After a shoot-out on a boat, one of the few survivors, a cripple known as Verbal, is forced by the police to tell them what happened. His story starts a few weeks before. A truck is hijacked in New York, and, because of a lack of suspects, the police round up five career criminals, including Verbal, who could have been involved, but weren't. As revenge, they decide to carry out a heist against the police, who have been running an illegal taxi service. However, the five then find themselves in fear of a legendary criminal gang leader called Keyser Soze, whom all have apparently wronged at one time or another. Just what is Soze's plan for the men? And is Verbal going to live the rest of his life in fear of him?

Gabriel Byrne is another excellent actor and plays Dean Keaton, a dodgy businessman and ex-police officer who is trying to go straight. He is very reluctant to become involved in the heist, but feels he has no choice; unfortunately, before he knows it, he is in over his head. Keaton is a scary man, one moment apparently collected, the next, with an evil glint in his eye, and Byrne manages to portray it perfectly, so that it is never entirely clear whether he is all he seems. I just wish he'd spoken with his usual Irish accent rather than an American one - not that the American one isn't good, but his Irish accent is just delicious! The other three men, played by Benecio del Toro, Kevin Pollack and Stephen Baldwin are also great, but are over-shadowed by Spacey and Byrne, partially at least due to the fact that their on-screen time is short.

The best part of the film, however, is not the acting, excellent as that is, but the story and the way it is told. Right from the first scene, where a police officer is covering up dead bodies on a boat, my interest was piqued and the fact that it is then partially narrated by Verbal and partially shown to us first-hand is really excellent. It has to be said though that what puts this film head and shoulders above most of its genre is the ending. I'm usually quite good at guessing where a film is heading and I did have an inkling at one point, but was soon side-tracked. By the end of the film, I was left with the impression that I had just watched something very special, and that rarely happens to me these days.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and most definitely recommend any fan of thrillers, especially something like The Departed, to see it if they haven't already. Some may find a little slow to start with, although I didn't, but it really is worth paying attention, because it does eventually make sense and you will feel a massive amount of satisfaction when it does. And on top of a really great story, Spacey and Byrne give outstanding performances. Definitely one to watch. Five stars out of five.

Classification: 18