L.I.E. (2001)

An achievement of accomplished filmmaking and superb acting, L.I.E. puts you in the tough spot of unraveling how you feel about what you've viewed.

Gripping, troubling and deftly acted.

Despite a little rough stuff here and there, this is one of the more insightful and affecting teen-trauma films of recent years.

Dano is a real find in this daunting role about a teenager's identity crisis. The subject of the movie is dicey but ultimately deeply rewarding.

L.I.E. has embraced tragedy, folly, perversity and outrageous dark humor. Like "Happiness" and "American Beauty," it takes an unflinching look at the darker aspects of life in American suburbia.

It's a powerful and provocative achievement from a first-time filmmaker of enormous promise.

At its best, L.I.E. offers a rich, dark, bitter slice of contemporary life. But the film's arty embellishments undermine its bleak vision, making it, in the end, a little too easy to take.

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L.I.E. is simply the best movie on this subject ever made - and it has become a classic, world-wide, because of that. Stephen M. Ryder's screenplay is nothing short of genius. Brian Cox did the best acting of his career and would have stolen the entire movie were it not for the incredibly brave performance by Paul Dano. Great music, great cinematography and fabulous production on a very low budget. Heartfelt kudos to all involved, especially Ryder, Cox and Dano. Bravo bravissimo! And to hell with Jack Valenti and his bluenosed thugs at the MPAA.