The Usual Suspects is one of the greatest mystery films ever made. The movie follows a group of five criminals who team up after being rounded up for the same crime. However, they soon find that they have crossed a very dangerous and mysterious crime figure known as Keyzer Soze.
The movie is filled with great performances and a killer script from Christopher McQuarrie. While the mystery and the iconic twist get most of the attention, the film also has a lot of great quotes. Some will have the audience laughing while others will give them the chills. Here are the most memorable quotes from The Usual Suspects.
"I Can't Feel My Legs… Keyzer."
Keaton
The first scene of a mystery film is very important as it needs to hook fans immediately and make them want to know more. The Usual Suspects achieves this with a very intriguing start that sets the stage for a lot of questions to be answered.
The audience only sees the aftermath of a deadly confrontation aboard a boat. One man, Keaton (Gabriel Byrne) remains and is soon confronted by an unseen man. Keaton seems to know the man and casually remarks, "I can't feel my legs… Keyzer" before seemingly being killed. It's a bold way to start a movie by having the audience left in the dark but it is also a great way to hook them.
"Flip You. Flip Ya For Real."
Fenster
One common complaint about The Usual Suspects is it's a great movie with a bad middle act. However, it is elevated by the terrific ensemble that includes a scene-stealing role by Benicio Del Toro as Fenster.
Del Toro's odd fast-talking mumbling is so unusual it becomes fascinating. It's impossible to understand most of what he says but is endlessly entertaining. In the early interrogation scene, Fenster keeps trying to threaten the cops but they have no idea what he's saying.
"Really? I Live In Queens. Did You Put That Together Yourself, Einstein?"
Hockney
Despite being a fairly dark and violent movie, The Usual Suspects has a lot of humor. Most of that comes from Kevin Pollack who plays Hockney. He is a sarcastic, abrasive and uncaring man who does not back down from insulting even the toughest of foes.
The scenes where he is being interrogated by the cops provide some of the funniest moments. As these arrogant cops try to break him, Hockey just throws everything back in their faces. When one cop says they can place him in Queens the night of the crime, Hockey replies "Really? I live in Queens. Did you put that together yourself, Einstein?"
"Whoever's Sleeping Is Your Man."
Detective Kujan
The film has a very unique and interesting framing as almost the entire story is told from a police interrogation room. Detective Kujan is interrogating Verbal Kint about what happened on the boat and then sees the story play out through Verbal's retelling.
Though Kujan is not an active participant in the bigger story, he is a great character to put against Verbal. Early on, Kujan explains how he learned to spot a murderer by arresting the suspects and holding them overnight. The one who sleeps is the killer. It establishes Kujan as someone who can break Verbal which makes the twist all the better.
"One Cannot Be Betrayed If One Has No People."
Kobayashi
The movie starts as a compelling crime film then gradually becomes an engrossing mystery with the introduction of Keyzer Soze. It is a name that has become iconic in films and, despite remaining a mystery for much of the movie, he is a character that always feels present in the story.
The suspects are first told of Soze by his associate, Kobayashi. From the very beginning, Soze is made to be a larger than life being that is unstoppable. As Kobayashi explains, he is a man who eliminated all weaknesses and is therefore untouchable.
"Yeah, I Was About To Tell You To Shut Up."
Hockney
It is a common trope of murder mysteries that there is an unsuspecting suspect and Verbal fills that role here. He serves as the film's storyteller and is one of the few characters fans might feel some sympathy for. By his own admission, he does not belong with the other suspects.
As the five men are held in a jail cell, they begin talking. Verbal is shy but finally introduces himself to the others and explains he earned the name Verbal because he talks too much. Hockney dryly replies "Yeah, I was just about to tell you to shut up." It's a funny line and makes Verbal out to be the guy who gets kicked around a lot.
"How Do You Shoot The Devil In The Back?"
Verbal
Two key aspects of the film are setting up Keyzer Soze as the ultimate boogeyman of the crime world and setting up Verbal as a pathetic and weak man who is caught up in this mess. These aspects help to make that final twist all the more mind-blowing.
This is summed up perfectly in one quote while Verbal is explaining how Keaton was killed by Soze. Kujan questions why Verbal didn't shoot Soze and save his friend. Verbal questions how to shoot such a powerful figure in the back before holding up his hand and asking "What if you miss?"
"I Believe In God, And The Only Thing That Scares Me Is Keyser Soze."
Verbal
There are many mysteries to unpack throughout the film including whether or not Keyzer Soze actually exists. The movie plays out like a puzzle and keeps making fans question it, presenting Soze as such a larger-than-life character that the stories couldn't possibly be true. But there is clearly someone powerful at work behind the scenes.
When Kujan asks Verbal if he believes Soze is real, he sums it up in a brilliant and chilling way. He explains "Keaton always said, 'I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him.' Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze."
"Hand Me The Keys You F***ing C***sucker."
Various
Sometimes the most memorable moments in a movie come about purely by accident. When all the suspects are first brought in to a police lineup, they are asked to read the line "Hand me the keys you f**king c**ksucker."
One by one the men step up and read the lines. When Fenster steps up, the men all break out laughing. Apparently, this is a genuine blooper as Del Toro kept farting during the scene and the actors couldn't keep a straight face. It helps to make these men seem more like career criminals who have been through this kind of thing before.
"The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled Was Convincing The World He Did Not Exist."
Verbal
It's impossible to talk about this movie without talking about the stunning ending. After fans are taken on this complex and thrilling journey, the rug is suddenly pulled out from under us and fans realize it was all a lie.
Watching the film again, it becomes clear that Verbal aka Keyzer Soze was laying out his plan the entire time. He explains to Kujan that a man like Keyzer Soze is only going to pop up rarely. He says "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist." The lines echo back as Keyzer Soze finally reveals himself before disappearing forever. Suddenly, The Usual Suspects becomes a rare movie with a villain protagonist.