Usual Suspects Essays - Films, Neo-noir, The Usual Suspects

Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey Director: Bryan Singer Genre: Thriller Year: 1995 Rating: 5 / 5 When it was released in 1995, The Usual Suspects was hailed as original, inventive, and, most of all, unpredictable. Having now seen this movie well over a dozen times, I can say that its impact is just as powerful today as it was the first time I saw it. In what I consider to be the best movie-making year of all-time, The Usual Suspects nonetheless distinguishes itself from everything else, offering a fresh take on the mystery and suspense genre. As The Usual Suspects opens, we find Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey, in an Oscar-winning role) the object of a police interrogation. He is one of only two known survivors of an explosive evening on a docked cargo ship, and the police want answers. Verbal was one of an elite group of known criminals involved in a police lineup in New York five weeks prior, and the rest are presumed to be dead from the previous night's explosion. From this opening interrogation, soon conducted solely by Special Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri), we are shown pieces of the puzzle that lead to the events on the cargo ship. Five convicted felons - Spencer McManus (Stephen Baldwin, The Young Riders), Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Fred Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak, A Few Good Men *cc/fewgoodmen.html*), and Verbal Kint - are brought in to answer for charges of gun-theft, a crime for which all five profess their innocence. Crowded together in their cell, however, McManus is able to convince most of the others that these charges are not just an inconvenience, but an opportunity. Their combined talents would be perfectly suited to a job he has in mind, if he can convince the now-straight Keaton to return to his old ways. Keaton has attempted to set himself up as a respectable businessman, yet his past continues to haunt him, to the point where the authorities will not allow him to lead a normal life. Convinced of this, Keaton reluctantly climbs aboard, and the chase is on. As the action swerves from New York City to California, the group begins to discover that they are no longer working for themselves, but a mysterious behind-the-scenes individual, known only by his messenger, Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite). It seems the group's services are needed to destroy $91 million worth of cocaine on a cargo ship. Upon completion of this task, the ominous, threatening presence of Kobayashi and his master will be gone, and the five can resume their lives as they see fit. No one knows for sure what to make of this mission, yet each knows that it is one which must be completed, for they do not wish to have to answer to Kobayashi. Superbly acted, The Usual Suspects jerks the viewer back and forth between various theories throughout the movie. This group of then-unknown actors delivers in many ways, and the viewer is glued to his seat right up until the thrilling conclusion. If you have already had the pleasure of viewing this movie, see it again. If not, be sure to give this modern classic a chance. These five suspects are anything but, and this movie is definitely not the usual fare. Cast: Stephen Baldwin.......... Spencer McManus Gabriel Byrne.......... Dean Keaton Benicio Del Toro.......... Fred Fenster Kevin Pollak.......... Todd Hockney Kevin Spacey.......... Verbal Kint Chazz Palminteri.......... Dave Kujan Pete Postlethwaite.......... Kobayashi Certification: Rated R for violence and language. Running Time: 106 minutes. Cinema and Television

