| Written by Zalasta,
on 29-10-2003 09:17
|
Published in : Reviews, Movies |
"When I was going up the stairs,
I met a man who was not there.
He was not there today,
I wish, I wish he'd go away."
We are just a couple of days away from the first big summer blockbuster of this year, but before you let yourself get caught up by the hype, there are still a handful of upcoming releases you might want to check out. Identity is one of those titles. An inventive thriller with a quality cast led by John Cusack and Ray Liotta, it could be a sleeper hit if the execution and direction hit their marks.
In the middle of a fierce storm, ten strangers found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere. With the road flooded in both directions, they have no choice but to seek shelter in a run down motel. As the night deepens, people begin to die one by one. Amidst the confusion and chaos, they must figure out the identity of the killer before it's too late. Has something brought them together or is everything just a coincidence? What is the secret association between them?
Right from the beginning director James Mangold is able to fill us with anticipation by utilizing cool cinematic technique such as cause and effect sequences shown in reverse to explain how the current situation is reached. As expected from a suspense film, misdirection is littered throughout Identity. Some are unexpected and effective, while others feel contrived. It starts out as two seemingly and suspiciously parallel subplots, but writer Michael Cooney decides to throw the audiences a curve ball in the last act with a shocking revelation. However, the more observant folks no doubt have already picked up clues and hints along the way as illogical actions and events take place. Without going into the details as to not spoil the movie for you, suffice to say that the twist serves as a double-edged sword for the film. On the one hand, the interesting development elevates Identity above a mere slasher flick by giving it more depth. On the other, this move calls one to question some of the plot points that have been introduced up until this point. After much careful consideration, unfortunately, the latter far outweighs the former, and ultimately becomes the very reason why the whole thing fails to make sense.
It's not hard to see why John Cusack is one of the most talented and beloved actors in Hollywood. From High Fidelity to Being John Malkovich to Grosse Pointe Blank, comedy roles come just as easily to him as the dramatic ones. In Identity he plays Ed, a limousine driver who gets caught up in a night of terror. Cool and collected, Cusack has a commanding presence whenever he is on screen, demanding the full attention of the audiences as his character peels away each layer of the mystery. Ray Liotta is equally dynamic as Rhodes, a cop escorting a convicted criminal. Coming off of the critically acclaimed Narc, he seemed completely comfortable in a rather familiar part. Even so, what's not to like seeing a gun toting, orders barking, and a half-crazed Liotta doing what he does best. The rest of the cast consists of veterans such as Alfred Molina and Rebecca De Mornay, not to mention fresher faces like Amanda Peet and Clea DuVall.
Identity is a movie that gives a very good first impression; most people will probably walk away thinking how smart it is. However, the more you try to connect the dots, the more absurd the whole plot becomes. I liked it for the solid performances given by Cusack and Liotta, as well as the tense atmosphere Mangold was able to maintain throughout the film. As a thriller, Identity is top notch and a valiant attempt at presenting the genre with a breath of fresh air, but in the end it is just another wasted potential filled with inconsistencies. I found it disappointing and forgettable.
- Zalasta
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