L.I.E.

L.I.E. was 17 year old Paul Dano's sophomore film. He plays a 15 year old troubled teen who forms an unlikely relationship with the local neighbourhood paedophile, (a magnificent Brian Cox). Michael Cuesta's film is a darkly funny look at an aspect of growing up in 21st century America not often tackled in the cinema. It certainly doesn't pull its punches and it benefits considerably from Cox's performance. He doesn't do anything to make his character sympathetic but he is recognizably human and not always in a bad way; in fact, it's the film's and Cox's triumph to make his character the most likeable person on screen. Dano, too, shows considerable promise here and there's a very nice performance from Billy Kay as a young hustler. The film was a huge hit on the Indie circuit even if it was never going to find a mass audience. Not seen much now, it is worth seeking out.