Love and Death on Long Island

PG-13

1997

1 hr. 33 min.

Comedy

List

87%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

andrey k

Elegant and a bit quirky this movie is a tremendous showcase of John Hurt's enormous talent. Features charming soundtrack and thought-provoking story. Often funny, especially in the scenes which emphasize the differences between the British and Americans.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Apr 24, 2002

Full Review

George Perry

BBC.com

Rated: 3/5

Apr 17, 2001

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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