Craft guide / 2 tracks
Controlling information in ensemble mysteries
Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie discuss misdirection in The Usual Suspects. The L.A. Confidential cast and crew explain organizing its three leads and withholding information. Both tracks examine how casting, performance, sound, and editing help audiences follow a complicated story without revealing its outcome.
Reading order
Read the commentaries in order.
-
Part 1 of 2
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Bryan Singer / Christopher McQuarrie
Director / 1h 45m / 421 segments
-
Part 2 of 2
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Andrew Sarris / James Ellroy / Brian Helgeland / Michael Nathanson / Russell Crowe / Kevin Spacey / Guy Pearce / James Cromwell / Kim Basinger / Danny DeVito / David Strathairn / Jeannine Oppewall / Dante Spinotti / Ruth Myers
Multi-voice / 2h 12m / 517 segments