(screened @ the Water Reade-NYC on 08-14-08/Director's 35mm print)
"I just wanna talk to you." -Big John
L.I.E.
Seven years later, Michael Cuesta's "L.I.E." resonates even louder now than in 2001, thanks to the success of more recent "pedophile"-character movies (RE: "Mysterious Skin," "Little Children," & "The Woodsman")!
3-1/4 stars (out of 4) [(2001)USA/Lot 41/Orig. cut Rated NC-17] - (1 hr 37 min)
Co-written & Directed by Michael Cuesta
Co-written by Stephen M. Ryder & Gerald Cuesta
Original Music by Pierre Földes
Cinematography by Romeo Tirone
Cast ... Lead characters:
Paul (Franklin) Dano ... Howie Blitzer (age 15)
Brian Cox ... Big John "BJ" Harrigan (Ex-marine/Pedophile)
Cameos (Flashback scenes only):
Gladys Dano (Paul Dano's real-life mother) ... Sylvia Blitzer as Howie's mom
Emilio Cuesta (Director's son) ... Howie (@5 Years Old)
Review:
"James Bond doesn't go around blowing boys." -Howie
July 8, 1986. The day 'Howie Blitzer' was born.
Spring 2001. The season that Howie realizes he may be gay as he comes of age in a small homophobic community adjacent to the Long Island Expressway (or the L.I.E. as the locals refer to it).
But for this film, the literal meaning of the word "LIE," as in living a lie, is omnipresent in each of the main characters. I've already mentioned Howie's homosexual awakening which he tries vainly to keep as a closely guarded secret, especially at school.
Then there's 'Gary' (Billy Kay), Howie's studly, theft-prone, best friend who is concealing his own much more dangerous "down low" lifestyle as a teen hustler and thief.
One of Gary's former clients at the nearby L.I.E. rest stop (a pedophile/cruiser hangout) is the notorious 'Big John' (Brian Cox). A well-liked member of the community who served his country as a marine, but now finds himself in need of teenaged male companionship since his current roommate is losing his youthful bloom.
There's one more main character that's living the biggest lie of all in the film, but I'll leave that one for you to discover.
Check it out - ADULTS ONLY!
"Confidentiality is a religion with me." -Big John
Cast ... Supporting characters:
Bruce Altman ... Marty Blitzer (Building contractor/Howie's dad)
Billy Kay ... Gary (Howie's best friend/Thief)
James Costa ... Kevin Cole (Howie's School friend/Engaged in incest w/ sis)
Marcia DeBonis ... Guidance Counselor (Monitors Howie's descent)
Tony Donnelly ... Brian (Howie's School friend/Part of House robbery gang)
B. Constance Barry ... Anne Harrigan (Big John's elderly mother)
Walter Masterson ... Scott (Big John's roommate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trivia:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The poem Howie recites in the car is "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" by Walt Whitman. (from IMDbPRO.com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big John's doorbell triggers a recording of George M. Cohan's "You're a Grand Ole Flag"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Director Michael Cuesta stated (@ the Q&A) that the low-budget film did not have insurance the scenes of Paul Dana (as 'Howie') walking the rail over the highway were staged with a dummy railing set several feet in from the edge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This film was released with a NC-17 rating on Sept. 7, 2001 in New York City (four days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Big John' drives a flashy 1971 Oldsmobile 442 with vanity license plates that read "BJ")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
Additional cast (from IMDbPRO.com):
Brad Silnutzer ... Henry
Bob Gerardi ... Clifford
Adam LeFevre ... Elliot Angela Pietropinto ... Mrs. Cole (Kevin's mom)
Tatiana Burgos ... Marty's Girlfriend ("Booty call" mainly)
Michelle Carano ... Newscaster
Frank G. Rivers ... Man with Pizza
Chuck Ardezzone ... Desk Sergeant
Ray Garvey ... Brian's Father
Christine Toy Johnson ... FBI Woman
Police Officers: Francis J. Leik & Risa Ziegler
School Bullies: Anthony F. Peragine & Jude LoBasso
Prison Guards: Chance Kelly & Luis G. Moreno
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soundtrack info (from IMDbPRO.com):
