the smedley log - suburban scrawl

Verbal trickery

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
-Roger “Verbal” Kint (played by Kevin Spacey)

(I’ve always thought there was a lot of truth in that quote.)

I just saw The Usual Suspects again on AMC. It just ended, and it’s been years since I’ve seen it all the way through, but I have to say, even knowing all the details, it was still pretty cool to watch.

That said, I’m always amazed when I come across someone who hasn’t seen this movie. For me, it’s right up there with Citizen Kane or The Sixth Sense. But maybe that’s just me, though I’m sure it’s not just me.

I haven’t seen it… You can pick your jaw up off the floor now Perhaps we’ll have to see this sometime.

That is a great movie! one of my favorites! And that quote is just classic.

Like I said, Moni, even after I knew the twists, it was still fascinating to watch it again… to think I got dragged to see this film by a friend ten years ago, and neither one of us knew what to expect going in.

Steve—it’s okay; I mention that I’m amazed when I come across someone who hasn’t seen it, but I still do come across those folks from time to time. It wasn’t all that well-marketed, at least for its theatrical run. Of course, it shocks me less that someone with hordes of young children hasn’t had the experience of seeing this film (it’s not for the kids, but the rating should tell you that anyway).

Oh, but yeah, the quote sounds quite… Chestertonian.

Howard, I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that you just equated The Sixth Sense with Citizen Kane.

CK isn’t a movie I enjoy watching, but its place in the history of cinema is pretty well cemented….The Sixth Sense is fun, but . . . Citizen Kane?! Maybe I misunderstood what you wrote.

I wasn’t making an equation between the two films, except to note the similarities in that they each have something of a twist ending—and I did enjoy the Sixth Sense quite a bit. But you’re right; it doesn’t really compare to Citizen Kane—though to be fair, neither does The Usual Suspects in that manner of speaking.

But again, the key is that I thought very well of all three films.

Thanks for the explanation, Howard. I think that “great” films are not always the most enjoyable or pleasurable ones—and “greatness” is obviously completely subjective. Nine times out of ten, I’d rather watch an Airplane!, Big Lebowski, or Usual Suspects than a Citizen Kane.