| Posted by: idealdiscountdude at April 26, 2003, 6:59 am | | Topic: Reviews: Identity Forum: JoBlo | | James Mangold's Identity is everything I could have asked for in a film and more. The film is essentially about a group of strangers who due to flooding, get trapped at a desert motel in a torrential rainstorm. One by one the strangers are viciously murdered leading to a frantic inquiry into who, amongst them, is the killer. Twists, turns, and beaucoup de suspense commence. When thinking back on my Identity experience I do not have a single qualm about the film. Granted it is no Hitchcockian masterpiece of suspense, nor will it win any critics awards, however the thriller delivers big time on the entertainment scale. The film is also not a "by the book" thriller for dummies; it is indeed a well-thought out, imaginative and intelligent thriller that demands your attention in order to try and piece together the puzzle that is Identity. One of the biggest driving forces the film has is its stellar cast. It is refreshing to see an ensemble of lesser known but highly respected actors on screen rather than your typical overpaid movie-star. The cast including John Cusack, the luscious Amanda Peet, Ray Liotta, John C. McGinley, Clea DuVall, Alfred Molina, Pruitt Vince Taylor, and Rebecca "Peyton Flanders" DeMornay pull off their respective performances with mucho believability and greatness. The only person in the cast who didn't quite fit in for me was Jake Busey as the "convict". Mangold's direction was top-notch. The dark and rain-filled setting of the desert motel was creepy as hell and aided greatly in the building up of suspense. Identity is a film that has your brain on overload throughout the entire film. Just when you think it is so and so it is not, and then people you suspected beforehand but shunned have you suspecting them again. Mangold's film is definitley a mind-fuck. It really makes you think, even more so when all is said and done. My girlfriend and I picked through the film afterwards for nearly 2 hours piecing together what excatly happened. Sure it is revealed but we looked back on all of the clues that we missed and those that we recognized right away. *************SPOILERS******************** After the York's get their flat tire, Timothy places his hand on the car window while his mother is outside. She places her hand on the window touching his through the glass. They smile at each other and then she steps back. Then out of nowhere she got hit by Ed. At that moment I knew something was up with the kid, but once people started to get knocked off, I totally forgot that it could have been him....and of course it was! Damn what is with these scary kids in movies lately, Samara in The Ring and now this kid. The kiddies are starting to creep me out! *************END SPOILERS*********************** Identity is a fun-filled, smart, thriller that really is a nailbiter that makes ya think. Entertainment at it's best. I highly recommend it! A- Also this very talented and tres beautiful actress is way underrated! I liked her before in films like Igby Goes Down, The Whole Nine Yards, and Changing Lanes but now after Identity she is one of my new faves. The girl can act! |
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