Usual Suspects Character Representation

Usual Suspects

 

 

The characters in usual suspects are presented to the viewer within the first few minutes of the film. They are shown in this order:

 

1. McManus- Presented to have been involved with the police quite a lot. The moment the police run in, they try to arrest him and he says "Don't you guys ever sleep?" Suggesting that it hasn't been that long since he was realeased. He also says the word 'fuck' a lot showing him to be very threatening however he is also very calm suggesting he is very used to what is happening. They don't show much of his surroundings as the camera stays on him the whole time, so much so that we dont even see the police faces showing he is a very important character in the film. This also makes him a very mysterious character.

 



2. Hockney- The shot shows more of the surroundings, he is in a garage fixing a car. This automatically makes him a less mysterious character that McManus. However, when the police asks his name, he replies "Who wants to know?" Making the audience see him as being suspicious, as though he is hiding something. We also see more of the police. The camer stays closest to him throughout the scene and follows him when he reaches under the car to get something to wipe his face showing that he is important.

 

3. Fenster- The camera follows Fenster around a rough street in New York City (Queens? The Bronx? We aren't told where.) He is sneaking around looking very suspicious making him seem to be a 'suspect' in whatever crime has happened. The lack of dialogue leaves room for music. The kind of music which is played is a detective type music which links to the storyline.

 

4. Keaton-This character is completely different to the others seen previously, for instance he is older and should therefore be more mature and sensible. Rather than being sneaky, suspicious, annoyed, etc, he acts completely normal which is very reassuing to the audience and the people who he is with. He is in a posh restaurant showing the contast between him and the other suspects. The camera follows him around the whole setting (when he is sitting, when he is being escorted out.) However, the reassuring character then turns suspicious when he introduces the police officer by his first name which suggests he has been involved with him quite a lot and has got to know him quite well. This then makes the audience wary and suspicious of the character.

 

5. Verbal- This character is very confusing. This is because he is limping whereas the other suspects look capable of comitting whatever crime has happened. Compared to the others, he just looks helpless. He makes the audience ask questions; who is he? Why is he there? Why is he narrating the story and not the others? He refers to the others as "hardcore highjackers" but not himself, suggesting he isn't a criminal, however if he isnt, why is he there?