April 28, 1998

Love and Death in Long Island didn't really hit me until two specific scenes occurred, both near the end of the film. Until then, it seemed a little tedious, the plot a bit too melodramatic, for my tastes.

But these two scenes put everything into perspective, and, in retrospect, turned Love and Death on Long Island into something quite remarkable: an interesting little love triangle about facades, truths, and emotional sensibilities.

The first of these two scenes takes place at a local baseball field in a car. Giles De'Ath and Audrey - two of the film's three main characters - chit chat about the third main character, actor Ronnie Bostock, who is playing in a game on the field. They talk about baseball, about what they have planned for each other's immediate future. Just idle bullshit. Then Audrey says to Giles, "God, you're good," and in that moment, you realize that she's obviously smarter than she let on, and the movie opens up into something different. In that moment, the movie became something special for me.

The other scene takes place shortly after that moment when Giles opens his heart to Ronnie. In this scene, unlike the previous one, you learn that Ronnie is not as smart as he looks, that he still has a lot to learn - about people, about himself, about life in general - and that through his actions in this scene, he will probably not allow himself the chance to do so. It's a sad scene, I think, but it's important. People are people, and it's hard to change them once their minds are set, no matter what the circumstances.

The movie's main character is Giles De'Ath (played nicely by John Hurt - and it's great to see him in films other than King Ralph), a prominent British writer, who, after the death of his wife, finds himself both out of touch with modern society and seeking something new.

That inspiration comes during an accidental viewing of the movie, 'Hotpants College II'. During that movie, he first sees Ronnie Bostock, an American teen-heartthrob, (90210's Jason Priestly, in a wonderful, vapid performance that both parodies his TV persona and a makes its own impression). Immediately Giles feels his inspiration stir, and soon he becomes obsessed with Ronnie. He rents all of his movies and watches them over and over. He purchases teen magazines and clips out pictures of Ronnie. And then finally he heads to Long Island to meet Ronnie.

In his first few days in Long Island, Giles meets Audrey (Fiona Loewi, in an intelligent, career-making role), Ronnie's fiance, and by convincing her that he sees genuine talent in Ronnie, he soon gains access to Ronnie's house. The three, over the course of a week, form a complex triangle of relationship wants and needs. Audrey is older than Ronnie and sees him as her best chance for a good husband. Giles sees Ronnie not so much as a lover but as a soulmate. Both Audrey and Giles see each other as threats. And Ronnie just sees himself.

All of this is done with terrific understatement, the tension between Giles and Audrey especially. You watch these two people, and immediately, you think: how much politeness can they endure before letting their true feelings blurt out?

Much of success of this movie lies in its acting. All the performances are terrific and very multi-ranged. Each character is witty, intelligent, sincere.

But the real strength here comes from writer/director Richard Kwietniowski, who, if anything, constructs a masterful, consistent wry tone throughout the entire movie. The movie has its laughs, its serious moments, but it's never overcome by them. Things happen, and then the audience is left to think about them (which has always been something I've admired in movies - the idea that your audience is intelligent to think on its own). The answers aren't spelled out for you, and sometimes, neither are the questions. The result is a fine, fine film that rewards close attention.

Eyal Goldshmid I am a fiction writer supporting myself as a government clerk for the US army. Until I can fully live off writing, I plan to milk all the luxury I can from the American taxpayer. Other Articles I've Written