Review of The Crying Game (1992) by Daniel K — 03 Nov 2007

The challenge facing any reviewer of "The Crying Game" is to review it without revealing too much information about the film's ever-changing story. The best way to see this film is with as little information as possible going in. With that in mind, the film's story begins with an I.R.A. kidnapping of a British soldier and eventually focuses on one of the I.R.A. volunteer's journey to London to follow-up on a lead given to him.

Stephen Rea gives a skilled performance as Fergus, the I.R.A. volunteer of principal interest. He manages to elicit sympathy and effectively convey the awkwardness of his position at all times. Forest Whitaker is likewise excellent as Jody, the British soldier who manages to remain touchingly high-spirited while suffering captivity. Miranda Richardson is memorable as the sassy and dangerous Jude. Jaye Davidson handles the demanding role of Dil very well.

This film has a great story which is full of new developments and surprises that keep it interesting. There is one major plot twist in the story in particular which has become famous. Unfortunately I was able to deduce this twist based on information read prior to seeing the film, but it still proved very interesting and ultimately I wasn't hindered from enjoying the film. There are a number of discomforting moments in the story and an impressive amount of tension, which is built with the aid of the film's excellent score. "The Crying Game" remains engaging from start to finish due to superb performances and a well-developed story.