Boys Dont Cry: Video: Amazon.ca: Video

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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

Description

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.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

In no way enjoyable, but entirely engaging... Mar 1 2004

By JR Peterman

Format:DVD

For years I hesitated every time I passed this movie in the video store. Was I ready to be emotionally assaulted? Convicted? Humbled? But finally, I was... and indeed, I was, yes, assaulted, convicted, and humbled.

*Assaulted* by feelings of injustice, feelings of rage toward ignorance and cruelty suffered by the story's heroes.

*Convicted* by the fact that my lack of education on issues from which I personally don't suffer (in this case, gender identity crises) could make me appear indifferent to intolerance.

*Humbled* by the realization that, though I seek to broaden my views, there is always more compassion to be instilled and lessons to be found in examples I never considered could relate to me.

A person doesn't have to relate with gender identity issues to be affected by the weight of a film that so successfully entreats its viewers to recognize the injustice of prejudice. Though it may seem fairly simple - a true story in which a girl is victimized once by her own psyche and again by the fear of her lover's kin - "Boys Don't Cry" is an understated masterpiece. Through raw and real script-writing and acting, it ultimately serves to demonstrate the damage done by a community fueled by fear, pride, ignorance and hatred rather than by understanding, compassion, education, and at the very least, tolerance.

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Keep a box of tissues close to you Nov 21 2010

By DreamScape

Format:DVD

This movie was well done, Hilary Swank did a great job in portraying Teena. This is a very sad movie but people need to see these types of movies to know how people are treated simply just for being different and it won't be tolerated.

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Unforgettable story April 2 2007

By Kona TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

This is the true story of Teena Brandon (Hillary Swank), a lonely teenage girl living as a man, "Brandon Teena." She's been in trouble with the law and has no roots. When she comes to a new town, she is befriended by a "family" of perpetually drunk low-lifes, and is attracted to Lana (Chloe Sevigny), who dreams of going to Memphis and being a karaoke singer. She and Brandon fall in love, angering two men who begin to suspect Brandon's true identity.

Swank's performance as Brandon/Teena is simply remarkable. She conveys the heartbreak and misery of an outsider, a misfit, and the need for love that is universal; she won the Oscar in 1999 for this role. Sevigny is convincing as the girl who falls in love with both Brandon and Teena. Despite its low-budget (Swank earned only $3,000), this is an extremely well-made, thought-provoking, and deeply moving for adults. (There are sexual and extremely violent scenes.) A riveting, shocking, and very sad story with sensitive acting and direction.

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