LIE

A compelling, arresting debut from Michael Cuesta, LIE (which stands for Long Island Expressway) follows a young, recently bereaved kid, Howie (Dano) who is finding it difficult to cope after the sudden death of his mother, and his father's marked reluctance to help his son with his sense of loss. Bereavement isn't the only thing troubling the street smart youngster, as his awakening sexuality brings with it a whole new set of problems. Into this troubled mire comes former Marine Big John (Cox) who gets wise to Howie and his mate's theft of a neighbourhood house. Although he's apparently a decent, well connected sort, Big John has a fondness for the company of young boys.

The subject matter may not be a particularly palpable one, but Michael Cuesta has fashioned an extreme character study, boasting two fine, multi-layered central performances from Cox and Dano. Refusing to take the easy path in demonising the depraved Big John, the director seeks to throw some light on the nature of his illness and the ambiguous relationship that he develops is carefully and sensitivity handled by the director, never degenerating into easy to digest caricatures. Admittedly, things tail off a little as the climatic scenes of the movie slide into a misjudged melodrama, but overall, LIE is an effective piece of work.