Okay, I have been wanting to see the movie Identity and finally saw it on DVD tonight. It started out fresh and original as the cuts and storytelling during the setup was cool. It quickly settled into a typical slasher film. Without going into any spoilers, let me say that the characters in the film are all stuck at this hotel in the middle of nowhere... and they are all very bad stereotypes. The edgy cop, the snobby actress, among others... the setups for the murders are nearly as transparent as the characters. I mean, I really like most of the actors - John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes (who I loved as the character Elton in an episode of one of my all-time favorite TV shows that didn't last - The Marshall starring Jeff Fahey) and John C. McGinley. Talk about a great cast... oh well.

James Mangold directed the film, you might remember a couple of his other works, Girl, Interrupted and Copland - both of which were better and both of which he also wrote. Perhaps he puts more passion into his own tales, perhaps he just didn't see the vision of writer Michael Cooney - or more likely - perhaps Cooney is a hack writer as his credits suggest.

RATING 4 out of 10

At least that is what the film wants you to think for most of it.... it is in the end that it becomes a really good story, really good direction, and a surprisingly good film! Turns out Cooney can write and Mangold can direct! :)

My real rating...
RATING 7 out of 10

How do you like that - a surprise ending to my movie rating!
- posted by Chris @ 9:51 PM