I don't know where to begin

Rating: Null/10 (28 April 2003)

A good movie is one where you think about it the next day and maybe even the entire week. This is that kind of movie. I wanted to see this movie before I ever saw a trailer for it and when the trailers did come out, I avoided them like one would avoid the plague. Identity, directed by James Mangold, is about a storm that strands 10 strangers in a seedy motel with no way to leave because of the streets were flooded. One by one each get killed off. By who? Well, I can't say because it is a surprise. The beginning of this film is so excellent. SOME SPOILERS but nothing serious!!! You see how each of the characters actions result in something else happening which ultimately results in going to the motel. The direction of the first 20 or so mintutes is awesome. The pieces of the complicated puzzle are so masterfully put together that when the movie is over you see the whole picture.It was kind of confusing and I felt exhausted when it was over but I couldn't stop thinking about it. This is very a la Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho with the motel room and the storm and the whole feel of it felt that Hitchcock had a hand in this film. The cast was awesome. John Cusack in a role that is different from his others and a welcome change. Ray Liotta, I think, always has this creepy prescence. Jake Busey is just one creepy guy that makes the hair on my arm stand on end. Amanda Peet is showing that she is better than some of the movies she has been in before. Clea DuVull should never be in another teen movie again. You can't take your eyes off of John C. McGinley because this role is the opposite of the role he plays in Scrubs and he just has this way about him that is so interesting to watch on screen. I didn't even realize that was Rebecca DeMornay, which the quote that the motel manager was right on the money about "Didn't you used to be that actress?"
I missed some things throughout the movie because I was thinking about what was happening which caused me to forget what happened in the very beginning with Alfred Molina's character. I want to see it again.
Grade: A **** Stars