Identity (2003)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

James Mangold

Writer (WGA):

Michael Cooney (written by)

Release Date:

25 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The secret lies within.

Plot:

Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a nasty rainstorm, ten strangers become acquainted with each other when they realize that they're being killed off one by one.

Plot Keywords:

Young Boy | Macabre | Shower Curtain | Death Row | Paranoia

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Ed
Ray Liotta	...	Rhodes
Amanda Peet	...	Paris
John Hawkes	...	Larry
Alfred Molina	...	Dr. Malick
Clea DuVall	...	Ginny
John C. McGinley	...	George York
William Lee Scott	...	Lou
Jake Busey	...	Robert Maine
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Malcolm Rivers
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Caroline Suzanne (as Rebecca DeMornay)
Carmen Argenziano	...	Defense Lawyer
Marshall Bell	...	District Attorney
Leila Kenzle	...	Alice York
Matt Letscher	...	Assistant District Attorney

Also Known As:

I.D. (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

90 min | USA:91 min (alternate DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | India:A | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38872)

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The book seen in Ed's car as he picks up Paris is "Being and Nothingness" by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are tying up the "hotel manager" the digital clock reads 12:20 throughout the scene.

Quotes:

Larry: I'm sor- we don't rent rooms by the hour.
Paris: [Sarcastic] Oh. Funny.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Big Fish (2003)

Soundtrack:

Win Music Season 19

Very good

On a dark and stormy night 11 strangers have to take refuge in an isolated motel when a rainstorm turns into a monsoon. One by one they begin to be killed...but by who and for what reason?

The set-up is neat (if predictable) and there's a great opening showing how the actions of one of them (Amanda Peet) inadvertantly causes some serious damage for the others. There also is some great acting by Peet, John C. McGinley and Ray Liotta (who REALLY chews the scenery). There are also some moments that will make you jump and there are two neat twists at the end.

The only bad things about this movie is some clumsy exposition (John Cusack tells his whole life story while photographing a corpse), some truly bad lines and a surprisingly lousy performance by Cusack. What's happened to him? He looks worn-out and haggard in this film.

However, these are minor problems and the film is well worth seeing and keeps you guessing about what's going on till the last moment. Worth catching.

WARNING: This film is NOT for children!