Cheap Identity (DVD) (John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet) (James Mangold) Price

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Customer Reviews of Identity

Well done
This movie was well done by director James Mangold. It gives you more action than "A Beautiful Mind". The main difference in this movie and that movie is that the character the story is centered around is not realistic. Most schizophrenic adults look like normal people not some crazed, twitchy, bugged-eyed psycho killer. That's one knock against the movie. However, the rest of the movie is extremely intriguing. You have to prepare yourself for the beginning, because the movie uses a lot of flashbacks to explain what's going on in that particular scene.
All ten characters are driving out in the middle of nowhere, when this hellacious rainstorm makes their travel impossible. You meet the first couple George and Alice York (John C. McGinley & Leila Kenzle) and their son, Timmy (Bret Loehr). Alice has been hit by a car, which is driven by Ed (John Cusack) who is ferrying a cranky, loquacious movie star (Rebecca De Mornay)-nice comeback. Alice's carotid artery has been sliced and she is near death, but they can't get to a hospital. They check into this run-down hotel in the middle of nowhere that's run by Larry(John Hawkes)-who has a past of his own. Soon, the torrential downpour brings in a hooker (Amanda Peet), a newlywed couple married for all the wrong reasons and a Nevada cop-(is he or isn't he?)-(Ray Liotta) who is transporting a killer (Jake Busey). My question is why does the cop have a hole in his shirt? Anyway, the prisoner is chained to a toilet, but soon escapes and then the murders start happening.
This movie is more of a suspense thriller than a horror movie, but you know that there is more gruesomeness coming as each minute goes by. Where is the killer? Why is the kid so deathly silent? Why is Larry so jumpy? Why is everybody dying and no one knows why? Are the murder victims linked to each other in some crazy way?
While all of this is going on the plight of crazed serial killer Malcolm Rivers (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is being decided in Carson City, Nevada. Malcolm's doctor (Alfred Molina) is trying to plead insanity based on new psychological evidence. I'm not going to tell anymore than what I've just mentioned.
The characters were played exceptionally well by this great cast of actors. John Cusack was great in being the leader of the gang. Rebecca DeMornay was convincing in her PMS, primadonna mode. Ray Liotta is always convincing in the roles that he plays.
The fun part of the movie is figuring out who will die next and why are they dying and what brought them to this rundown hotel. Was it coincidence or was it fate? It gets a little sloppy at the end, but all in all this is a good thriller. I'm still trying to figure out some parts of it. I'll probably watch it again. Yep, it's one of those movies. Watch and enjoy.

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Tight clean thriller with good plot twists
Identity is the kind of thriller we haven't seen in a while from Hollywood, the Ten Little Indians scenario where a large group of people are being killed off by an unknown adversary and the suspense level rises until a significant plot twist turns the whole thing on its ear. That's a good movie and Identity, which the exception of some minor hiccups, lives up to it.

A good ensemble cast, including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Rebecca DeMornay, Amanda Peet, and John C. McGinley, provide adequate amounts of star power and tension. Director James Mangold has proven he can handle this type of material and cast as the director of Copland. In this film he takes a limited location, sets his characters up well, and more or less lets things unfold as they will without forcing the issue.

The one problem is this - if you remember the commercials for the film that ran on television when it opened, they revealed a very important plot device that doesn't give away the big revelation, but comes damn close. In addition, if you are really paying attention, it's not all that hard to guess what it is. This isn't to say that it takes anything away from the film at all. It's very clever and certainly holds your interest for the duration. An argument could also be made that the ending feels tacked on, but at 90 minutes, there's no wasted scenes or extemperaneous dialogue. The DVD does come with an extended version, as well as commentary from Mangold.

An excellent popcorn thriller.

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Edge of your seat -- but don't give away the ending!
One of the best psychological thrillers made since Jacob's Ladder. This ensemble cast is perfectly blended to offer the right mix of fresh talent (Amanda Peet and Jake Busey) and seasoned veterans (Ray Liota, Alfred Molina and John Cusak) along with Rebecca DeMornay. You will be drawn in with the rhythmic poetry recited in the opening scenes and once the story begins at the desert Motel, you are absolutely riveted. There are key clues throughout to sort of clue you in to the shock at the end, but don't ruin it by talking to others about it! Watching the director's commentary is helpful on the DVD, explaining odd scenes and intricate story lines to the viewer. This movie is one you will want to watch more than once or twice. You get most of the plot only superficially the first time watching, and only on the the second and third go around will you say, "AH HA! Now this makes sense!" IDENTITY is also John Cusak's tour de force, a superb job here in a performance you will not soon forget. Top notch entertainment.