Please note that songs listed here (and in the movie credits) cannot always be found on CD soundtracks. Please check CD track details for confirmation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lungo Fillaccio" - Written and Performed by R. Cardinali
Dewolfe Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tune In-Turn On-Drop Dead" - Performed by Psycore
Written by M. Kinnander/H. Baumgartner/C. Sepulveda/H. Wilholm / Published by Sweden Music AB / Administered by Universal Music Publishing AB & Universal-Polygram / International Publishing Inc. (ASCAP) / Courtesy of V2 Records, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Bugs" - Written and Performed by Walken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Pterodactyl Ptales" - Written and Performed by Tom "Wolf" Morrell
Courtesy of Western Jubilee Recording Company, LLC
Shanachie Entertainment Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Danny Boy" - Performed by Brian Cox (a capella)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sunrise" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harrigan Song" - Performed by Brian Cox (a capella)
Written by George M. Cohan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"When You're Around" - Performed by Booga Suga
Written by Tim Cloherty (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" - Written and Performed by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Published by Peer Music International (BMI)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My Sh*t is Digital" - Written and Performed by Dove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wanting" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike, Valerie Geffner and Nick Sattinger
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"5 Inches" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - Performed by Tom "Wolf" Morrell
Courtesy of Western Jubilee Recording Company, LLC
Shanachie Entertainment Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lascia ch'io Pianga" - Performed by The Vienna Boys' Choir
Written by Georg Friedrich Händel (as George Frideric Handel)
Naxos Music Ltd. / Courtesy of Phillips Classics/Universal Music Recordings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional crew:
Editors: Eric Carlson & Kane Platt
Casting Director: Judy Henderson
"On the Long Island Expressway there are lanes going east, lanes going west, and lanes going straight to hell." -Howie
"I just wanna talk to you." -Big John
L.I.E.
Seven years later, Michael Cuesta's "L.I.E." resonates even louder now than in 2001, thanks to the success of more recent "pedophile"-character movies (RE: "Mysterious Skin," "Little Children," & "The Woodsman")!
3-1/4 stars (out of 4) [(2001)USA/Lot 41/Orig. cut Rated NC-17] - (1 hr 37 min)
Co-written & Directed by Michael Cuesta
Co-written by Stephen M. Ryder & Gerald Cuesta
Original Music by Pierre Földes
Cinematography by Romeo Tirone
Cast ... Lead characters:
Paul (Franklin) Dano ... Howie Blitzer (age 15)
Brian Cox ... Big John "BJ" Harrigan (Ex-marine/Pedophile)
Cameos (Flashback scenes only):
Gladys Dano (Paul Dano's real-life mother) ... Sylvia Blitzer as Howie's mom
Emilio Cuesta (Director's son) ... Howie (@5 Years Old)
Review:
"James Bond doesn't go around blowing boys." -Howie
July 8, 1986. The day 'Howie Blitzer' was born.
Spring 2001. The season that Howie realizes he may be gay as he comes of age in a small homophobic community adjacent to the Long Island Expressway (or the L.I.E. as the locals refer to it).
But for this film, the literal meaning of the word "LIE," as in living a lie, is omnipresent in each of the main characters. I've already mentioned Howie's homosexual awakening which he tries vainly to keep as a closely guarded secret, especially at school.
Then there's 'Gary' (Billy Kay), Howie's studly, theft-prone, best friend who is concealing his own much more dangerous "down low" lifestyle as a teen hustler and thief.
One of Gary's former clients at the nearby L.I.E. rest stop (a pedophile/cruiser hangout) is the notorious 'Big John' (Brian Cox). A well-liked member of the community who served his country as a marine, but now finds himself in need of teenaged male companionship since his current roommate is losing his youthful bloom.
