Identity Blu-ray delivers stunning video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Ten strangers with secrets are brought together in a savage rainstorm: A limo driver, an ‘80s TV star, a cop who is transporting a killer, a call girl, a pair of newlyweds and a family in crisis all take shelter at a desolate motel run by a nervous night manager. Relief in finding shelter is quickly replaced with fear as the ten travelers begin to die, one by one. They soon realize that, if they are to survive, they’ll have to uncover the secret that has brought them all together.
For more about Identity and the Identity Blu-ray release, see the Identity Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on November 1, 2009 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
The question...is whether to convict the body or the mind.
Even the topsy-turvy world of Horror gets one right every once in a while. In an era where
gross-out Saw flicks and other
similar movies leave little to the imagination, 2003's Identity does just the opposite,
leaving darn near everything up to the imagination, literally. Calling Identity a tight,
captivating, and crafty Psychological Thriller doesn't even begin to describe it. Hailing the script for
its consistently clandestine, ever-evolving, and bone-tingling tone doesn't do justice to the smarts
and novelty found on every page as translated to the screen. Praising its performances and
admiring the direction fail to convey how spectacular the film is. In fact, nothing short of watching
Identity and becoming immersed in the wonderfully realized world of misdirection it creates
can truly differentiate the film from its peers and adequately describe just how good this movie is.
A wonderful atmosphere helps make 'Identity' one of the best of its kind.
It was a dark and stormy night, and therein lies the beginning and the end of the clichés found in
Identity. In Nevada, a group of motorists find themselves flung together when a heavy
rainstorm, flooded roads, and a nasty accident see their lives converge at a roadside,
middle-of-nowhere motel. Amongst them is a father named George (John C. McGinley, Are We Done Yet?),
his son Timmy (Bret Loehr), and his wife Alice (Leila Kenzle), who is struck by a passing car
driven by Ed Dakota (John Cusack, Con Air) and carrying
former actress Caroline Suzanne (Rebecca De Mornay, Risky Business);
police officer Rhodes (Ray Liotta, Field of Dreams)
and the prisoner he is escorting, Robert Maine (Jake Busey, Starship Troopers);
newlyweds Ginny (Clea DuVall, Ghosts of Mars) and
Lou (William Lee Scott); a Las Vegas prostitute named Paris (Amanda Peet, The X-Files: I Want to
Believe); and the hotel proprietor, Larry (John Hawkes). Their lives become forever
entwined when those among them begin dying one by one. Though fingers point to different
suspects as the night wears on, one constant emerges: a motel room key is found on each body,
beginning with the key to room number 10 and counting down. Of the eleven, one seems to
have
both the motive and wherewithal to murder at will until only one remains.
Identity marvelously crafts a story that's a master of suspense. Though it takes some
time before the film reveals itself as more than a slick but commonplace slasher type picture,
there is never a moment where anything about Identity feels normal. From the opening
minutes onward, it becomes clear that viewers are in for something special. Despite the
somewhat commonplace plot device of amassing a collection of seemingly unrelated individuals
and delivering a standard but expertly-crafted set-up to get them all in one place, Director James
Mangold (3:10 to Yuma)
captures the action with a purpose and a sense of impending danger that's engendered through
both his expert approach to the material and the clichéd but here incredibly effective rainstorm
that serves as something of a character itself throughout the entirety of the picture. Still, and
despite a fantastic set-up, it's where the film goes and what it does with the story that proves
both spellbinding as it unfolds and utterly shocking as the truth is revealed. The aptly-titled
Identity itself seems victim to an identity crisis; nothing or nobody is as they seem, and
the film sheds its many layers one at a time and in just the right order for maximum effect.
Identity isn't a particularly frightening or grotesque movie. It's more in the vein of
masterful Hitchcockian suspense with but a few grisly shots finding their way into the film; the
minimal gore allows for the tone to smartly remain fully centered on the story as it unravels and
develops towards its many surprising revelations and eventual shocking conclusion. The rainy
nighttime setting lends to the film an appropriate noir tone that accentuates the uncertainty
of what's to come or what's around a corner. Likewise, the characters' gradual degradation both
physical and mental as the night wears on and the bodies accumulate only reinforces the
unrelenting pace and sense of confusion and despair that hang over the film. There's not a bad
performance in the bunch; every actor sells their part convincingly, keeping hidden even a
semblance of their true motives and/or identities. It would be unfair to point to one or two of the
eleven primaries when all are excellent and none are notably superior to another insofar as their
efforts in Identity, but suffice it to say that those that might not have the instant
recognition of a Ray Liotta or John Cusack easily hold their own and match the veterans' efforts
scene for scene, line by line, and character arc for character arc.
