Review of Boys Don't Cry (1999) by Kylie P — 24 Apr 2009

This film is actually very well put together, thanks to the direction of Kimberly Peirce, in her debut outing. She clearly thoroughly researched her subject and put together the building blocks of this film in an engaging way. Between creative uses of lighting and camera and a well-chosen soundtrack, she heightened the emotional intensity of an already emotionally intense subject and made it hard to look away even as it was hard to watch. As an independent picture, there weren't many flashy technical elements, but Peirce strategically and artistically painted Brandon's chaotic life with washes of light and dark that upped the emotional ante of the picture.

Of course, the true trademark of this film is the no less than gutsy and riveting performance of Swank. She took on a difficult character - difficult not only because Brandon was a transman but also because the emotional context was so powerfully confused and gut-skewering by the time Brandon's physical gender is discovered - and she did it in such a way that disbelief was completely suspended. This must also have been a tough role for Sevigny, playing a woman confused but ultimately accepting of her relationship with someone having a sexual identity crisis, who is left behind when John and Tom commit their heinous actions. She also played Lana extremely convincingly. It's Swank's and Sevigny's performances that define the film and make it as good as it is.

Aside from these two actresses, however, the film isn't perfect. The performances from the rest of the ensemble, most of which are relatively unknown B-actors, are not quite as skillfully rendered, with the exception of Saarsgard, who put a fresh spin of evil on the consequences of old prejudices. Also, apparently some license was taken with the story, which is to be expected in a transition to film but can also serve to undermine the point of making the film to begin with. Apparently, the real Lana sued the filmmakers because of how her character was portrayed in addition to inaccurately showing some of the details and chronology of events, and since she's a sympathetic character (even if she is shown to be young and spun out on drugs), there is a problem with taking license in what is a biopic meant to highlight certain themes, such as bigotry against transgendered individuals. It's still a powerful and emotional movie, though, that can inspire true anger and sadness at the state of the world today (or even just ten years ago).