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Identity
Columbia/Tri-Star // R // September 2, 2003
List Price: $27.94 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
THE MOVIE
Like many I suppose, I was quite excited when I saw the theatrical trailer for Identity, but then stayed away from seeing it in the theater because of several of the horrible reviews it received. Now, I've gotten my first chance to see Identity, and I wish I would have seen it during it's theatrical run. It's a pretty good thriller that doesn't cheat the audience with its resolution. Granted, viewers may feel disappointed by the solution that the movie gives to what has been seen, but the filmmakers have played by the rules that the storyline has established…we may not like those rules once they are laid out for us, but we can't claim the ending doesn't fit together with what we have seen in the story.
The majority of the film takes place at a run-down motel in the middle of the Nevada desert in what may well be the best use of a motel setting since the original Psycho. Through a combination of coincidences (or is it fate?) a number of people all find themselves stranded at this motel on one incredibly rainy evening. Included in this assortment of stranded travelers are a limo driver (John Cusack), a hooker (Amanda Peet), a cop (Ray Liota), a movie star (Rebecca DeMornay) and several others. They aren't there long before mysterious deaths begin, as someone…or something…begins killing them off one by one, only leaving a room key behind as a clue to whatever evil plan they may have in mind.
How the deaths all fit together and what their connection is to a serial killer who may (or may not) be stalking the patrons of the motel is not revealed until very late in the movie – at which point many viewers will have pieced together the puzzle…although probably not quickly enough that they haven't enjoyed most of the movie (unlike, for example, The Others, where the solution to the mystery is obvious about 10 minutes into the film!). Unlike other "twist" ending films, such as The Sixth Sense where the ending causes one to go back and watch the movie again for clues, the "solution" to Identity is one that (and I hope I'm not giving too much away here) turns out in such a way that once you know what is going on, the movie really loses any replay value it has. In other words, Identity is a lot of fun the first time through, but most viewers will have little, if any desire to watch it a second time. Does that make it a bad film? I don't think so…but it also makes it one that you probably won't want to own – which can't be good news for the makers of this DVD.
THE DVD
Video:
Identity has one of the better video transfers I've seen lately on DVD. The picture is sharp, and with no visible evidence of pixilation, grain or dirt on the transfer. The DVD offers the option of watching either the Theatrical Version or an Extended Cut of the movie, and also gives the option of viewing a 2:35 widescreen version or a full frame version.
Audio:
The audio is only available in a 5.1 Track (in addition to a French Track), but it's a clean, crisp one that sounds especially nice. Since most of the movie takes place during the middle of a thunderstorm, you'll really feel like you're trapped at the motel with these people, with the constant patter of rain and the occasional thunder surrounding you from all sides.
Extras:
There's a number of nice extras on this DVD, although not a wealth of them. In addition to the two versions of the film already mentioned, there's a Deleted Scenes section with four deleted segments from the movie (none of which really add to the film); a Feature Length Director's Commenatry from director James Mangold; a Starz On The Set Featurette; Storyboard To Film Comparisons; Filmographies and the Theatrical Trailer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although I enjoyed Identity quite a bit, I have to give this one a rental recommendation only because of what I believe to be a low replayability value. As mentioned earlier in this review, once you know what is going on and how things end, there's really no reason to go back and watch this one again, unless you really enjoyed the performances or the way the movie was shot (both of which are quite good, by the way). So any replay for this one would be more for those who like to study how a good mystery and/or thriller is put together and (of course) for the opportunity to listen to a pretty good director's commentary track from James Mangold.
Like many I suppose, I was quite excited when I saw the theatrical trailer for Identity, but then stayed away from seeing it in the theater because of several of the horrible reviews it received. Now, I've gotten my first chance to see Identity, and I wish I would have seen it during it's theatrical run. It's a pretty good thriller that doesn't cheat the audience with its resolution. Granted, viewers may feel disappointed by the solution that the movie gives to what has been seen, but the filmmakers have played by the rules that the storyline has established…we may not like those rules once they are laid out for us, but we can't claim the ending doesn't fit together with what we have seen in the story.
The majority of the film takes place at a run-down motel in the middle of the Nevada desert in what may well be the best use of a motel setting since the original Psycho. Through a combination of coincidences (or is it fate?) a number of people all find themselves stranded at this motel on one incredibly rainy evening. Included in this assortment of stranded travelers are a limo driver (John Cusack), a hooker (Amanda Peet), a cop (Ray Liota), a movie star (Rebecca DeMornay) and several others. They aren't there long before mysterious deaths begin, as someone…or something…begins killing them off one by one, only leaving a room key behind as a clue to whatever evil plan they may have in mind.
How the deaths all fit together and what their connection is to a serial killer who may (or may not) be stalking the patrons of the motel is not revealed until very late in the movie – at which point many viewers will have pieced together the puzzle…although probably not quickly enough that they haven't enjoyed most of the movie (unlike, for example, The Others, where the solution to the mystery is obvious about 10 minutes into the film!). Unlike other "twist" ending films, such as The Sixth Sense where the ending causes one to go back and watch the movie again for clues, the "solution" to Identity is one that (and I hope I'm not giving too much away here) turns out in such a way that once you know what is going on, the movie really loses any replay value it has. In other words, Identity is a lot of fun the first time through, but most viewers will have little, if any desire to watch it a second time. Does that make it a bad film? I don't think so…but it also makes it one that you probably won't want to own – which can't be good news for the makers of this DVD.
THE DVD
Video:
Identity has one of the better video transfers I've seen lately on DVD. The picture is sharp, and with no visible evidence of pixilation, grain or dirt on the transfer. The DVD offers the option of watching either the Theatrical Version or an Extended Cut of the movie, and also gives the option of viewing a 2:35 widescreen version or a full frame version.
Audio:
The audio is only available in a 5.1 Track (in addition to a French Track), but it's a clean, crisp one that sounds especially nice. Since most of the movie takes place during the middle of a thunderstorm, you'll really feel like you're trapped at the motel with these people, with the constant patter of rain and the occasional thunder surrounding you from all sides.
Extras:
There's a number of nice extras on this DVD, although not a wealth of them. In addition to the two versions of the film already mentioned, there's a Deleted Scenes section with four deleted segments from the movie (none of which really add to the film); a Feature Length Director's Commenatry from director James Mangold; a Starz On The Set Featurette; Storyboard To Film Comparisons; Filmographies and the Theatrical Trailer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although I enjoyed Identity quite a bit, I have to give this one a rental recommendation only because of what I believe to be a low replayability value. As mentioned earlier in this review, once you know what is going on and how things end, there's really no reason to go back and watch this one again, unless you really enjoyed the performances or the way the movie was shot (both of which are quite good, by the way). So any replay for this one would be more for those who like to study how a good mystery and/or thriller is put together and (of course) for the opportunity to listen to a pretty good director's commentary track from James Mangold.
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