There's one more main character that's living the biggest lie of all in the film, but I'll leave that one for you to discover.
Check it out - ADULTS ONLY!
"Confidentiality is a religion with me." -Big John
Cast ... Supporting characters:
Bruce Altman ... Marty Blitzer (Building contractor/Howie's dad)
Billy Kay ... Gary (Howie's best friend/Thief)
James Costa ... Kevin Cole (Howie's School friend/Engaged in incest w/ sis)
Marcia DeBonis ... Guidance Counselor (Monitors Howie's descent)
Tony Donnelly ... Brian (Howie's School friend/Part of House robbery gang)
B. Constance Barry ... Anne Harrigan (Big John's elderly mother)
Walter Masterson ... Scott (Big John's roommate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trivia:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The poem Howie recites in the car is "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" by Walt Whitman. (from IMDbPRO.com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big John's doorbell triggers a recording of George M. Cohan's "You're a Grand Ole Flag"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Director Michael Cuesta stated (@ the Q&A) that the low-budget film did not have insurance the scenes of Paul Dana (as 'Howie') walking the rail over the highway were staged with a dummy railing set several feet in from the edge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This film was released with a NC-17 rating on Sept. 7, 2001 in New York City (four days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Big John' drives a flashy 1971 Oldsmobile 442 with vanity license plates that read "BJ")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
Additional cast (from IMDbPRO.com):
Brad Silnutzer ... Henry
Bob Gerardi ... Clifford
Adam LeFevre ... Elliot Angela Pietropinto ... Mrs. Cole (Kevin's mom)
Tatiana Burgos ... Marty's Girlfriend ("Booty call" mainly)
Michelle Carano ... Newscaster
Frank G. Rivers ... Man with Pizza
Chuck Ardezzone ... Desk Sergeant
Ray Garvey ... Brian's Father
Christine Toy Johnson ... FBI Woman
Police Officers: Francis J. Leik & Risa Ziegler
School Bullies: Anthony F. Peragine & Jude LoBasso
Prison Guards: Chance Kelly & Luis G. Moreno
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soundtrack info (from IMDbPRO.com):
Please note that songs listed here (and in the movie credits) cannot always be found on CD soundtracks. Please check CD track details for confirmation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lungo Fillaccio" - Written and Performed by R. Cardinali
Dewolfe Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tune In-Turn On-Drop Dead" - Performed by Psycore
Written by M. Kinnander/H. Baumgartner/C. Sepulveda/H. Wilholm / Published by Sweden Music AB / Administered by Universal Music Publishing AB & Universal-Polygram / International Publishing Inc. (ASCAP) / Courtesy of V2 Records, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Bugs" - Written and Performed by Walken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Pterodactyl Ptales" - Written and Performed by Tom "Wolf" Morrell
Courtesy of Western Jubilee Recording Company, LLC
Shanachie Entertainment Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Danny Boy" - Performed by Brian Cox (a capella)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sunrise" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harrigan Song" - Performed by Brian Cox (a capella)
Written by George M. Cohan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"When You're Around" - Performed by Booga Suga
Written by Tim Cloherty (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" - Written and Performed by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Published by Peer Music International (BMI)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My Sh*t is Digital" - Written and Performed by Dove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wanting" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike, Valerie Geffner and Nick Sattinger
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"5 Inches" - Written and Performed by Mark Wike
Umfoofoo Music (ASCAP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - Performed by Tom "Wolf" Morrell
Courtesy of Western Jubilee Recording Company, LLC
Shanachie Entertainment Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lascia ch'io Pianga" - Performed by The Vienna Boys' Choir
Written by Georg Friedrich Händel (as George Frideric Handel)
Naxos Music Ltd. / Courtesy of Phillips Classics/Universal Music Recordings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional crew:
Editors: Eric Carlson & Kane Platt
Casting Director: Judy Henderson
"On the Long Island Expressway there are lanes going east, lanes going west, and lanes going straight to hell." -Howie