SUBTLETY
Added 10/28/2009
For such a sensitive subject it was handled with discretion. The direction was, at first, lost on me due to my own naivety.
Oh---did you want to know the qualty of the disc? It was in pristine conditon.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Coming of Age?
Added 9/3/2009
While this movie is about a young teen coming of age it also deals with several hard core issues: for example peer pressure, drugs,child abuse. While I would recommend people see this I would suggest that a parent be in the room to answer some hard questions.
Only problem I had with this move is its rating. IF I were going to give this a rating it would be an "R" due to its graphic language and adult content
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A Powerful and Amazing Achievement
Added 8/5/2009
This is an amazing creation about Howie a 15 year old who is trying to come to terms with many issues in life (death of his mother, challenges of adolescence and trust in the people he meets along his journey). After watching this movie I found that it did an excellent job in presenting this and in showing how a fifteen year old can face the many challenges in life and move on. For anyone who watches the movie I would strongly recommend watching the commentary that is part of the movie by director Michael Cuesta first and then sit back and enjoy the actual movie. Overall, this is something I strongly recommend seeing.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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an exceptional movie with characters who defy clear cut labels--this film is art
Added 10/25/2008
L.I.E. is the coming of age story of young Howie Blitzer--although not necessarily in the usual ways. Howie (Paul Dano) is a 16 year old troubled kid who is mourning the relatively recent death of his mother in a car accident on the L. I. E. (Long Island Expressway), which is nearby the Blitzer home by coincidence. Howie sometimes views life through the L. I. E. as he contemplates how some people travel east on the highway, some people travel west while some roads "lead straight to hell."
Howie mourns his mother; but that's far from the end of his worries. He hangs around with other teenagers who find it thrilling to break into houses and steal things. They don't need the things they steal because they themselves come from wealthy families; but the thrill of it all is like a drug for them. Moreover, Howie's father (Bruce Altman) may live in the same house with his son but they are essentially estranged--they communicate poorly at best and the father is all but completely consumed by serious troubles at work and his girlfriend with whom he spends practically every minute.
Howie sees a possible way out of his pain when he tinkers with the idea of traveling with one of his buddies so they can start a new life; and there are some latent (or not so latent) romantic feelings between the two young men. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned--and pretty soon Howie is left by his father, his buddy who leaves without him and his other buddies conveniently disappear. It is only then that Howie explores a relationship with a much older man named Big John (Brian Cox). Big John has his eyes on Howie and this could definitely complicate things; it seems that Big John wants something back that Howie and his friends stole when they broke into Big John's home one night.
How will Howie find his way to come of age with all this madness around him? He's on his own without much help. Will he ever reconcile with his father? Will he develop a romantic relationship with Big John even though Howie is underage? What if his buddies want to be there for him again? No answers here--watch the movie to find out!
The plot moves along at a good, steady pace without being too fast or too slow; and the acting is truly convincing. When people comment that Michael Cuesta has made an extraordinary motion picture, they are correct. The characters are developed in just the right way and you won't forget this film anytime soon. The subject matter of a grown man having his eyes at young boys is masterfully handled with so much finesse that you actually see several good, redeeming qualities about Big John. This film is art.
The DVD doesn't have too many extras but there are commentaries by Michael Cuesta and Brian Cox. There are three or four brief deleted scenes. However, the film is so good I don't think you'll mind the relative paucity of extras.
Overall, L.I.E. easily succeeds at giving us a striking, memorable portrait of a young man's coming of age. This film is not for family entertainment but it's hardly something for the trashcan. I highly recommend it.
1 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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L.I.E Sexual Awareness
Added 9/3/2008
This movie awarenessabout how fragile young teenagers are been seduced by anyone who give them some atention. It"s a hard message for absent parents that just provide material things and forgot that their kids are very sensitive and need more than anything care and love to not go true dark ways.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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SUBTLETY
Added 10/28/2009
For such a sensitive subject it was handled with discretion. The direction was, at first, lost on me due to my own naivety.
Oh---did you want to know the qualty of the disc? It was in pristine conditon.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Coming of Age?
Added 9/3/2009
While this movie is about a young teen coming of age it also deals with several hard core issues: for example peer pressure, drugs,child abuse. While I would recommend people see this I would suggest that a parent be in the room to answer some hard questions.
Only problem I had with this move is its rating. IF I were going to give this a rating it would be an "R" due to its graphic language and adult content
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A Powerful and Amazing Achievement
Added 8/5/2009
This is an amazing creation about Howie a 15 year old who is trying to come to terms with many issues in life (death of his mother, challenges of adolescence and trust in the people he meets along his journey). After watching this movie I found that it did an excellent job in presenting this and in showing how a fifteen year old can face the many challenges in life and move on. For anyone who watches the movie I would strongly recommend watching the commentary that is part of the movie by director Michael Cuesta first and then sit back and enjoy the actual movie. Overall, this is something I strongly recommend seeing.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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