When the filmThe Usual Suspectswas released in 1995 nobody knew it would eventually be rated as one of the best films of all time.1The appeal of the film lies within its cleverly structured narrative and its unique way of making the viewer want to watch the film again in a different light.The Usual Suspectsis one of those films you have to watch at least twice to get close to the truth of what is being told. During the second watching you will ask yourself if you are really seeing the same film and the same character, because you were sure that Verbal Kint seemed incredibly harmless the first time around while he comes across very differently the second time. That is the question that shall be examined in the course of this paper in which I want to analyse how Bryan Singer, the film's director, achieved his aim of creating a completely innocent character in the course of the film, only to let the audience find out that Kint might be the criminal mastermind behind the whole scheme. How do the film-makers achieve the portrayal of the harmless Kint, and how does he come across in the second watching? By choosingThe Usual Suspects,this paper also serves as an example of how audiences can be manipulated. Therefore, I will also have a look at the role and the behaviour of an audience.
First of all, we will concern ourselves with a film theory developed by Kracauer examining the role of an audience and the effects films might have on it. We will analyse how audiences feel and behave during the experience of a film screening and how their minds function at the time. Secondly, I will shortly introduce the filmThe Usual Suspectswith its most important characters and its plot, before I, thirdly, want to go into the analysis of the creation of Verbal Kint's character, and scrutinise how Singer worked with narrative and technical means to leave behind a puzzled audience. To achieve that, I will pick a few scenes from the film and analyse them in respect to their filmic realisation.
I hope that this paper will thoroughly answer the question of how an audience let themselves be manipulated by a feature film and what effects certain filmic means can achieve if properly deployed. Towards the end, all the gathered information will shortly be summarised and a conclusion will be expressed.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Audience in Film Theories
2.1 Behaviour and Attitude towards Films in General
2.2 Manipulable Audience?
3 Background Information about The Usual Suspects
3.1 Character Constellation
3.2 Plot Summary
4 The Portrayal of Verbal Kint
4.1 Narrative Means to Create Kint's Innocence
4.2 Technical Means to Create Kint's Innocence
4.3 Hints to the truth
5 Conclusion
Research Goal and Thematic Focus
This paper examines how director Bryan Singer utilizes narrative and technical filmic means in "The Usual Suspects" to manipulate the audience's perception of the character Verbal Kint, ultimately achieving a shocking plot twist. The study investigates how viewers are led to trust a character who is later revealed to be the criminal mastermind.
- Analysis of film theory regarding audience manipulation and consciousness.
- Examination of the character constellation and plot structure in "The Usual Suspects".
- Evaluation of narrative voice-over techniques and subjective perspective.
- Investigation of visual and technical strategies used to render Kint "invisible" or "harmless".
- Identification of subtle clues embedded within the film that foreshadow the twist.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Narrative Means to Create Kint's Innocence
The whole plot is more or less told by Kint's voice-over and is therefore obviously presented from his subjective point of view. He introduces himself to the audience which ultimately creates a bond between the narrator and the audience. Kint portrays himself as a man with barely any self-conscience and doesn't consider himself playing in the same league as the others do.
It didn't make sense that I'd be there. I mean, these guys were hardcore hijackers, but there I was. At that point I wasn't scared for I knew I hadn't done anything they could do me for. Besides, it was fun, I got to make like I was notorious. (The Usual Suspects 8th min)
The audience finds itself in exactly the same position that Kujan is in. Kujan also doesn't have any pre-knowledge about the coup and therefore wants to know what the audience is keen to know, as well. Using a VO from the very introduction onwards creates a very close relation to the audience. That is the basis for Kint's power to manipulate the audience by telling them whatever he wants them to believe. "[The Usual] Suspects refuses the viewer a privileged glimpse into any 'objective' reality; we have little beyond what Verbal chooses to give us" (Orr). As a result, Kint's comments are conceded as true, because no contradicting clues are given. Hence, an image of this petty thief who is not so dangerous and, due to his limp, pitiable character is created in the viewer's mind.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's objective to analyze the manipulative strategies used by the director in "The Usual Suspects" to mislead the audience.
2 The Audience in Film Theories: This section utilizes Siegfried Kracauer's film theory to explain how the cinematic experience can weaken viewer consciousness and facilitate manipulation.
3 Background Information about The Usual Suspects: This chapter provides necessary context by detailing the key character relationships and summarizing the film's complex plot.
4 The Portrayal of Verbal Kint: This main analytical chapter explores the specific narrative and technical methods, such as voice-overs and camera positioning, used to construct the facade of Kint's innocence.
5 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the analysis and acknowledges that while film can manipulate, the audience's willingness to engage and their awareness of genre conventions play a significant role.
Keywords
The Usual Suspects, Verbal Kint, Bryan Singer, Audience Manipulation, Film Theory, Siegfried Kracauer, Narrative Structure, Voice-over, Twist Ending, Film Technique, Character Construction, Cinematic Invisibility, Kevin Spacey, Psychological Thriller, Subjective Perspective
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the manipulative cinematic techniques employed by director Bryan Singer in "The Usual Suspects" to create a deceptive portrayal of the character Verbal Kint.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the relationship between film and audience consciousness, the role of narrative voice-overs, visual manipulation, and the psychological impact of twist endings.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to answer how film-makers achieve the portrayal of a seemingly innocent character who is actually a criminal mastermind and how this affects the audience's ability to be manipulated.
Which scientific method is used?
The author applies film analysis, drawing upon Siegfried Kracauer's theory on the audience's behavior and applying it to a specific case study of "The Usual Suspects".
What does the main part of the paper cover?
The main part analyzes the character constellation, plot, and specifically the narrative and technical means—such as voice-overs and framing—used to maintain the illusion of Kint's harmlessness.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include "Audience Manipulation," "Film Theory," "Narrative Structure," "Twist Ending," and "Cinematic Invisibility."
How does the camera work contribute to Kint’s perceived innocence?
The camera uses specific panning and framing techniques to hide Kint during critical moments or to depict him from an inferior perspective, reinforcing the audience's pity and dismissal of his importance.
Why is the "second watching" of the film relevant to the author's argument?
The second viewing allows the audience to identify subtle clues and hints placed by the director that go unnoticed during the first, shocking experience, demonstrating the intentionality behind the narrative deception.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Rusch (Author), 2006, "The Greatest Trick the Devil Ever Pulled Was Convincing the World He Didn't Exist" - An Analysis of How Film-makers of The Usual Suspects Achieved the Shocking Effect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/63071
