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veronicabryant
Reviews
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
BOYS DON'T CRY had this girl bawling!
This movie was a shocking example of how cruel some people are! John and Tom are low-grade forms of human life that take their anger and frustration out on a particularly weak and defenceless character in the most excruciatingly cowardly fashion when they find out that Brandon is really Teena. Then blame it on him for "bringing it on yourself". It got me thinking, well how would a person with an open mind have reacted? It wouldn't have been an issue at all and Brandon would have been accepted into the fold and he probably would still be alive.
The movie leaves you on your knees begging the question 'WHY DID BRANDON GO TO FALLS CITY?' What a dangerous move! Didn't he think that he might get the same treatment there that he got in Lincoln, NE? It also leaves you thinking "If only she did this, if only she did that, then she would still be alive". Was Brandon brave or merely too naive to see the danger?
I adored Hilary Swank (what an amazing surname!) as Brandon, what justice she has brought to Brandon Teena giving his life great meaning, playing him so well on screen. A true heart-and-soul portrayal. She made me think "who else could have ever played the role?" I only hope that all the people in the world with gender identity crisis' get to see this movie!
I loved "The Brandon Teena Story" for you knew you were seeing (in photos) and hearing the real Brandon but this film really does give you a better idea of what he would have been like in action. You really can't fault the story as this was written by someone who studied and followed Brandon's history for five and a half years- the amazingly talented (first time director but you wouldn't know) Kimberly Peirce! Her idea for this movie was to give Brandon the love and acceptance that he didn't receive in his life and I think she has done that and more.
On a lighter note, I thought it was funny though how much time Brandon spent in front of the mirror fixing his hair just right, I suppose Kimberly Peirce saw a lot of Brandon's real life photo's and noticed in all of them how neat his hair was!
"Boys Don't Cry" is an incredible movie and although it's truly sad and has agonizing scenes in it, it has to be seen so that a wider understanding of difference develops in our culture and occurrences like this are brought to a minimum, or preferably, eradicated and people like Brandon get a shot at life like they deserve.
A Prayer in the Dark (1997)
Lynda Carter gives a terriffic performance.
An interesting and sometimes harrowing story. Lynda Carter appears to outdo herself yet again; this is why she should be in feature films, she is very passionate about her roles. She makes films worthwhile with every performance. Great viewing!