Love and Death on Long Island (1998)

“Giles De’Ath” (John Hurt) is a rather reclusive writer who has largely shunned publicity until he goes to the cinema and inadvertently finds himself watching a piece of throwaway teen nonsense starring heartthrob “Ronnie” (Jason Priestly). For reasons that he can’t immediately explain this recently widowed gent finds himself enthralled by this young man and has soon bought himself a VCR (without knowing he needed a television too), then signed up at his local Blockbuster to rent just about every bit of pulp this lad has graced. Now entirely entranced, he travels to Long Island, takes a room in a motel and plans to ingratiate himself with his girlfriend “Audrey” (Fiona Loewi). His arrival proves well timed as the young superstar is having some doubts about what to do next. Seeing his chance, “De’Ath” begins to use his Britishness to espouse the virtues of Shakespeare and his abilities to entertain those in the bear pit to convince “Ronnie” that he, too, could become a Thespian. “Ronnie” begins to lap this all up but, gradually, “Audrey” begins to tire of his increasing interloping into their lives and with the author now somewhat besotted, what possible outcome can emerge? Hurt is in his element here sporting his stiff upper lip, his perfectly tailored tweeds and captivating his naive young quarry with his perfect command of the English language. Priestly? Well he’s more of a model with lines than an actor. Thoughtfully strolling along the beach in his pristine white linen, playing with his dog, beautiful home and girlfriend - he epitomises the beauty that made so many a star without really the talent to support any sort of longevity once the fickle audience had moved onto the next poster person. Some of the dialogue from Hurt is considered and quite poignant as he deals not only with his own fairly steep emotional (and technological) learning curve but with an infatuation that takes a firm grip on his heart and his soul. I didn’t love the conclusion. Perhaps because it was never going to satisfy, but along the way John Hurt provides us with a characterful performance.