L.I.E.

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L.I.E.

R,

2001,

1h 47m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

85%

85 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

With his mother dead and his father, Marty (Bruce Altman), busy at work, Howie (Paul Franklin Dano) feels adrift in his New York suburb. He and his friend Gary (Billy Kay) spend their time burglarizing their neighbors' homes -- until they make the mistake of robbing the house of Big John (Brian Cox), a macho former Marine who is also an unrepentant pedophile. He propositions Howie, who declines, but the two eventually develop an unlikely and dangerous friendship.

Critics Consensus

L.I.E. is a well-acted and unsettling look at a boy's relationship with a pedophile.

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Barbara Ellen

The Times (UK)

Jan 2, 2018

Even in its least interesting moments, L.I.E should be credited for attempting to put an edgy kind of truth on camera.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 31, 2008

A striking, unnerving coming-of-age film, "L.I.E." is the rare American movie that isn't afraid of ambiguity or confronting an audience's preconceptions.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Mar 29, 2002

4/4

Cuesta never gives us the satisfaction of fulfilling our expectations; instead he gives us a movie that we can ponder long the road takes its final turn.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 3, 2022

B

An entire book could be written about Cox’s work here, such as the way Big John’s show-offy patriotism plays like a cover story but at the same time seems honestly felt.

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Erik Anderson

Awards Watch

Apr 7, 2020

The performances across the board are superb, with Cox giving one of the very best of the year.

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Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Dec 27, 2007

3/4

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Michael Cuesta

Director

Brian Cox

Big John Harrigan

Paul Dano

Howie Blitzer

Billy Kay

Gary Terrio

Bruce Altman

Marty Blitzer

James Costa

Kevin Cole

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Synopsis

With his mother dead and his father, Marty (Bruce Altman), busy at work, Howie (Paul Franklin Dano) feels adrift in his New York suburb. He and his friend Gary (Billy Kay) spend their time burglarizing their neighbors' homes -- until they make the mistake of robbing the house of Big John (Brian Cox), a macho former Marine who is also an unrepentant pedophile. He propositions Howie, who declines, but the two eventually develop an unlikely and dangerous friendship.

Director: Michael Cuesta
Producer: Rene Bastian, Michael Cuesta, Linda Moran
Screenwriter: Stephen M. Ryder, Michael Cuesta, Gerald Cuesta
Distributor: Lot 47 Films
Production Co: Alter Ego, Belladonna Productions LLC
Rating: R (Some Explicit Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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