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Quirky predecessor to "The Usual Suspects"

08/19/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first feature-length film the writer/director/music team who brought us the quirky and enjoyable "Usual Suspects." The opening shot of this film suggests the hero's (?) agenda is tied to paving the way for an electronics manufacturer. A stranger enters a seemingly small and reasonably happy town. He has a fair pocketfull of money and proceeds to buy time on the public access channel and produce his own show. He asks "What is wrong with Brewster?" Soon he is getting calls from the citizenry with minor complaints. Of course things begin to escelate and the complaints become larger and more pointed. Soon, the once contented town is not so content. Though it appears the stranger has a job to perform, certain of his actions make the viewer ask just what type of person is he and how does he feel about what he is doing. The director, Bryan Singer, pretty much leaves the viewer hanging at the end as he did in The Usual Suspects. You just aren't quite certain what has happened and you'll end up with too many points unanswered. Though not quite as much fun as its successor, it's still quite an impressive first outing. It is also rumoured that the lead, Ron Marquette suffered an emotional disorder that caused him an extreme amount of discomfort in viewing himself on the screen. He subsequently committed suicide after seeing himself in this film. (Boy did HE pick the wrong profession)"