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Top Movies Eight Below Date Movie The Pink Panther Curious George Final Destination 3 Firewall Freedomland When a Stranger Calls Big Momma's House 2 Nanny McPhee New Releases Curious George Final Destination 3 Firewall The Pink Panther Date Movie Eight Below Freedomland Something New Failure to Launch When a Stranger Calls Top Celebs Reese Witherspoon Brad Pitt Paris Hilton Mariah Carey Lindsay Lohan Scarlett Johansson Phil Collins Britney Spears Angelina Jolie Jodie Marsh	Identity  Release Date - April 25th, 2003  Distributor - Columbia Pictures  Duration - 1 hr. 27 min.  Type - R for strong violence and language.  Writer : Michael Cooney, James Mangold  Producer : Cathy Konrad  Director : James Mangold  Starring : John Cusack, Jake Busey, Rebecca DeMornay, Clea DuVall, Ray Liotta  Synopsis This is the story of ten complete strangers who are stranded at a remote desert motel during a raging storm who soon find themselves being murdered... as their numbers thin out, they turn on each other, as each tries to figure out who is the killer.  Critic Reviews It isn't Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick, as it might be in the game Clue. But it could be John Cusack in Room 6 with a knife or Ray Liotta in a deserted diner with a baseball bat. The new horror-thriller "Identity" comes on like yet another variation on Agatha Christie's famous "And Then There Were None," first filmed in 1945 with Walter Huston and Barry Fitzgerald and remade three times as "Ten Little Indians." That is, on a dark and stormy night, some total strangers take shelter in a creepy old house (here, a creepy old motel) and are murdered one by one, as those still alive try to find the murderer in their midst. But this version is much more twisted than that. Michael Clooney's script is ultimately not much more than a gimmick, but it's unlike anything I've seen in this genre in recent memory -- or, perhaps, ever. The less you know about "Identity," the better. But this much won't hurt. When a heavy storm washes out roads in both directions, assorted travelers seek shelter in a rundown and remote motel that makes the Bates' place look like a three-star hideaway. First to show up is John C. McGinley, holding his bleeding wife (Leila Kenzie) in his arms and his frightened little boy (Bret Loehr) by the hand. She's been hit by a car, a domino-effect accident cleverly mapped out by director James Mangold. On their heels arrive a washed-up sex symbol (Rebecca De Mornay) and her chauffeur (Cusack). Then come the others: a hooker (Amanda Peet), some unhappy newlyweds (Clea DuVall and William Lee Scott) and a cop (Liotta) and his all-but-drooling prisoner (Jake Busey). We take special notice of the prisoner because, in a parallel story, we've been told about a convicted mass murderer, being escorted by the police, whose doctor (Alfred Molina) is working frantically for a stay of execution. By the time the first victim's head is found in the dryer and another begs to be let through a locked door (a little tip of the hat to "The Leopard Man"?), it's pretty obvious these folks have stumbled into motel hell. Everyone seems to have a secret, even the motel. Why does the motel manager (John Hawkes) hide a framed photo in his drawer as soon as guests start arriving? Why would a chauffeur carry a gun? What about those brochures that say the motel was built on an Indian burial ground à la "Poltergeist"? As the genre clichés pile up, the film threatens to edge into "Scream" territory. People start going off on their own in the dark, instead of staying together in a well-lighted room. They find inane things to argue about, never mind that a mad killer may be lurking by the Coke machine. Just how good the last-act surprise is can be judged by the level of talent onscreen. Actors like Cusack, Liotta, McGinley and Molina have lots better ways to spend their time, if they so choose. Hawkes may be less known, but he became a cult favorite after appearing in "The Perfect Storm" and has his own popular Web site. Busey's got family connections (and a startling resemblance to dad Gary). And they've all agreed to act in a constant downpour (Liotta even works without a raincoat). Mangold himself typically has dabbled in classier stuff -- "Girl, Interrupted" and "Cop Land." But even he couldn't resist this movie's cheap thrills. "Identity" may be a one-trick pony, but it's quite a trick.   For rating reasons : filmrating.com, mpaa.com                                    For Parents : Parentalguide.com
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