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Reviews
L.I.E. (2001)
Good but disturbing look at pedophiles and predatory relationships
This movie was very well done but also quite disturbing. I don't know who wrote that this is a look "typical suburban life" but nothing could be further from the truth. This is the story of an alienated young boy who becomes the prey of the local pedophile. It realistically portrays both characters well, including the self-hate inherent in the pedophile's role as well as some of the emotional needs he fills for the alienated mother-less and essentially father-less boy. It is obviously disturbing by its very nature (unless watching a 15 year old boy getting blackmailed into having sex with a 60 year old man isn't disturbing to you) but very well done. The child actors are superb as is the actor playing the pedophile Big John. Its a thought-provoking but jarring look at an under-represented subject.
Angels in America (2003)
mediocre at best
Granted I've only seen the first part thus far, but this film was an incredibly self-indulgent tome on nothing in particular. There were some touching emotional scenes which I appreciate, and the psychosis fantasies were amusing, but the movie seems to fail to have a point. The ironies are not terribly ironic, nothing is illuminated in detail and the whole affair is slapped toegther in a haphazard way with an overindulence in fantastical elements seemingly to distract the audience from the mediocrity of the whole piece.
The acting was great as was the psychological depth of the characters. However, on the whole, the piece fails to accomplish anything and I, for one, was disappointed given the amazing reviews I have read and heard about it. There are so many better films out there, so many better plays - works that greatly illuminate some part of the human condition. I fear that in the author's self-indulgent and self-important ambition, he spread his energy too broadly and resulting in a large but mediocre work, which casts little insight on a lot of topics.