‘The Usual Suspects’

A fatalistic tale of power, betrayal, crime and punishment, spiced with just a whiff of romance, it is more than anything a polished exercise in pure virtuoso style. The key stylist is director Bryan Singer, backed by writer Christopher McQuarrie. The designated storyteller here, in a series of voice-over flashbacks that takes up most of the film, is Roger “Verbal” Kint (Kevin Spacey, pictured) (Showtime Tuesday at 9:30 p.m.).