Learn english with The Usual Suspects

Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.

Why learn english with The Usual Suspects?

"The Usual Suspects" is a thrilling mystery about a group of criminals brought in for questioning by the police. The story unfolds through the perspective of Verbal Kint, a small-time con man with a disability. He tells a complicated story about a mysterious crime boss named Keyser Soze. As Verbal recounts the events leading up to a deadly shootout on a ship, you'll learn vocabulary related to crime, like "hijacking," "smuggling," "lineup," and "immunity." You'll also hear lots of informal language and slang used by the criminals, which, while not always grammatically correct, reflects realistic conversations. The movie explores themes of deception, betrayal, and the nature of truth. You'll experience a range of emotions, from suspense and tension to surprise and disbelief, as the story twists and turns. The dialogue is fast-paced and engaging, with characters using various tones and expressions. Paying close attention to how they speak will expose you to the nuances of English intonation, emphasis, and body language. You'll see how language can be used to manipulate and persuade, as Verbal's unreliable narration keeps you guessing until the very end. "The Usual Suspects" is a great choice for English learners because it's captivating and keeps you hooked. The complex plot and rich characters will make you want to understand every word. The movie's use of both formal police language and informal criminal slang provides a diverse vocabulary lesson. Furthermore, the focus on storytelling and dialogue makes it excellent for practicing listening comprehension and understanding different accents. While some of the language is strong and not suitable for all learners, the movie's overall impact on language acquisition can be substantial.

Words from The Usual Suspects

Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in The Usual Suspects:

warrant: an acceptable reason for doing something
aesthetic: connected with beauty and art, and the ability to understand beautiful things
gentleman: a polite and educated man with good manners who always behaves well
downtown: in or towards the central part of a city, especially the main business area
hijacker: a person who takes control of a plane or vehicle
notorious: famous for doing something bad
drill: to make a hole using a pointed tool
cocksucker: a very rude word used to show disrespect, often towards men
gimme: something that is very easy to do
motherfucker: a highly offensive term used to express anger or dislike towards someone, often a man
bullshit: a rude word for beliefs or ideas that you believe to be false or silly
rap: a quick, sharp blow or knock
cop: a police officer
embarrassing: making you feel ashamed, uncomfortable, or foolish
hijacking: taking control of something, like a vehicle or a process, for one's own purposes, sometimes using force or threats