"Boys Don't Cry" is one of the few independent films of 1999 that earned enough respect to be well-praised come Oscar time. Not that the Oscars mean that much to me, but the publicity generated there for a little known film like this will certainly help many more people see it than otherwise would have. This is a true story set in 1993 of a girl named Teena Brandon who liked girls but did not consider herself a lesbian, and so she convincing disguised herself and found love as a boy. Hilary Swank ("The Next Karate Kid") stars as Teena Brandon (and Brandon Teena) in her first "major" role, an extremely difficult and complex one for which she will be remembered for a very long time.
Teena Brandon is so fed up of living a difficult life in Lincoln, Nebraska and being dubbed a lesbian (which she truly believes she is not) that one day she gets a boy's haircut, straps her breasts, stuffs her jeans, and goes into a bar to try her luck as a boy. She quickly decides that she must head out on the road and get away from the people who know her to have a shot with her new identity of Brandon Teena. Brandon meets some locals of Falls City, Nebraska in a bar and quickly gets into a fight over the first girl "he" meets. He immediately begins to run with a group that he meets at this bar and even moves in with them. The one girl Brandon is smitten by is Lana (Chloe Sevingy - "Kids," "Last Days of Disco") who takes a lot of convincing to finally show an interest in Brandon. Once Brandon and Lana get together, we are exposed to a terribly unusual love story that plays out until its inevitable tragic conclusion.
"Boys Don't Cry" is based on the remarkable true story of Teena Brandon. While watching the film, you must keep in the back of your mind that the story is true. It is a story that needed to be told, and it is very commending that it was portrayed so vividly by such a strong group of performers. This is the type of story that could easily have been made into a forgettable network tv movie of the week, but instead it is honorable to the memory of Teena.
The performances by the little known cast are all around very impressive. Hilary Swank won the Oscar for Best Actress, and deservedly so, for her lead role in the film. She studied for months for the role, even living as a boy in real life as Teena Brandon did. Chloe Sevingly did not win, but was very deservingly nominated for her supporting role of Lana, Brandon's love interest. Brendon Sexton III ("Welcome to the Dollhouse"), Peter Sarsgaard, Alison Foland, and Jeanetta Arnette highlight the remaining supporting cast who all give strong performances in their respective roles.
I'd give "Boys Don't Cry" 4.5/5 stars, only taking away points because it did have a few lolls during which my interest waned during its 2 hour run time. Nonetheless, it is independent film-making at its best, and certainly one of the best films of the year.
Rated R for language, violence, sexuality, nudity, rape
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