The Seven Seas From Ancient Times to the Modern Era

The Seven Seas From Ancient Times to the Modern Era While a sea is generally defined as a large lake that contains saltwater, or a specific portion of an ocean, the idiom Sail the seven seas, is not so easily defined. Sail the seven seas is a phrase that is said to have been used by sailors, but does it actually refer to a specific set of seas? Many would argue yes, while others would disagree. There has been much debate as to whether or not this is in reference to seven actual seas and if so, which ones? Seven Seas as a Figure of Speech? Many believe that the seven seas is simply an idiom that refers to sailing many or all of the oceans of the world. The term is believed to have been popularized by Rudyard Kipling who published an anthology of poetry titled The Seven Seas in 1896. The phrase can now be found in popular songs such as, Sailing on the Seven Seas by Orchestral ​Manoevres in the Dark, Meet Me Halfway by Black Eyed Peas, Seven Seas by Mob Rules, and Sail over the Seven Seas by Gina T. Significance of the Number Seven Why seven seas? Historically, culturally, and religiously, the number seven is a very significant number. Isaac Newton identified seven colors of the rainbow, there are Seven Wonders of the ancient world, seven days of the week, seven dwarves in the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the seven-day story of creation, the seven branches on a Menorah, seven Chakras of meditation, and seven heavens in Islamic traditions just to name a few instances. The number seven appears again and again throughout history and stories, and because of this, there is much mythology surrounding its importance. The Seven Seas in Ancient and Medieval Europe This list of the seven seas is believed by many to be the original seven seas as defined by the sailors of ancient and Medieval Europe. The majority of these seven seas are located around the Mediterranean Sea, very close to home for these sailors. 1) The Mediterranean Sea - This sea is attached to the Atlantic Ocean and many early civilizations developed around it, including Egypt, Greece, and Rome and it has been called the cradle of civilization because of this. 2) The Adriatic Sea - This sea separates the Italian peninsula from the Balkan peninsula. It is part of the Mediterranean Sea. 3) The Black Sea - This sea is an inland sea between Europe and Asia. It is also connected to the Mediterranean Sea. 4) The Red Sea - This sea is a narrow strip of water extending south from Northeast Egypt and it connects to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. It is connected today to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal and is one of the most heavily-traveled waterways in the world. 5) The Arabian Sea - This sea is the Northwestern part of the Indian Ocean between India and the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia). Historically, it was a very important trade route between India and the West and remains such today. 6) The Persian Gulf - This sea is a part of the Indian Ocean, located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. There has been dispute as to what its actual name is so it is also sometimes known as the Arabian Gulf, The Gulf, or The Gulf of Iran, but none of those names are recognized internationally. 7) The Caspian Sea - This sea is located on the Western edge of Asia and the Eastern edge of Europe. It is actually the largest lake on the planet. It is called a sea because it contains saltwater. The Seven Seas Today Today, the list of Seven Seas that is most widely accepted is inclusive of all of the bodies of water on the planet, which are all part of the one global ocean. Each is technically an ocean or section of ocean by definition, but most geographers accept this list to be the actual Seven Seas: 1) North Atlantic Ocean2) South Atlantic Ocean3) North Pacific Ocean4) South Pacific Ocean5) Arctic Ocean6) Southern Ocean7) Indian Ocean

Health And Safety at Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Health And Safety at Work - Essay Example Risk assessment is a managerial process that involves qualitative and quantitative analysis of risks at work with the aim of adopting proper mechanisms to avert the potential risk factors. Health and safety practices are known to enhance morale at work, improve innovation, bring about teamwork and attract employees which make it at the centre of an organizations success. This research work compares an investigated situation with the current legislation on health and safety at work to provide appropriate recommendations. Areas of Health and Safety at Work Observed areas at work where health and safety measures forms a critical part of management and includes the building in which the work is hosted. The structures in which work related activities are performed should meet certain set conditions. As safety measures require, it should be ensured that sufficient space is availed for work place, space in this context defines the ease of movement within the office or the place of work. Eno ugh of it limits the number accidents from tools and objects besides the fact that it is more efficient to work in a spacious environment. Buildings housing places of work should have immediate response mechanism in the event of fire and this is facilitated by having fire extinguishers at several strategic points as seen in number of well organized offices. Obtaining such data requires a walk through the office. It shocks to realize that most offices only have a single fire extinguisher which increases the risk of casualties in the event of a fire breakout as it may not be sufficient when needed should fire start from different points simultaneously. Emergency exits or doors also forms part of safety measures as they are the most secure means of eluding deleterious situations and the significance lies in the number and location of exits. An office or building with more exits that are distant from one another is more secure since in the event of danger, people do not scramble to pass through one but have several safe exit options. Employees are safer in a working environment equipped with first aid kits in the event of an accident. Should an accident occur, then the first aid kit provides an opportunity of averting any potential risk before seeking the help of a doctor. Health with regards to the building or office requires that a healthy environment prevails throughout the working process. The building should be equipped with proper ventilation to circulate fresh air and reduce instances of suffocation. A choked up room poses a potential health risk and to provide healthy environment, the working place needs to be circulated with air or have more openings which aids in air circulation as seen in some of the offices or working place. This can be further achieved with the help of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems that is a requirement in all office buildings. With regards to human resource which also defines the level of health and safety at work, there be should seminars to emphasize on the health and safety at work because through these forums, employees obtain crucial information that helps them in observing safety and maintaining a healthy working environment. Seminars could be the place they get enlightened on the health and safety policies. Other measure not to be overlooked is organizing services such as gym, and retreats involving physical exercise activities of