Identity on DVD

How would you stop a killer you can’t see?

What if everything in your life was predetermined for you?

What would you do if people started dying and you knew you were coming up on the list?

All these questions are offered by Identity, a classic whodunit tale that also offers a twist on the classic whodunit tale.

Ten strangers end up at the same nameless motel for whatever reason, but shortly thereafter they begin to die, one by one. The group includes a limo driver (John Cusack) and his demanding 80's TV star (Rebecca DeMornay), a cop (Ray Liotta) transporting a convicted killer (Jake Busey), a call girl (Amanda Peet), a pair of newlyweds (Clea Duvall and William Lee Scott), a family in crisis (John C. McGinley, Leila Kenzie & Bret Loehr), and the nervous night manager (John Hawkes).

They begin as strangers trying to get along as well as possible under the circumstances, but as their number steadily decreases, they turn on each other, accusing everyone else of being the killer.

Identity is strictly formulaic for the first two acts. We learn a little bit about each of the characters, but it doesn’t waste any time getting to the story. People start dying early, and a series of subtle clues are dropped as to just who these folks are.

But Identity has the kind of ending that will make you think, think, and think.

Most often, this kind of ending is a good thing, but in this case that’s not necessarily the case. The more you think about the ending, the more you start to wonder if it really makes sense. But it’s such a well-written movie with such a phenomenal cast that you’re willing to run with it.

John Cusack is one of those actors that everybody likes, so he’s the perfect guy to lead just about any film. When you combine his charisma with great actors like Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina and John C. McGinley, you can’t help but enjoy yourself.

Director James Mangold (Kate & Leopold) creates a perfect film noir-esque atmosphere and uses constant rain to add effect. Many people may object to Identity feeling too much like other movies in the genre, but it wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if it didn’t. It builds it up like a classic whodunit tale, then throws a curveball into the mixture.

At a mere 90 minutes, Identity is the perfect time-waster. It may think it’s more brilliant than it is, but it’s still one of the smarter movies to come out in some time. And you can watch it, enjoy it, then instantly forget it.

Produced for under $30 million, the movie made over $50 million at the domestic box office. For the DVD release, Columbia Tristar has provided an excellent special edition.

The disc features both 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen and 1.33:1 full screen transfers. The very dark movie has every detail perfectly visible in one of the best transfers Columbia Tristar has ever provided short of Superbit. There are blacks galore, but you never miss a thing. Fleshtones are all good, there’s not a single trace of grain, and it’s just all-around really freakin’ good.

Audio, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, is equally impressive. There is a constant rain in the background (and sometimes foreground) that is always audible, often in all five channels, and the thunder is always loud and creepy. Other sound effects engulf you as well, while dialogue is restricted to the front. The subwoofer also gets plenty of use from the score, which is filled with rumbling bass that almost overpowers the other sound effects.

Director Mangold provides an excellent audio commentary, giving equal parts information and stories from onset. He talks about pretty much everything, from casting, to shooting on location, to post-production. Also very good is the collection of deleted scenes with optional commentary. Mangold talks about why the scenes were cut, and his reasons make sense, but a couple of the scenes are so good they should have been left in the film (stupid pacing!).

The Starz Special is classic fluff, but it still features some good interviews with the cast and crew. With such a talented ensemble, it’s nice to hear what they all had to say about making such a good movie.

There are also some storyboard comparisons, and a few trailers.

Identity, from Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment
90 minutes, anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1) 16X9 enhanced & 1.33:1 full screen, 5.1 Dolby Digital
Starring John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea Duvall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Rebecca DeMornay
Produced by Cathy Konrad
Written by Michael Cooney, Directed by James Mangold

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