  KeyserSoze.Singerdidn't
• 24:22
  just
• 24:23
  want
• 24:23
  thisinsomeaudioexposition,hewantedviewersto
• 24:27
  seeit
• 24:28
  narratively.EvenGabrielByrnewasinitiallytoldbySinger
• 24:33
  thathewasKeyserSozeto
• 24:35
  lendthe
• 24:36
  authenticityto
• 24:37
  hisperformance.Sohegenuinelybelievedhewasplayingacharacterplayingthislegendary
• 24:44
  villain,
• 24:44
  even
• 24:45
  persuadingByrnetostandinatrenchcoat
• 24:48
  withapistolandfiredownatthespothischaracterwas
• 24:54
  supposedtobesittingin.Itwasn'tin
• 24:57
  the
• 24:58
  script,soByrne
• 24:59
  questionedit,butSingerfelt
• 25:01
  theyneeded
• 25:02
  an
• 25:03
  image
• 25:03
  ofhimasSoze.
• 25:05
  TheUsualSuspects
• 25:07
  wasfilmedover33daysinLosAngelesandSanPedroandthentwodaysinNewYork.The
• 25:15
  strict35day
• 25:16
  schedule
• 25:17
  wasnecessarytostayunder
• 25:19
  budget.Thecastspentan18hourday
• 25:23
  shootingtheundergroundparkinggaragerobbery.AccordingtoByrne,bythe
• 25:28
  nextday,Singer
• 25:29
  didn'thaveallofthefootagehewanted
• 25:33
  to,but
• 25:34
  refusedtostop
• 25:35
  filminginspiteofthe
• 25:37
  bondingcompany'sthreatto
• 25:39
  shut
• 25:40
  downthe
• 25:41
  production.ButtheUsualSuspect'smosticonic
• 25:44
  momentcomesattheverystartofthe
• 25:47
  filmwhenthefivepotentialcriminalsappearinapolice
• 25:52
  lineup.Asked
• 25:53
  toreadacertainlinewhichrhymeswithHandmethekeysyoutookingblockBooker.
• 26:01
  Thereactions
• 26:02
  andfits
• 26:03
  oflaughter
• 26:03
  weren't
• 26:04
  scripted.This
• 26:05
  scenewassupposed
• 26:07
  tobeplayedcompletelystraightandseriouslyto
• 26:10
  showthemallbeingdefianttothepolice.
• 26:14
  ChristopherMcQuarrieexplainedonTwitterthat
• 26:16
  itwasduetoBeniciodelToro'sflatulence.Duringthetake,thecastwereeruptingintofitsof
• 26:25
  laughterafterthe
• 26:26
  smell
• 26:27
  permeated
• 26:27
  insuchawaytobecompletelyhilarious.Itendedup
• 26:32
  solvingascript
• 26:33
  issueofhowthesefivemen,Bondand
• 26:37
  thenineupendedupbecomingthebondingscene
• 26:41
  becauseofsome
• 26:42
  stinky
• 26:43
  farts.Singerwasoriginallyfrustrated,butthefootage
• 26:47
  wasgenuinely
• 26:48
  funny.Itshowed
• 26:49
  thecharactersbonding
• 26:51
  and
• 26:51
  itstillfittheideaofthem
• 26:54
  beingdefianttothepolice.
• 26:56
  CinematographerNewtonThomasSigelcollaboratedwithBryanSingerforthe
• 27:01
  first
• 27:02
  timeontheUsualSuspects.Thepair
• 27:05
  wouldworktogether
• 27:07
  againonX
• 27:08
  Men
• 27:08
  andXMen2Sigel'scinematographyon
• 27:12
  the
• 27:12
  film,which
• 27:13
  is
• 27:13
  widelyrecognisedashiscareer,best,developedintoawayofshooting
• 27:19
  dialoguesceneswitha
• 27:21
  combination
• 27:21
  ofslow,creepingzoomsand
• 27:23
  dollymoves
• 27:24
  thatendedintightclose
• 27:26
  ups.Theuseofdarknessinthefilmistoaccentuate
• 27:32
  thelowestpointsforeachof
• 27:34
  thecharacters,andtheimperceptiblezoomsalwayshaveasenseofmotionin
• 27:40
  limitedspace.Whiletheywerefilming
• 27:43
  the
• 27:44
  climactic
• 27:44
  scenearoundthedocksafterdark,theauthoritiesreceivedananonymous
• 27:49
  callsayingtherewereeitherdrugsorgunsontheboat
• 27:54
  theywereusing,whichwasa220foot
• 27:58
  minesweeper
• 27:58
  onceowned
• 27:59
  bytheKennedys.SotheATF,theBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,
• 28:04
  FirearmsandExplosives,raidedtheboatandshutdownthe
• 28:08
  movie.One
• 28:10
  of
• 28:10
  theproducerswokeupthemayorandtheproduction
• 28:14
  gotpermissiontocarryon.Thiswasa
• 28:18
  movieofincrediblecircumstance,butalso
• 28:21
  incredible
• 28:21
  luckandprivilege,becauseBryan
• 28:24
  Singerhadunprecedented
• 28:25
  freedomon
• 28:26
  thismovieto
• 28:27
  notonlymakeitexactlyhowhe
• 28:30
  wantedtomakeit,butalsomakehisfinalcutwithout
• 28:35
  anyinterferencefromanyone
• 28:37
  else.
