Left Field Cinema

There are few films that have a 'watch it if you dare' quality to it. L.I.E. is one of those very films that deals with some of life's real taboos. However Director Michael Cuesta resisted the temptation of shock value and instead took the high road of presenting bold subject matter in both realistic and tasteful terms.

L.I.E stands for the Long Island Expressway which holds a special significance to the protagonist of the film Howie Blitzer (played by Paul Dano). Howie's mother lost her life on an overpass of the titular expressway; as a result it becomes sort of a shrine for Howie as the only normal anchor of his life was taken away from him.

The plot of the film is basically a boy tackling the curse every boy suffers at one point in his life, puberty. His journey into adolescence is scary to both Howie and the audience because unlike most boys, he has to tackle it alone. His mother is dead and his father (played by Bruce Altman) is a selfish and negligent man who only speaks to Howie either when he wants something from him or to scold him. His journey is made equally frightening as he's also unsure of his sexual orientation. He befriends a young delinquent Gary (Billy Kay) whom ends up being a bad influence on Howie as Howie himself displays hesitation and even contempt for the activities that Gary brings him into. Though the film's substance really begins when Howie meets Big John Harrigan (played by the Brian Cox) after he and Gary rob a pair of valuable Tokarev pistols, As Big John is a war veteran, suggests that he got them from NVA or Viet-Cong soldiers during the Vietnam war. While Gary disappears after this robbery, leaving Howie alone to atone for this crime.

The subject matter ventures into territory that most filmmakers and actors wouldn't dare consider as it tackles not only a minor's sexual confusion but also pedophilia. Big John despite his stereotypical male war veteran appearance actually has a taste for young boys. This aspect of the film is likely what turns many people away from it, however it's a very brave attempt to tackle the issue without resorting to stereotype as while Big John is indeed a pedophile he actually has qualities that are endearing. Where Howie's father being the only heterosexual in his life, he's hardly a good influence on Howie, if an influence at all due to his negligence of his son. Big John on the other hand is also caring, nurturing even fatherly to Howie. Most movies would reverse this aspect as it's dangerous territory to humanize such a character, he goes one further that tempts us to like Big John. Howie is also a deviation of the norm as he is both highly intelligent and cultured, as well as showing emotional needs and dependencies. These two aspects bring L.I.E. closer into the real world where this could actually happen rather the sanitized and morally polarized worlds that mainstream film tends to offer.

Fathers and sons seem to be underlying theme of the whole movie as well as adolescent discovery. The lack a father in Howie's biological father attracts him to Big John, not sexually but because Big John displays the qualities that Howie is looking for that his own father doesn't have, even though Big John's tendencies are well known to Howie. Ironically a person which society would label as morally reprehensible is what influences Howie towards more socially acceptable behavior.

If there are any flaws in this film, it's really the ending. But more still, and with a measure of irony, because of Brian Cox. Brian proves that he's the actor's actor, giving a masterpiece of a performance as well as having the bravery to tackle such risque role. But this is too much of a good thing for L.I.E. as Brian Cox is simply so good that he steals the show and our attention tends to focus away from Howie who is supposed to be the focal point of the film. Every actor in L.I.E. performs marvelously but Brian Cox really leaves them in the dust, it's both a blessing and a curse in this film.

Unfortunately with this type of film, there is little in terms of detail I can give away without ruining the effect it has on its audience. L.I.E. is a very personal story with masterful performances, especially by Brian Cox. Either sobering or disturbing, rest assured it is quite an experience.

Francis Bisaillon