I saw it pretty sure I knew the ending, but I wasn't positive. And to the film's credit, it did enough with the false Keaton reveal that I actually doubted I'd heard/remembered correctly.

I'd be curious as to whether or not anyone else thought it was someone other than Keaton, since that's the only thing the film really builds to. Before that reveal, you can have guesses, but the story plays its cards close to the vest, so guesses are pretty much all they are.

I have to admit that I wasn't watching the movie as closely as I should've, but thinking it was just a normal heist movie without a twist, I just went along with Keaton being the killer. Boy, was I shocked to find out otherwise.

I saw this without knowing anything about it, went to see another movie but that was fully booked and just thought 'might as well see something now I'm here'. It is now one of my all time favourites as I had no clue who kayser was (although Keston was the top choice), at the very end I nearly stood and applauded. Awesome film.

@diamonddaisy said:

I already knew the ending when I saw it, so I'd like to know what was it like to watch the movie without knowing the twist? Who did you suspect was the killer?

Good question.

Yes, I was convinced it was Gabrielle Byrne. I was sure of it and looking forward to the chase to capture him....but then...the coffee mug dropped and shattered, followed by a dizzying Montage, and slowly I began to think different, and then he picks up gold at the checkout and I was thinking, "wait, a second, is that??"....and then the focus on the legs as they erect...

It gave me chills and mind was officially blown.

Bought it on DVD when it first came out not knowing much about it. Definitely thought Gabrielle was the man. What an impact ending. "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist" pretty sure I head to pick my jaw up then.

I figured it was Kevin Spacey's character from almost the get-go.

I saw the film for the first time in 2004 (a full nine years after its initial release) and after hearing for so long about what an ingenious twist the movie had, of course I naturally assumed that the poor little innocent cripple that was narrating the entire story was probably the main conspirator behind everything (or at the very least, was working for/in cahoots with whoever was.) Of course I hadn't a clue that he was lying and fabricating most of the story by reading headlines and clippings off the bulletin board, but the rest was spot on.

Still one of the greatest endings I've ever seen regardless. It's so wonderfully and perfectly executed that it never gets old, no matter how many times you see it.

I went to see it without knowing the ending. I did figure that the twist might concern the person who is the only one left alive.

I watched it without knowing anything about it... It was great!

Keaton was a strong candidate, partly because it was Gabriel Byrne... but I was blown away towards the end... Walked out of the cinema grinning. What a ride. Fun movie...

@Renovatio said:

Keaton was a strong candidate, partly because it was Gabriel Byrne... but I was blown away towards the end... Walked out of the cinema grinning. What a ride. Fun movie...

Strangely I have never watched this film again after watching it in the cinema. Maybe once you know what the film is about, you just do not feel like a rewatch.

@DanDare said:

@Renovatio said:

Keaton was a strong candidate, partly because it was Gabriel Byrne... but I was blown away towards the end... Walked out of the cinema grinning. What a ride. Fun movie...

Strangely I have never watched this film again after watching it in the cinema. Maybe once you know what the film is about, you just do not feel like a rewatch.

Just the opposite. I can see this movie again and again. Every time I change my mind about what really may have happened or not.

I didn't know who the killer was. I kept changing my mind between thinking it was either Verbal or Keaton.

I believed Virbil when he said it was Soze but I wasn't able to guess that Virbil was Soze until the reveal. We see the whole crew die except Virbil and Vibil's story sounded so believable until the reveal.

@rarebreed said:

I believed Virbil when he said it was Soze but I wasn't able to guess that Virbil was Soze until the reveal. We see the whole crew die except Virbil and Vibil's story sounded so believable until the reveal.

His name is "Verbal", though.