• 28:38
  Whenyouthink
• 28:39
  oftheusualsuspects
• 28:41
  ofthispodcast,it'sme,butalsosomeotherpeopletoo.
• 28:46
  Andthis
• 28:47
  is
• 28:47
  theperfecttimetosegueintotheobligatoryKeanureferenceofthisepisode,whichis
• 28:54
  whereItry
• 28:55
  andlinkthemoviethatI'mfeaturing
• 28:59
  withKeanuReeves,whichissometimesreallydifficult,especially
• 29:03
  likeitwasfor
• 29:04
  this,becausethe
• 29:06
  usualsuspects
• 29:07
  ofthispodcastisme.
• 29:09
  AndthennextinthelineupisKeanuReeves,
• 29:13
  followedbyKeanuReeves.
• 29:15
  KeanuReevesand
• 29:16
  KeanuReeves.I'mnotgonnasaywhofartedinour
• 29:21
  lineup,
• 29:21
  though,butallI
• 29:23
  willsayisIdideatbaked
• 29:26
  beansthatday.Andyes,
• 29:29
  ofcourseIfartinfrontofKeanu
• 29:32
  Reeves.He'sthebestofmen.He'snot
• 29:36
  gonnacatcha
• 29:37
  coupleofepisodes.IdidanepisodeonBarbieand
• 29:42
  Italkedabouthowthemarketingforthatmoviewas
• 29:47
  genuinelyoneofthegreatestexamplesofmodernmarketing,howtheyutilizesocialmediaandhow
• 29:54
  theyutilize
• 29:55
  apresstour.TheUsualSuspects
• 29:58
  wasbackin1995,butthere
• 30:00
  wasalsoareallyinteresting
• 30:03
  waytheymarketed
• 30:04
  thismoviebecauseexecutiveshadproblemspronouncingthenameKeyserSoze,andtheywereworried
• 30:11
  thataudienceswouldhavethesameproblem.So
• 30:14
  thestudiodecided
• 30:16
  topromotethat
• 30:17
  character's
• 30:17
  nametwoweeksbeforethefilmdebuted
• 30:21
  intheatres.WhoisKeyserSoze?
• 30:23
  Postersappeared
• 30:25
  onbusstopsandTVspotstoldpeoplehowtosaythecharacter's
• 30:30
  name.Andso,ofcourse,peoplestarted
• 30:34
  talking
• 30:34
  abouta
• 30:35
  charactercalledKeyser
• 30:36
  Sozeandaboutwhois
• 30:39
  thisguy?Keyser
• 30:40
  Soze.Andof
• 30:42
  courseit
• 30:43
  made
• 30:43
  peoplewant
• 30:44
  togoandseethemovie.
• 30:47
  ItledtothemoviebeingshownoutofCompetitionatthe1995CannesFilmFestivalandthengoontobecomeanindiedarling.TheBox
• 30:59
  Officeafteranexclusive
• 31:01
  runinLosAngelesandNewYorkon
• 31:05
  threescreens
• 31:05
  onitsopeningweekend
• 31:07
  on18August1995,
• 31:09
  itthenopened
• 31:10
  inafurther39screens,leadingtoits
• 31:14
  debut17thatthedomesticboxoffice.TheUsualSuspectsopenedwideon15September1995andjumped
• 31:22
  upto
• 31:23
  seventhattheboxoffice,
• 31:26
  stayinginthetop10forafurtherfourweeksandpeakingat
• 31:31
  fifth.It
• 31:33
  would
• 31:33
  endupgrossing$23.3
• 31:35
  milliondomestically
• 31:36
  intheUSand$43.6millioninternationally,
• 31:39
  foratotalworldwidegrossof$66.9
• 31:42
  million,morethan10
• 31:44
  timesitsoriginalbudget.It
• 31:46
  alsohasan87%on
• 31:48
  RottenTomatoes,
• 31:49
  withaconsensusreading.Expertlyshot
• 31:52
  andedited,theUsualSuspectsgivesthe
• 31:56
  audienceasimpleplotandthenpilesonlayers
• 32:00
  ofdeceit,twistsandviolencebeforepullingouttherugfromunderneath.RogerEbert,though,wasonereviewer
• 32:08
  whodidn't
• 32:09
  caremuch
• 32:09
  forthemovie.InareviewfortheChicago
• 32:14
  SunTimes,hegavethefilmoneanda
• 32:18
  half
• 32:18
  starsoutoffour,
• 32:20
  writingthat
• 32:21
  itwasconfusinganduninteresting,quote,
• 32:24
  tothe
• 32:25
  degree
• 32:25
  thatI
• 32:26
  dounderstand,Idon'tcare,unquote.
