A true story about hope, fear, and the courage it takes to be yourself, "Boys Don't Cry" is "One of the 10 best films of 1999" (National Board of Review). Critically acclaimed and nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, this four-star, "must-see" (People), "riveting" (Enterainment Weekly) drama features incredible performances by newcomers Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny.
When Brandon Teena, a young man with an infectious, aw-shucks grin and an angelic face that's all angles, wanders into Falls City, Nebraska, he takes to the town like it's a second skin. In little time he's fallen in with a gang of goofy if temperamental redneck boys, found himself a girlfriend, and befriended enough people to form something of a small family. In fact, it's the best time Brandon's ever had. However, there are shadows looming over Brandon's life: a court date for grand theft auto, a checkered criminal record, and a seemingly innocuous speeding ticket that could prove to be his undoing. Why? Because as it turns out, Brandon Teena is actually Teena Brandon, a woman masquerading as a man.
This fascinating story was based on real-life events (as documented in The Brandon Teena Story) that occurred in 1993 and ended in tragedy: Brandon's rape and murder by two of his supposed friends. Despite this horrible outcome, however, in the hands of director Kimberly Peirce (who cowrote the unfettered screenplay with Andy Bienen), Brandon's story becomes not oppressive or preachy, but rather oddly and touchingly transcendent, anchored by Hilary Swank's phenomenal, unsentimental performance. Swank inhabits Brandon's contradictions and passions with a natural vitality most actresses would refuse to give themselves over to. Brandon's deception is doomed from the start, but Swank's enthusiasm is infectious, and when Brandon starts romancing the sloe-eyed Lana (a pitch-perfect Chloë Sevigny), he finds a soul mate who wants to transcend boundaries and fated identities as much as he does. The last part of the film, when Brandon's true identity is discovered, is truly painful to watch, but in between the agony there are touching moments of sweetness between Brandon and Lana, who wrestles with the truth of who Brandon actually is. You'll come away from Boys Don't Cry with affection and respect for Brandon, not pity. --Mark Englehart
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
my private review mach 5:
a strange movie, based on a true story, but ended up just the same check out the movie!
Powerful:
I find it hard to believe that anyone could watch this movie and not be moved by this powerful story. The heartbreaking part of it being that it's based off true events. Brandon was clearly suffering from some identity issues and she had run into some close calls before hooking up with this group of *friends*. Hilary Swank definitely earned her Oscar with this production. Great movie.
5 stars, but...:
I watched this movie quite awhile ago on cable, and literally found it to be one of the saddest movies I've ever watched. It made me want to cry. It shows how cruel and closed minded people can be in this world, and through all this, there is definitely not a happy ending. I would say that this is a good movie, but I wouldn't like to watch it again.
Female actors.:
Hillary Swank is such a fine actress. I would go to see anything she was in. This, along with "Million Dollar Baby" are her finest performances. She has made many other movies, all worth seeing. This movie is so penetrating. A gut wrenching ending. What more can I say?
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