L.I.E.

US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Brian Cox, Paul Franklin Dano, Bruce Altmann.
Directed by Michael Cuesto.

While lies are prominent in this film, L.I.E. stand for Long Island Expressway. Howie (Paul Franklin Dano) lost his mother in an accident on this freeway. He now lives in a comfortable house nearby with his builder father who is entangled in building fraud proceedings. But, skim the surface and all is not well with Howie. He and his school friends burgle homes, discuss sex (often fairly ignorantly) and hang out. When one of them, Gary, gets Howie help him steal some guns from a local identity, Big John, things get worse.

Big John is an ex-marine and cultivates an image of having been a spy. He offers a paternal exterior to teenage boys but, in fact, is a predator with a live-in houseboy. He shows friendship to Howie who realises what he is after but does not realise what it might entail. Big John becomes something of a surrogate father to the needy and sensitive Howie. But, the film ends melodramatically so that we never know what could have happened to Big John and Howie.

The film is rather reticent in its treatment of suburban dysfunction (especially since it is reminiscent of Larry Clark's films which go in the opposite direction of explicitness). It also shows the teenage prey of the molester as ambiguous in their attitudes, especially of affection and curiosity, and Big John, while he acknowledges what he is - and is a pornographic site user - is both seductive and exploitative. Brian Cox skilfully brings him to life.

In many ways a disturbing story, it is disappointingly inconclusive at the end.

1. The film's dramatic impact, social comment, life on Long Island, life on Long Island, American youth, idleness, youth crime, adult crime?

2. The title, the opening and Howie's explanation, the resumption at the end? The explanation about the deaths, Alan Pakula, his mother? The freeway as a symbol of danger, speed?

3. The road, those who lived on the side of the freeway, the homes, school? The ordinariness on the surface? The musical score, the music, the range of songs?

4. The introduction to Howie, his age, his dead mother and his missing her, the Long Island Expressway? His friendship with Gary and the gang, hanging out with them, their discussions about sex, Gary and his seeming to have it all together, the robberies, at school, Howie being bashed? Kevin and his talk about his relationship with his sister? His ignorance? Howie's room, the contents, its appearance? His father and the girlfriend, their noisily having sex, his being alienated, his needs? Friendship with Gary, the discussions, a sense of intimacy? His feelings, his sexual orientation or discovery of it? Gary, planning to leave? 15 and his being knowing and ignorant? The relationship with his father, the gift, going out with him, his father hitting him? The kids and the bashing? The counsellor and her continued offer of help?

5. The kids, their banding together, the robberies, Kevin and his discussions, Gary and his hustling life? Big John and the guns, Gary and the robbery, leaving, Dad not liking Gary because he was smiling?

6. Big John, his birthday party, his age, background as a marine, patriotism, the relationship with Gary, with Howie in the diner, the smooth talk, showing him the car, revealing the truth, the guns, Howie's search in Gary's room, returning the guns, his earnest promises, the house, discovery Scott, the possibilities of the relationship with Big John, driving the car, at the beach, quoting the poetry, Walt Whitman, John's sensitive replies, talking about his own past?

7. Howie's father, his relationship with his wife, his missing her, the girlfriend, the loud sex, his being involved in swindles, losing his money, the discussion with the lawyer and his dropping dead in the diner, the alienation of Howie, taking him out, hitting him? His arrest? Howie going to prison, their discussions, his saying he was sorry?

8. The kids and their being picked up by the police, their being collected by their parents, the treatment by their parents, not knowing the truth, spoiling them? Big John's arrival, his bluff manner with the police? Taking Howie home, Scott having to go to the motel, Howie in the house, at home, the expectations from John, the sexual expectations?

9. Big John in himself, the relationship with his mother, enjoying the party, her phone calls, his explanation of his past, seeming to be a spy? Sexual orientation and behaviour, his own admission of guild and regret? The relationship with Gary, with Scott, having houseboys? Picking up kids, molestation? His knowing which kids to pick up, sensitive to their vulnerability, needs, setting up a sense of dependence? How authentic any fatherly feelings? Seeing him looking at pornography on the Internet? An exploiter?

10. On the expressway, waiting for Howie, Scott driving by, killing him?

11. Howie and his future, on the Long Island Expressway, back where he started? How pessimistic the film? How realistic?