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Film beginning Analysis the Usual Suspects

Genre: Bryan Singers’ The Usual Suspects (1995) could be considered to be part of the neo noir sub- genre due to its use of a complex narrative that involves multiple interlinking plotlines and characters. In addition to this the film is principally a crime drama that relies heavily on elements and conventions from mystery, suspense and thriller films in order to build , and leave an undercurrent of all of the latter elements throughout the course of the film. For instance the first shot from this sequence that we the audience are made to interpret is a close up of a box of matches with all the matches standing up sticking out of the top of the box; these are then lit simultaneously: immediately casting light on the otherwise darkened background. The fact that this opening sequence takes place at night is a further choice and an in fact an obvious choice that is employed by the director in order emphasise the atmospheric and indeed suspenseful tone of the sequence. It allows the director to effectively slowly submerge the viewer in a mysterious and unpredictable environment, and crucially the darkness sets an eerie and unsettling tone over the sequence which would have been much harder to evoke if it was filmed during the day. Moreover we as the viewer can acknowledge that along with the elements of suspense and mystery, that the film so far pertains conventions of a crime drama. The music used within the opening scene ultimately hightens the elements of suspense and mystery throughout the course of this scene, due to its eerie tone and nature which leaves the audience feeling unsettled and unsure as to what will happen next.

Mise en scene: The Film starts with what could be considered to be an extreme close up, showing a box of matches that has just been lit, this shot not only emphasises the contrast between the light and he dark but also highlights the fact that the lighting of the matches is a potentially volatile and sudden action and the extreme close up doesn’t give the audience the chance to interpret any background information; this draws the audience into the scene and gives a hint of upcoming danger. After this shot we are presented with the first character via a mid-shot which shows this character using the lit matches to light a cigarette; in the foreground we can clearly see flames which elevates the current state of tension and thus supports the fact that this character is in a potentially dangerous situation. In addition to the latter statement the shot then jumps to a mid-shot of several oil drums leaking, which with the burning flames in the background reveals to the audience that this character is clearly in an immediate state of danger. The shot then jumps back to the character which we have been presented with and shows him from a mid-shot sitting languidly resting back against a crate. From this we can possibly presume that this character is not in a healthy state and is possibly injured.

After this he drops the match box which in turn sets alight a line of petrol, the camera then follows the line of petrol as it does this we can see serval dead bodies, this further enforces the fact that something bad has happened it is then extinguished by a mysterious, dark figure who

puts the flame out by ‘urinating on it’. This mysterious figure positioning shows us that he is in the position of power and has the authority in this given scene. Furthermore the juxtaposition between this figure standing tall and upright whilst Keaton is sitting sprawled shows to us that Keaton is clearly inferior in this scene and is in a position of danger. This mysterious character approaches Keaton,(his face hidden) he lights a cigarette with a golden lighter and asks ‘how you doing Keaton’ which gives the audience the name of the man sitting down, this also shows to us that this mysterious character knows Keaton and is possibly acquainted with him. Keaton replies ‘ I can’t feel my legs Keyser’, and at this moment in time this gives us the name of the mysterious figure. After this the man in the dark referred to as Keyser pulls out a pistol and shoots Keaton twice. The music is employed by the director here effectively in order to heighten the mysterious nature of the scene we have just witnessed. The man in black then drops his cigarette into the oil setting alight the line of oil and causing the boat to explode as he leaves. The final shot illustrates to the viewer an image of several crates and other shipping equipment, the camera the camera then gradually zooms in creating an ounce of suspicion in the viewer’s mind as to why these seemingly randomly assorted crates are in any way significant.