TMI, still pretty good

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2003)

This is a very fun B-movie: well made, extremely well acted, and with just enough twists and turns to keep one happily unsettled. **SEMI-SPOILER COMING UP** Unfortunately, because both the theatrical and television previews show Alfred Molina talking to John Cusack--which, because of the way the film progresses, we know could not happen UNLESS--it was easy to figure out the "twist". I hate when commercials do that! That said, there was still one more creep-out at the very end that I did not see coming at all, and so enjoyed very much. **SEMI-SPOILER OVER** Identity was very clever, and a movie like this needs cleverness because that is its whole reason for existing, to catch the viewer unawares. We don't look for depth, or for an answer to the human condition. We want to be scared and we want to be surprised. And this movie accomplished both. A great cast of character actors helps--especially the criminally underrated Amanda Peet, who has been the best reason to see many bad movies in the past. She is always worth watching, and her tired, retiring hooker here nicely avoids the whole gamut of movie-hooker cliches. How nice that she can show tenderness and compassion to the other characters without being saddled with the proverbial heart o' gold. Fun movie. If the preview hadn't spoiled it for me, I'd like it even more.