The Popkorn Junkie

So, why had I been wanting to see this film for months? Well, for three reasons: (1) usually movies have a tendency of getting pushed back; this film, however, has been getting pushed up steadily since it's originally targeted release date, (2) the advertisement. The producers had to have spent more in publicity than on the film itself because I had been seeing a trailer for this on every film I have seen in the past two months, and (3) the cast. I love John Cusack and I love Ray Liotta and I love Rebecca DeMornay, and just about everyone else involved. So, what did I think about "Identity", which I jumped at the chance to see at a test screening? Here goes...

Without giving too much of the plot away, I can tell you that "Identity" is a new take on the whole "Ten Little Indians" tale, that set the stage for the theatrical production "Mousetrap", the board game "Clue", and the mystery murder weekends found all over New England. A bunch of strangers come together by chance and start dying off, while survivors try desperately to discover who the real killer is, it usually being someone within the group.

So, some people are stranded --John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Clea DuVall, Rebecca DeMornay, John C. McGinley, John Hawkes, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Leila Kenzle. There is a horrible storm outside of the motel and most stop for various reasons. Ray Liotta, for example, is carrying some cargo--a prisoner. All of these men and women converge on this small, Bates-esque, motel and start dying off in strange and mysterious ways. It is eventually revealed that they all share a connection--(SPOILER)--birthdays and that they have been brought together for a reasons. Now, I cannot tell you if it was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick, but I can tell you that Alfred Molina also pops up in a smaller role in the film. So, what director James Mangold ("Girl, Interrupted", "Cop Land") has done is assemble a group of well known character actors together, given them a pretty taut and thrilling scipt, and turned that into a pretty lame, though somewhat entertaining flick.

I was not impressed with "Identity". John Cusack and Ray Liotta look as if they are sleepwalking throughout the entirety and only Clea DuVall and John C. McGinley seem slightly excited about anything. It would seem as if Rebecca DeMornay would be brimming with buzz, since this is her first mainstream role since, pretty much, "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle". But, no, she looks dead too. I mean--hell--usually Alfred Molina can save just about anything, but even he has his hands full here.

Now, I did like a few things about "Identity"--it was not all bad. The twists and turns are pretty unexpected, though some are predictable, and this was a somewhat original take on Agaitha Christie's much overused tale of murder and mayhem. Also, DuVall and McGinley were highly enjoyable in their respective roles, as was Molina. But, the two big stars, Liotta and Cusack, were disappointing, to say the very least.

Maybe all of the advertising and publicity will pay off for this film, but--if most people are like I was--they are getting tired of seeing the "Identity" trailer over and over and over again. You expect that from a big blockbuster like "X-2" or "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", but not a film like this one. Oversaturation is not always a good thing, and neither was "Identity".

-- Billy Ray ( 2 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

Other Junkie's opinions.....

Mike ( 2 out of 4 pops )

"Identity" is a somewhat effective but none-the-less disappointing horror/thriller flick. It's almost like it is can be classified as more of a "who cares who done it" rather than a "who done it" movie. But what I really didn't like about this film is what I can't say because it will give the ending and plot twist away. But I will say that when learning what was really going on, it made me care less on what I had just seen. While the acting at times seem way absurd, I realize that this was done for a reason. So, I guess I can say that the acting in this film was good even though on the surface, it may seem way over the top. But I found myself somewhat bored during this film, thinking there's not much new here I haven't seen before. But the film still manages to entertain. It's just that damn ending and plot twist that had me shaking my head.

James ( 2 out of 4 pops )

Sigh, another movie in which John Cusack gets rained on...okay, that's not so bad, and the gorgeous Amanda Peet isn't either, but I left this movie feeling cheated. If I had a short-term memory problem, I may have liked this, but I don't, and the plot changes so much, it totally makes the early part of the movie... stupid. I don't want to spoil anything, but I just felt cheated.

Matt ( 3 out of 4 pops)

This is how most scary movies should be. I say "most," because I appreciate a good trashy horror movie from time to time. "Identity" has echoes of Hitchcock, with some genuinely terrifying moments and a great plot topped off with totally unexpected twists and turns. Ironically enough, the movie was written by Michael Cooney, who wrote and directed the "Jack Frost" movies. No, not the Michael Keaton film, but the direct-to-video schlock horror flicks about a mutant killer snowman. Well, this movie definitely isn't schlock! There's no killer snowmen running around here! And James Mangold, who directed "Copland" and "Girl Interrupted," also did a fine job, drawing inspiration from the great Hitchcock. The characters are all well-developed, the acting is great--with Ray Liotta standing out in the crowd. Sure, he creates the same outbursts you've seen in almost all of his films, but what can I say? He's great at it! John Cusack was also good in a more low-key performance. And Pruitt Taylor-Vince delivers in a small but pivotal role. "Identity" is a thinking man's horror movie. You can't just sit back and wait for the next scary scene to pop up. You also have to keep your mind busy. And that's what makes this movie pleasing in all aspects. It's the kind of movie that'll keep you talking once you leave the theater.