DVD Round-Up: Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park" and Bryan Singer's "The Usual Suspects"

Paranoid Park (2007)

The Basics - Alex (Gabe Nevins), a teenage skateboarder, unintentionally causes a security guard to fall to his death. He tries to get rid of any potential evidence, but the police soon come calling.

Reasons to Watch - Gabe Nevins delivers a subtle, understated and convincing portrayal of a good kid whose future is threatened because of an accident. Gus Van Sant's low key direction is effective and the screenplay's sparse dialogue is appropriate, considering Gabe is trying to figure out how to stay out of trouble, while dealing with his guilt over the security guard's death. The soundtrack and cinematography are both memorable.

The Bottom Line - A slow paced Independent film that held my attention right up until the end. However, I felt kind of cheated because I expected some sort of resolution, but it is ultimately up to viewers to decide Gabe's fate.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Basics - A small time con man, Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), undergoes interrogation by U.S. Customs agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) concerning a massacre aboard a ship docked near Los Angeles. The film is told in flashbacks, as Kint relays a remarkable story about a group of criminals who are working a job for Keyser Söze, a notorious mob boss, which ends with the massacre.

Reasons to Watch - The screenplay, by Christopher McQuarrie, and the performance by Spacey were both awarded Oscars, for Original Screenplay and Supporting Actor, respectively. The Usual Suspects is a film for intelligent viewers that features an outstanding cast and an ending which caught me completely by surprise.

The Bottom Line - I do not know why it took me so long to watch The Usual Suspects, but I am glad I finally did. I must admit that I was not completely sold on the film until the very end, when everything made sense and I could appreciate the substantial effort put forth here from all involved. A great film loaded with surprises.