• 32:29
  Healsoincludedthe
• 32:31
  filmin
• 32:31
  hisMosthatedfilms
• 32:33
  list,butnotmanypeopleagreedwithhim.Andatthe68AcademyAwards,KevinSpaceywon
• 32:41
  theAcademyAwardforBest
• 32:44
  SupportingactorandChristopherMcQuarriewontheAcademyAwardforBestOriginalScreenplay.In
• 32:50
  hisacceptancespeech,Spaceysaid,well,whoeverKeyserSozeis,Icantellyouhe'sgonna
• 32:57
  get
• 32:57
  gloriouslydrunktonight.WhileSpaceyisundoubtedly
• 33:01
  thestarofthemovie,it'sreallyonlyafterthefactthatyou
• 33:07
  realizethis.Andsotosavethe
• 33:10
  twistfrombeingspoiledforothers,hecampaigned
• 33:14
  forwas
• 33:14
  nominatedandwonBestSupportingActorrather
• 33:18
  thanBest
• 33:18
  Actor.ThefilmalsowasnominatedforaBAFTA
• 33:23
  forBestfilmandwontwofurtherBAFTAs,BestOriginalScreenplayandBestEditing.Spaceywasalso
• 33:31
  nominated
• 33:31
  for
• 33:31
  aBestSupportingActorGolden
• 33:34
  Globe.
• 33:34
  Verbal
• 33:35
  Kindwas
• 33:36
  votedthenumber
• 33:37
  48
• 33:38
  villain
• 33:38
  inAFI's100
• 33:40
  Years,
• 33:40
  100Heroesand
• 33:41
  VillainsinJune2003,andthemovie
• 33:44
  wasnamedastheAFI's
• 33:47
  10th
• 33:47
  bestmysteryfilm.BryanSinger'slawyernegotiatedabrilliantdealforhimon
• 33:53
  thismovie.Hefullycontrolledthemovie.Noone
• 33:57
  couldfirehim.Noonecouldtakeitaway.AndBryanSinger
• 34:03
  controlstherightsoftheusualsuspectsinperpetuity.Whichmeans
• 34:08
  nobodycanmakea
• 34:10
  sequeloraspin
• 34:12
  off
• 34:12
  withoutSinger'sapprovalor
• 34:14
  involvement.Andthiswasalso
• 34:16
  an
• 34:17
  unprecedenteddeal
• 34:18
  thatrarely
• 34:19
  happensinHollywood.Butdespitethe
• 34:22
  movietellingus
• 34:23
  who
• 34:23
  Keyser
• 34:24
  Sozeis,howmuch
• 34:26
  ofthe
• 34:27
  storycanbebelieved?Did
• 34:29
  Sozemake
• 34:30
  upthecharacters
• 34:31
  orthe
• 34:32
  wholething?IshereallyKeyser
• 34:35
  Soze?WhilethesketchartistdoesaprettyconvincingKevinSpaceylookalikesketch,soatleastweknow
• 34:43
  that'strue.Thevisualreveal
• 34:45
  ofthesketchbeingKeybehaviourserSozeispurelybasedonadescription,butit'shardtodenyit'snot
• 34:54
  adescriptionofKevinSpacey.Themoviecleverlyleavesprettymuch
• 34:59
  everythingelseupfor
• 35:01
  debate,apart
• 35:02
  fromthe
• 35:03
  factthatacharactercalledKobayashiprobablydoesn'tlooklikePetePostlethwaite,butthenweknowhisnameisdefinitelynotKobayashifrom
• 35:13
  the
• 35:14
  Kobayashiporcelainmug.Butyoucan'ttalkaboutthismoviewithout
• 35:19
  the
• 35:19
  BryanSingerand
• 35:21
  KevinSpaceyshaped
• 35:22
  elephantinthe
• 35:23
  room,whichdoesunfortunatelysullythismoviesomewhatNowSingerhas
• 35:28
  been
• 35:29
  accusedofalleged
• 35:30
  sexualassault
• 35:31
  inseverallawsuitsin1997,2014,
• 35:34
  2017
• 35:34
  and2019,someofwhomagainstX@@
• 36:52
  Bye.