L.I.E.

The story of a morally- and sexually-conflicted 15-year-old delinquent (Paul Franklin Dano) left in adolescent limbo by his mother's death and his father's disinterest, L.I.E. is an engrossing, dark portrait of troubled suburban youth, featuring a dynamic, potent performance by Brian Cox, playing a sixtysomething man who takes the boy under his wing with a mixture of lechery and mentorship. While the acting is great and Michael Cuesta's deft and deceptively simple direction effectively creates an enveloping atmosphere of suburban distress, L.I.E. feels somewhat aimless and fails to engage on an emotional level. Still, given its considerable merits, this is a strong optional purchase. (R. Blackwelder)