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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
An older artist, shunned by the white-hot media of the contemporary world, begins to glow again when he meets a handsome, not-altogether all-American boy. In 1998, two writer-directors brought extraordinary care to this subject, creating films that appeared on several top 10 lists. Gods and Monsters won an Oscar for Bill Condon's screenplay and a nomination for Ian McKellen's acting. Richard Kwietniowski's Love and Death on Long Island was forgotten during the award season. John Hurt has rarely been better as Giles De'Ath, a renowned British author of dry, laborious text. By sheer accident he sees a Porky's-type comedy at the theater: Hot Pants College II. About to leave, he spies on screen his very idea of beauty: a near-talentless American actor named Ronnie Bostock (Jason Priestley, in another deft, underseen performance). So starts De'Ath's very long trek out of his shell. He is so out of touch that when he purchases a VCR (to see the original Hot Pants College, no less), he doesn't realize he needs a TV set to view the picture. By film's end, he will meet his idol and jump into an abyss. Kwietniowski's debut film has uncommon sensitivity in the realm of fantasy and dream makers. As with Gods and Monsters, its homosexual undercurrent can play comfortably in front of straight viewers looking for crisp writing, fresh perspectives, and great acting. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Slow but Witty
"Love and Death on Long Island"
Slow but Witty
Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
In "Love and Death on Long Island", consummate English actor, John Hurt, plays Giles, a lonely and tired writer who is out of touch with the modern world. Jason Priestly plays the object of his desire. When Giles first meets Ronnie Bostock (Priestly), he finds a new reason for living as he pursues the young man. Seeing shades of "Death in Venice" and "Lolita" is this film is not surprising ... Read More
Rating:  - "Death in Venice" Updated
The perfect change of venue for the "Death in Venice" thematic -- older man falls in love with younger male, only here it's a pedantic Brit writer and the boy is . . . a Hollywood pulp actor in movies like "Hotpants College II" (!) who lives on Long Island. As in Mann's original story, the fixation is Platonic rather than sexual, but the film pulses with pathos, a dark Wagnerian atmosphere perfectly captured by the haunting, sublime music score by Richard Grassby-Lewis, but also the drollest wit in recent ... Read More
Rating: - John Hurt is wonderful, as always
the suprise was "Brandon Beverly Hills 90210", he played his part with genuine naivate' and boarderline gayness. Old queens are very sad and pathatic, but John puts spin of his own on his. He's a widowed Englishman,who by chance see's a movie with Jason in a bit part, and falls deeply in love with him, so he decides to take a trip to Long Island, New York to accidently "run into" him on the beach. His plan works almost perfectly until he declares his passionate love for Jason and spoils the whole charade ... Read More
Rating: - Light, and deep. Profound and easy. difficult mixture to read.
when I was a kid I went to the movies and saw 'Death in Venice'. by the time the old guy is at the beach literally melting while staring at Tadzio, I almost couldn't stop to laugh, such a clumsy scene.
Reading here all the time this is a ¿gay? movie, about and old guy with a crush for a teen star, I think the real point is missing: about the portrayal of the epiphanie bring to life by the contemplation of beauty in any form. And then quite surprisingly, the answer back, in here beauty answers, in such ... Read More
Rating: - five big ones
This is one of the greatest movies ever made. Nearly every scene is perfect. The performances are fantastic, and the movie manages to be both moving and hilarious. It's sort of an updated version of Death in Venice.
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