This Blu-ray release of Identity delivers a strong 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. It's clear,
crisp, and free of any distracting artifacts or obvious post-production digital manipulation. Rarely
does the image go soft, though in those few instances where it's not as noticeably sharp as usual,
the effect is minimal. Blacks are deep, dark, and wonderfully atmospheric and mood-setting.
Detail is excellent throughout, even in the film's many dark or otherwise drab locales. By definition,
the film's setting doesn't really allow for an onslaught of eye-catching detail and monitor-popping
colors, but both are nicely realized in context. The transfer excels in revealing the small nuances
throughout the somewhat grimy and worn but not inhospitable or condemnation-worthy motel.
Viewers will note the small dings and dirt on the facility's washing machine that plays prominently
in one scene, or the rust and chipped paint on a close-up of a bolt lock in another. Such are small
examples but representative of the solid level of detail throughout. Close-ups of faces, too, reveal
every pore and strand of facial hair nicely. Flesh tones can look just the slightest bit pale or ghastly,
but that's hardly a concern. Rounded out by a subtle veneer of film grain, Identity boasts
an
overall strong 1080p picture quality on Blu-ray.
Identity makes itself known on Blu-ray via a wonderful PCM 5.1 uncompressed
soundtrack.
The film is heavy on atmospherics; a steady rain marks almost the entirety of the movie, and
whether characters are standing out in the downpour or are somewhere inside the hotel, the
sense of
being in the midst of a shower is never lost on the listener. The track also reproduces varying
sensations in relation to the rain; whether it's bouncing off clothing, falling into a puddle, rolling
off the roof, or streaming out of the gutter in waves, each different tone is easily identifiable
through the
track alone. Booms of thunder are occasionally heard in the background in support, again in
varying
stages of severity depending on location in relation to the outdoors. The rear channels are fully
utilized throughout both to recreate the enveloping rain but also in support of other atmospherics
or
via the delivery of various discrete effects. Subtle bass also accompanies each clap of thunder,
but it's also
present in several other spots throughout as well. Heavy pounding on a door creates a
tense, disturbing sensation in one scene, and an explosion in the film's third act packs a solid
punch.
Dialogue reproduction is strong throughout. This is an excellent and highly effective soundtrack
that heightens the mood of the film considerably.
This Blu-ray release of Identity contains several extras. First up is a commentary track
with Director James Mangold, who goes through the range of standard commentary fare, speaking
on the origins of the script, the strength inherent to Thrillers that take place in a single location, the
film's structure, set design, shooting techniques, lighting, the strengths of the actors and their
characters' traits, and much more. Though the track covers the usual array of topics, Mangold
shares his thoughts with a well-spoken and sure delivery. Fans will want to listen to this one. Also
included is a second commentary, this one featuring Writer Michael Cooney. Cooney also delivers a
smart, well-spoken, and passionate commentary. He speaks almost without interruption and
covers just about everything viewers could want to know about the script, the characters, and the
shoot. Like the director track, this one is a must-listen. Starz on the Set (480p, 14:32) is
a generic interview piece that features the cast and crew simply speaking on the film's plot and
themes, Mangold's direction, and the prowess of the actors. Also included are storyboard
comparisons for three scenes (480p) and a collection of four deleted scenes (480p) with optional
director commentary.
Though it grossed a respectable $51,000,000 at the domestic box office, Identity
nevertheless seems a diamond in the rough; its name isn't frequently mentioned in many "best of"
lists of Horror or Mystery pictures of this or any decade, but it deserves a slot -- and near the top,
for that matter -- of any such compilation. A film that's a master of deceit and sleight of hand but
not necessarily manipulative or dishonest, Identity unravels a tale that's smart, bold,
surprisingly engaging, and not soon forgotten. An unconventional Horror/Suspense picture that
features sure-handed Direction from one of the better of his craft and a collection actors that deliver
uniformly superb performances, Identity is a modern genre classic that's not to be missed.
Sony's Blu-ray release is nearly as impressive as the movie itself. Though the supplements could be
more, the technical presentation excels. Highly recommended.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced that the blockbuster Bond title Casino Royale, released March 13 on Blu-ray Disc, has hit the 100,000 units shipped mark and is setting records at retail for greatest number of high-definition copies sold ...
