A clichéd but fun classic whodunit

Rating: 6/10 (5 January 2005)

James Mangold's 'Identity' is a film so wrapped up in tricking you it bypasses its story in the process. The picture tells two stories breaking between throughout. The primary tale is one of murderous chance. During a torrential rainstorm several people find themselves caught at a motel unable to go in either direction on the highway because of floods. All of a sudden people begin dying gruesome deaths.
The secondary plot has a convicted killer's lawyer meeting with a judge and prosecutors to determine a new fate for his clearly mentally ill client. This story is smaller and less engaging as the one set at the motel. However, with both stories you feel you are on a ride that will end with a twist. So sure are you that when the twists come, they are surprising but not as thrilling since you spent over an hour knowing it was coming.
In the end I decided the good outweighed the bad ... slightly. Most of 'Identity' has an old fashioned whodunit aspect that you can't help but love. The ending is iffy and although the story hooks you, there are so many clichéd plot points that your head shaking and eye-rolling stands in the way of enjoying an all together decent film.
I have found myself watching the meat of it several times, addicted by the intrigue even though I know what is to happen. There is fine acting by John Cusack, Amanda Peet, John C. McGinley, and others. The direction is also quite skillful and leaves you right on the edge of your seat when need be. There are many who will love this film for its cleverness. Others will find that it is too cunning for its own good. **.5 out of ****