Studying The Usual Suspects: Instructor’s Edition

Judith Gunn

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March, 2008
Paper, 72 pages, 20 b&w
ISBN: 978-1-903663-69-1
Auteur
$20.00

The story of The Usual Suspects has the kind of "rags to riches" back story that makes not only the film itself, but the tale of its creation a tale worth telling. Inspired by a magazine headline, it was a poster before it was a screenplay, yet it stands in opposition to the High Concept Hollywood movie. Studying The Usual Suspects is an analysis of a film that is both a ripping yarn and an exercise in virtuoso technique. Author Judith Gunn offers: a thorough introduction to semiotics as a way of approaching the multiple meanings of the film; a consideration of the film’s noir antecedents and influences; a discussion of the film’s playful approach to narrative; an overview of John Ottman’s unique role as both composer and editor and how this affects the finished article, including a shot-by-shot analysis of the dramatic and mysterious opening sequence; and a definitive account of the film’s genesis from idea to film festival acclaim.

Related Subjects

• Film

Series

• Studying Film (Auteur)

About the Author

Judith Gunn started her career working for BBC Radio 1 as a chat show researcher. She went on to work for all 4 BBC Radio networks as a researcher, writer, producer and occasional broadcaster. She went on to work for the Radio Times and has written five books to date, including two biographies and a novelisation of a film. She is now a Senior Lecturer in Media Studies at Cirencester College, where she teaches all aspects of the AS and A2 specification for OCR.

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