Love and Death on Long Island

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Love and Death on Long Island

PG-13

1997

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

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38 Reviews

58%

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1,000+ Ratings

Curmudgeonly author Giles De'Ath (John Hurt), a widower with a marked distaste for modern popular culture, attempts to buy a ticket for a film adaptation of an E.M. Forster novel, but instead finds himself watching a tacky teen sex comedy. Yet when the beautiful Ronnie Bostock (Jason Priestley) appears on the movie screen, Giles finds himself caught in a whirlwind of unanswered questions about both his own sexuality and his place in late 20th-century society.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

These opening scenes of Love and Death on Long Island are funny and touching, and Hurt brings a dignity to Giles De'Ath that transcends any snickering amusement at his infatuation.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Hurt gives such a stirring performance that it’s hard to imagine him in any other role.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 5, 2023

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Hurt is a droll delight as the Oxbridge man of letters naïvely discovering America. And Priestley, playing a naïf of a different sort, is deliciously typecast as a deadpan hunk.

Oct 30, 2019

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Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

Unfortunately, Hurt is so good that almost everyone around him pales in comparison. Priestley just doesn't have the acting chops to play in the same scenes with him.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 27, 2012

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 12, 2005

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Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

Rated: 4/5

Sep 16, 2004

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steve m

I don't get the high scores from Ebert and Metacritic, this was an average movie, starting with a wacky premise and just kept going.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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isla s

This is really quite a surreal watch - its a satirical film of sorts, a quite thought provoking one with good performances from John Hurt and Jason Priestly as the 2 main characters (Charles De'ath and Ronnie Bostock). Its got quite an arty feel to it. I felt the ending was a little sudden but it was certaining a memorably quirky watch which overall I'd recommend, not least as it deals with the important issues of fame and obsession.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

I loved the references to literature and art from the past, combined with lowbrow movies. Wonderful that they didn't make Ronnie and Audrey into simpletons.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

cant believe john hurt wasn't nominated for his turn here

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

"Love and Death on Long Island" se siente como una cinta hecha para la televisión en sus modestas intenciones pero sin duda es elevada por John Hurt, quien como el escritor Giles De'Ath da una estupenda actuación. Giles es un hombre totalmente aislado de todo avance tecnológico y por accidente se encuentra en medio de una función para una comedia vulgar titulada "Hotpants College 2". En ella actúa un joven que se convierte en su objeto de afecto. "Love and Death on Long Island" crea un fascinante personaje pero no crea una historia particularmente fuerte. Hurt hace que valga la pena.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

lifetime movies rock!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Richard Kwietniowski

Director

John Hurt

Giles De'Ath

Jason Priestley

Ronnie Bostock

Fiona Loewi

Audrey

Sheila Hancock

Mrs. Barker

Maury Chaykin

Irving 'Irv' Buckmuller

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Synopsis

Curmudgeonly author Giles De'Ath (John Hurt), a widower with a marked distaste for modern popular culture, attempts to buy a ticket for a film adaptation of an E.M. Forster novel, but instead finds himself watching a tacky teen sex comedy. Yet when the beautiful Ronnie Bostock (Jason Priestley) appears on the movie screen, Giles finds himself caught in a whirlwind of unanswered questions about both his own sexuality and his place in late 20th-century society.

Director: Richard Kwietniowski
Producer: Steve Clark-Hall, Christopher Zimmer
Screenwriter: Gilbert Adair, Richard Kwietniowski
Production Co: Mikado Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.6M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround

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