IDENTITY

Director: James Mangold (Girl Interupted, Cop Land, Kate & Leopold)
Starring: Ensemble incl. John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Rebecca DeMornay

Identity is a film with a fine modern twist on the classic who-dunnit. It's also a bit of a slasher film. John Cusack and Ray Liotta lead a cast of 10 characters trapped at a spooky motel in the middle of the obligatory rain-storm. One-by-one (or occasionally two-by-two) the list of characters grows shorter as they get killed in various horrific ways. Who's the murderer? That's the question. Really, it does a very good job of keeping you guessing through most of the movie. It also provides a goodly number of shocks to get you jumping in your seat. That's what this film is all about, and it succeeded in its goal. The surprise ending fell just a bit flat, but since these sorts of stories are about the moment to moment creepiness, it was still very entertaining. A good, solid, popcorn-eater of a movie.

Standouts: Solid across-the-board production, acting, story, etc. Creepy and intriguing.
Blowouts: Not too much to complain about. It landed very near to where the story aimed.

Grade: B+

LAURAL CANYON

Director: Lisa Cholodenko (High Art)
Starring: Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsdale, Alessandro Nivola

Aspects of this film were compelling. Unfortunately, those aspects weren't enough to overcome the fact that the story and characters were chock full of lies. The story is about a straight-laced (but hot) psychiatric resident and his straighter-laced (but even hotter) girlfriend moving into his sensualist mother's house. The mom is a 40-something swinging, rock record producer in a relationship with the lead singer of the current band she's recording. Somehow this results in the uptight (but hot) Kate Beckinsdale, as a the girlfriend, joining in a menage a trois with mom and the rocker. Meanwhile, Christian Bale, the uptight son, flirts with a co-worker at the hospital (who's also really hot). There are a lot of hot people in this movie. Most of them eventually start doing hot things that are required by the script that wants hot people to do these hot thing. The script had interesting moments, but most of it came across as forced and rather silly. On the positive side for this movie was the acting. Frances McDormand was simply fantastic. She *was* a 40-something rock producer. What an amazing actress. Her performance may have been Oscar-worthy were it not for the lack of depth in the character (not morally speaking, just that the character as written was lacking). This, frankly, not-too-attractive woman turned herself into a hottie simply by her portrayal. Amazing. Alessandro Nivola as the comic relief (the lead singer in the rock band) provided the comedy well. Christian Bale was fine in a not too interesting role. There's just no way to take the Kate Beckinsdale character seriesly, so I can't even comment on her job. Usually, this movie was interesting to watch. Oh, and it was hot. (I'll tell you right here that Frances McDormand lifted this movie a full grade!)

Standouts: Frances Mc-what-a-great-acress-Dormand
Blowouts: The script desperately trying to be "sexy" and "dangerous"

Grade: B-