L.I.E. (film)

Movie Facts

Year Released:	2001
MPAA Rating (USA):	NC-17
Director:	Michael Cuesta
Starring:	Paul Franklin Dano Billy Kay Brian Cox

L.I.E. is a 2001 independent film about Howie played by Paul Franklin Dano, a 15-year-old boy and his friendship with a street hustler named Gary played by Billy Kay .The title is an acronym for the Long Island Expressway. The film was written by renouned author and poet Stephen Ryder and directed by Michael Cuesta. Also featuring Brian Cox as Big John.

Plot

Howie (Paul Franklin Dano) is a 15-year-old who has been drifting ever since the death of his mother in an auto accident several years before. Howie's father Marty (Bruce Altman) is also having trouble dealing with the loss, and has becone distant and self-involved. Howie's group of friends are lead by the streetwise Gary (Billy Kay). They pass their time engaging in high risk behavior such as breaking and entering. Howie is drawn to Gary and wonders if his feelings for him go beyond simple friendship. Gary persuades Howie to join him in robbing the home of Big John (Brian Cox) but they are caught in the act and narrowly escape , taking away with them several guns from Big John's prized collection. It doesn't take long for Big John to track down Howie and Gary. Howie learns that Big John and Gary have a secret. They have met before. Gary has a life he has hidden from Howie as a male prostitute, and Big John is a regular customer.

Big John tracks down Gary and confronts him about the break in. Gary reluctantly admits that he was there, but insists that Howie has his guns. The hunt is on. Big John approaches Howie at a restaurant, pretending that he knew his mother. Big John and Howie begain to develop a relationship. Big John offers Howie a ride home and then reveals that he is aware of his involvement in the theft of his guns and demands their return. Howie is able to retrieve one of the guns from Gary's bedroom and returns it to Big John. John insists that his other gun be returned to him or that he be paid for its loss. Howie offers to work off his debt to Big John. John asks Howie, "What does he have that is worth a thousand dollars?" and makes it clear that he is interested in a sexual relationship. Howie is both repulsed and intrigued.

As the relationship between Howie and Big John develops,