Today I have watched "Identity" for the second time in less than two months, now on DVD. Again, I found it an excellent and intriguing film. There are two versions in the DVD, and I selected the one with scenes that were cut in the final edition (the other option was the theatrical version). Now I paid more attention on the details of the plot, trying to identify flaws in the screenplay, but the story is very tight. There are many extras in the DVD, including deleted scenes, making of, filmography, comments etc. It is amazing the filmography of John Cusack, composed mainly of good movies. I keep my initial vote (nine).
Title (Brazil): `Identidade' (`Identity')
Identity
2003
Action / Mystery / Thriller
Identity
2003
Action / Mystery / Thriller
Plot summary
Malcolm Rivers has been convicted as the perpetrator of several murders and is sentenced to death. An 11th-hour defense by his lawyers and psychiatrist that Malcolm is insane based on new evidence has resulted in them meeting with the prosecutors and the judge to discuss whether the verdict should be overturned. Meanwhile, on a dark night during a torrential rainstorm in the Nevada desert, a series of chain-reaction events results in several people needing to stay at an out-of-the-way motel managed by Larry. They are: ex-cop, now limo driver Ed and his client Caroline, a diva of a once-famous actress; quiet adolescent Timmy, his stepfather George, and his mother Alice, who was seriously injured when Ed accidentally ran over her as she watched George change their flat tire; prostitute Paris, who was the unwitting cause of George's flat tire; newlyweds Lou and Ginny, whose marriage is based on a lie; and Police Officer Rhodes, who was en route escorting prisoner Robert to his new institution. None can leave because of washed-out roads, all the other businesses around the motel are closed because of the storm, and all communication in and out is not functioning also because of the storm. One by one, they are murdered, the murderer leaving a calling card of a motel room key, starting with the room 10 key and working his way presumably to the room 1 key when the last person will be dead. Those still alive band somewhat together under Officer Rhodes and Ed's direction to find out which of the 11 is the murderer, and if, based on one of their theories, that they were brought to the motel by some force by the murderer as his intended targets. Whether those still alive can discover who the murderer is, discover why he has chosen to kill them, and be able to subdue him may well determine Malcolm's fate.
Uploaded by: OTTO
Director
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 600.33 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
R
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Excellent and Intriguing Even When You Watch It For the Second Time
Reviewed by
If it weren't for the confusing final solution, this would've been a perfect thriller
A truly excellent film in my opinion, riddled high with tension and unnerving edge. It also makes the audience ask many questions, and on the most part, the film excels in answering those questions. Director James Mangold ensured there were plenty of tense moments and wholly convincing shocks. I can't count the number of times I was out of my seat or biting my nails, and the murders were very brutal, well most of them were. The camera-work was fantastic and quite possibly the film's main merit, the story(on a parallel with And Then There Were None, but with definite plot differences) and the performances from the likes of John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Rebecca DeMornay, Jake Busey and Amanda Peet were nothing short of superb. And the film's length and pace were just right. My only problem with Identity, which was nearing to perfection, was the final solution, I did find it confusing and a tad implausible. But overall, it is a taut and solid thriller, that ticks almost all the right boxes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Reviewed by
Murder mystery with an outrageous twist
An intriguing whodunit, a murder mystery, packed with shocks, violence, gore, and death, but oddly respectable thanks to the strong casting, which makes this movie a lot more entertaining than it might have otherwise been. Now, the success of this particular film hinges on a major plot twist towards the end which, however, is largely guessable if you consider the clues and the evidence leading up to it. I'm not sure whether I like this twist or not, but it does make the film different; without it, it would have appeared to be just another run-of-the-mill slasher. With it, it sits oddly on the borderline of being original and being extremely cheesy. I'm content to sit on the fence and say I enjoyed the film on its strengths alone.
Such strengths include a number of effective shocks (sometimes, this film veers close to FINAL DESTINATION territory in the sheer shock value of the death scenes alone),good music, and developed characters. The casting is excellent, with the dependable John Cusack putting in a typically strong performance and Ray Liotta stealing all his scenes as an aggressive, intense cop (no surprises there). Other familiar faces show up – Alfred Molina, Rebecca De Mornay – to add strength to the show. For the most part this is entertaining murder-mystery stuff, moving from one strong and violent moment to the next; the twist somehow makes it all seem silly, but I'd say its worth a look anyway.