blanche-2 "Lesser Evil" is a 1998 film starring Colm Feore, David Paymer, Tony Goldwyn and Arliss Howard. It's very well directed by David Mackay, and the script by Jeremy Levine and Steven Schultze is excellent. The film starts at a funeral presided over by a priest (Howard) who then tells the story in flashback. As teenagers, four buddies - Ivan (the priest, played as a young man by Marc Worden), George (Alan Scott/Paymer), Derek (Jonathan Scarfe/Feore) and Frank (Steven Petrarca/Goldwyn) are being crazed, drunken, out of control lunatics in the woods when George (Adam Scott/Paymer grown up) shoots into a car, gravely injuring the driver. The driver has a shotgun on his lap. He also has something else, which is revealed later in the film. The kids become completely hysterical and, as the man isn't dead but seems close to it, they attempt to rush him to a hospital. Then they change their minds and take him back to the woods, where he dies hours later, helped along by one of them when they see police lights.Twenty years later, the gun that killed the man has surfaced, and the police question its owner, Derek (Feore), who has called them all together. George has become an attorney, Frank a police officer, Ivan a priest, and Derek's business is failing. He has made a mess of talking to the police and is a wreck. Ivan thinks they should go to the police and tell them what happened all those years ago, though they had all made a pact to protect George and keep quiet. Then they realize that George has been getting everything on tape and that Frank has been keeping a big secret from them all these years.Fascinating story of the ramifications of guilt even after "getting away" with something and how guilt molded the lives and personalities of each man and changed their relationships with one another. In that way, it's a tiny bit like "Mystic River." With Colm Feore in it, the acting can be nothing less than spectacular. He is one of my favorite actors, having seen in perform at Stratford in Canada several times. The leads are all excellent, and the young men who play them as teens are superb.There's a twist at the end. You won't want to miss this superlative drama that could only come from an independent filmmaker, as Hollywood is too busy with cartoon characters and blowing up things.

NickRisch Why did they have to ruin the plot at the beginning, when the priest (Arliss Howard) mentions that they had to kill one of them? If they had left that part out, the story would have far more suspenseful, especially the last scene in the cabin. Remember in the movie "Seven" (Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman)? Now that ending blew me away; not a hint about how that was playing out. Otherwise this movie is a must-see. The writing was brilliant, except for the spoiler part.

George Parker "The Lesser Evil" tells of four grown men who have been keeping a secret since they were close friends in high school some 20 years in the past. Something has happened to bring them together again. The drama unfolds with the telling of two stories, past and present, with two casts of actors. The film whets interest, gathers momentum, and builds anticipation leading to a denouement which delivers a kick and nicely ties up the loose ends. A well crafted film with only a few subtle flaws required to make the story work, "TLE" is an engrossing, fast moving watch.

rooster-9 I found this film to be one of substance that is sure to endure. The plot comes complete with solid characterization and twists that must be kept a secret. As a film savvy viewer, I feel that this film makes use of smart direction and very good action, especially from the relatively unknown young actors. It was engaging and certainly a worthy