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The devil in this case being director Bryan Singer and writer Chris McQuarrie. With this film, they have pulled a trick that is not likely to be repeated anytime soon. It starts out like an ordinary crime movie, with foul-mouthed clichéd criminals: the funny gay one, the tough new yawker, the experienced veteran, trying to go straight. Yet, therein lies the beauty and irony of this movie. "No way they'd line up five guys like us in the same room" says one character as they start to plan their revenge crime. But that is the point. They are the usual suspects, the guys you automatically know are guilty when a crime has been committed. Or are they? Is it all a trick on us? On them? Or are they pulling a trick of their own?

This film takes crime thriller formulas, makes you trust in them, and then reveals the truth...but what is that's a lie? The story is related by Verbal Kint, the only survivor of the whole incident. As the story grows continues, we begin to realize the truth, only to have our opinions challenged five minutes later.

This is an original must see. The performances are unbelievable, especially Kevin Spacey as Verbal Kint. I purposely have not included much detail about the plot, simply because even after watching it several times, I'm not really sure who is who and what is what. Watch it. See you if you can guess. Only one person knows for sure.....

This undoubtedly is a masterpiece of cinema. Shot in both B/W and color, with wonderful choppy editing that sucks you in and a soundtrack that jolts you back to reality.....but what is that? In Leonard Shelby's world, he can never be sure. Or if he does, he doesn't remember. He suffers from short term memory loss, a result of an attacker that raped and murdered his wife. He tries to find her killer, as he wanders around, using a series of Polaroids and tattoos as his guides. Leonard doesn't know who he can trust, who's using him, who he has met, and if they've hurt him before.

Pearce brings a beautifully subtle performance as Leonard, haunted by the past, because that's all he can remember. Despite his organized system, we see him struggle just to function. By reversing all the sequences of events, Nolan allows us to only know as much as Leonard knows. Moss and Pantaliano are a strong supporting cast, and you don't know if they're allies or enemies.

This film may require several viewings. It is worth it. As soon as you think you know what's happening, another fragmented, misplaced idea will surface. You will find yourself confused, lost, trying to remember what happened before. You will find yourself like Leonard. That is Nolan's trick. And he pulls out the rabbit, and doesn't disappoint.