L.I.E.
User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 33
  3. Negative: 8 out of 33

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  1. AmandaD.
    Jun 8, 2002
    10
    The movie was beautifully written and the performances the actors gave were incredibly superb!
  2. GilbertMulroneycakes:BehindTheMusic
    Dec 2, 2002
    9
    Too repulsive to sit through....iiiis the point. Well done. It does require you to open your mind a little, though; to try and see Big John in the context of a human being. It's hard to watch. But it's worth it.
  3. MichaelF.
    May 31, 2002
    10
    Wow. This was one hell of a movie. So incredibly touching and moving. And it hit the nail right on the head for coming-of-age films. Brian Cox was great, but Paul Franklin Dano out did him. That did was great. The direction was unbelievable. The visuals were great. Even better screenplay. I rented the R-rated version because I was a bit nervous about the subject matter, and it wasn't anything worth freaking out about, yeah it was a bit disurbing at times. The only scene that was removed from the R-rated cut was the dad and girlfriend sex scene. This movie was ....over by the MPAA. It's one great movie, even teens can and should watch this move. One of 2001's 6 best films. … Expand
  4. RichardC.
    Jun 29, 2002
    9
    Slices through all of man's and life's emotions.
  5. CharilieF.
    Jun 8, 2002
    10
    Jeff V and Khanh N are just fucking stupid. There is nothing in this film that is worth freaking out about, content-wise. It's unbelievable. Powerful and great.
  6. RogerE.
    Jun 8, 2002
    10
    This is a flat-out great film. Khanh N and Jeff V are f.... insane and should NEVER be allowed to review anything, whether it's a film, a book, or a bar of soap. This is a great film. Why this film got an NC-17 rating is crazy, any film w/ a pedophile gets an NC-17 rating for some bizarre reason. Great acting and it's emotionally powerful. Go out and rent this movie, there's no guy on guy or old guy on young guy action so don't be nervous.… Expand
  7. BenW.
    Nov 29, 2003
    10
    There is NO WAY this movie deserved an NC-17 rating (or even an R rating for that matter), just because a movie is about gay teenagers the MPAA doesn't want people to see it. But anywho, this movie was brilliant. Paul Franklin Dano doles out one of the best debut performances in memory like nothing and Brian Cox probably deserved an Oscar nomination. However, I'm sure part of the reason I absolutely loved this movie so much was because I could identify with Dano's character in many, many ways. But still, even if you can't or don't identify with a character in the movie, SEE IT ANYWAY! I loved it, you will too, f... what the critics say. A+… Expand
  8. iaif
    Sep 18, 2011
    10
    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.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    80
    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.
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  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    50
    Paints a sincere and serious portrait of the seductiveness of evil and the self-destructive nature of depravity.
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  3. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marrit Ingman
    67
    A paradox, balancing the contradictions and ambiguities of its characters and setting with a careful hand that rarely falters, even though the film seems dramatically thin at times.
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