User reviews

I was stunned by the simplicity and power of this fine film. It tells the true and tragic story of Teena Brandon/Brandon Teena, a woman living as a man in a small town in Nebraska. No matter what your personal opinions may be, this film does not preach. It tells the story in a matter-of-fact, honest and gritty way, but leaves you shaking your head in shock that such anger and hatred exists in these modern times, for someone who is "different" merely because of their sexual preference.

Relative newcomer Hilary Swank gives a heartfelt and courageous performance as Brandon. I say courageous not only because of the subject matter, but also because she is able to strip away her youthful, movie star glamour and become the character she plays. She is entirely convincing. Also, she shows a tremendous amount of guts for being able to get through the gut-wrenchingly violent rape scene. This was a brave choice, and a wise one.

Chloe Sevigny plays Lana, the girl Brandon loves. She is the only person who truly understands Brandon. Brandon finds himself in a world of drunken trailer trash and convicted felons. No one is free from guilt, but there is always the unspoken sin of being different. Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny play their tastefully erotic love scenes without seeming self-conscious. So many actors of their generation might be afraid to tackle these types of roles, but they do their jobs with aplomb.

The film was another that haunted me the day after seeing it. Kimberly Peirce manages to make a simple film about a very difficult subject, and she doesn't resort to Hollywood gloss or preachiness. It is a risky film, very difficult to watch in places, with several very violent and disturbing scenes. It is a story that needs to be told, and with the two Oscar-nominated performances from Ms. Swank and Ms. Sevigny, it succeeds.

This is not the story of a woman living as a man, because that would imply that this woman merely dressed up and fooled people. That's not at all what's going on.

This is the story of a male who thought male, felt male, and WAS male, but looked down at the body God gave him, and saw that of a female. It's not homosexuality, or cross-dressing. The name given to it, in the film, is Sexual Identity Crisis, but I don't really think it's a crisis. I don't think there's anything wrong with Brandon Teena, or Teena Brandon, thinking that. It is merely who he is.

And this movie did make me think about it, and that is its success. Powerful at times, repulsive at times, those whose lives this story affected may not approve of the final film, but it can still open the eyes of people toward things in this world that they previously might not have understood... which may help the next Brandon find and keep happiness in his or her life.

Worth seeing, but not for the weak of stomach or easily offended.

Boys Don't Cry was a major success with the critics and the Academy Award's, so I looked forward to seeing it. Easily one of the best films of the past year, Boys Don't Cry is a moving experience that deserved all the credit it got, and then some.

The film takes for its source material the true story of Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank), a girl who, well, just wants to be a boy. A sex-changing (getting her hair cut and sticking a dildo down her pants) credit sequence sees our hero(ine) at first on the pull, duping a local girl into a bit of nookie, and then on the run, when the truth about her sexuality rears its bizarre head. A fugitive of the law, as well as a few irate townsfolk, a twist of fate leads to her befriending a bunch of trailer-trash misfits and, temporarily, enjoying a new-found freedom under her manly guise. Of course, it's all going to go horribly wrong - particularly when she falls in love with the local girlie sweetheart (Chloe Sevigny).

Chloe Sevigny, who plays the girl Brandon falls in love with, deserved to win an Academy Award. Her performance still lives in my memory, and it has been some time since I first saw Boys Don't Cry. Hilary Swank, who did receive an Oscar, pulls off an absolute barnstormer of a performance as Brandon Teena, it is easily one of the boldest and most memorable performances I saw in the 20th century. Kimberley Pierce is also another stand-out, she is in the director's chair, and she hardly got any praise for her amazing effort that she put into this film. I applaud everyone involved in Boys Don't Cry, even the one's who got little credit, particularly Brendan Sexton III (who plays a trouble-making misfit) and Andy Bienen (co-writer).

Groundbreaking performances and a brilliant debut directing effort make this film unmissable.

I rate Boys Don't Cry 9 out of 10.

After finally getting the chance to see this film, I have to say it was worth the wait. Hillary Swank's performance was outstanding, she certainly deserves the golden globe she's already won and the oscar, she's sure to be nominated for. Brandon Teena was real, no questions. The director, Kimberly Pierce deserves much credit for telling the story subtlety, no black and white, he's wrong, she's right. I came away from this movie realizing the courage you have to possess to be different, the dangers from it are real and we must admire those brave enough among us to be.

"Boys Don't Cry" is a recreation of the later years of Brandon Teena, who was raped and murdered along with two others. It seems that Brandon was trans...and hoped to surgically become a man one day. In the meantime, he lived his life as a man and fell in with some truly awful people....the 'friends' who ultimately ended up committing these awful hate crimes.

Considering the case made national headlines and won kudos from critics and the Oscars, the story is a bit surprising. Instead of making Brandon some sort of saint or hero, he is shown as a rather screwed up young person...not that in any way am I blaming the victims for the godawful crimes committed against them. But it clearly is a 'warts and all' portrayal of Brandon.

So is the film any good? Well, yes, it's well constructed and well acted. However, some might not enjoy watching a film where most everyone is easy to dislike. Some others might not want to see it because it is very unpleasant towards the end. After all, the story culminates in a rape and multiple murder! It is certainly NOT for everyone and is tough to watch. Fortunately, the attacks aren't as vividly shown in the movie as they could have been and the director showed some restraint...but it's still godawful to watch.

So is this film right for you? Well, that's something you'll have to decide for yourself.

(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon.)

This movie really made me think about sexual differences and what it means to have a sex change or to want one, or to be trapped in a gender you don't want. It was very effective to have us see Hilary Swank (who plays Brandon Teena/Teena Brandon) with short hair and male facial expressions and gestures without giving us a glimpse of her as Teena. (Actually we did get a brief glimpse in a photo.) Swank looks like a boy, acts like a boy, in fact works hard to be a boy; indeed that is (sadly) part of what this movie is about, what it means to be a boy in middle America as opposed to being a girl. And then when we have the scene with the tampons and the breast wrapping and we see her legs, the effect is startling, an effect possibly lost on those who knew that the person playing Brandon was a woman. It was when I saw her legs and could tell at a glance that she was a woman with a woman's legs that I realized just how subtle, but unmistakable are the anatomical sexual differences, and how convincing Swank's portrayal was.

I was reminded as I watched this of being a young person, of being a teenager and going through all the rituals and rites, unspoken, unplanned, without social sanction, that we all go through to prove our identity, because that is what Brandon was so eager to do, to prove his identity as a boy. I thought, ah such an advantage he has with the girls because he knows what they like and what they want. He can be smooth, and how pretty he looks. It was strange. I actually knew some guys in my youth who had such talent, and the girls did love them.

The direction by Kimberly Peirce is nicely paced and the forebodings of horror to come are sprinkled lightly throughout so that we don't really think about the resolution perhaps until the campfire scene in which John Lotter shows his self-inflicted scars and tosses the knife to Brandon. Then we know for sure, something bad is going to happen.

Hilary Swank is very convincing. Her performance is stunning, and she deserved the Academy Award she won for Best Actress. She is the type of tomboy/girl so beloved of the French cinema, tomboyish, but obvious a girl like, for example, Zouzou as seen in Chloe in the Afternoon (1972) or Élodie Bouchez in the The Dreamlife of Angels (1998), or many others. Indeed, one is even reminded of Juliette Binoche, who of course can play anything, or going way back, Leslie Caron in Gigi (1958). Chloe Signvey, who plays Lana Tisdel, the girl Brandon loves, whom I first saw in Palmetto (1998), where she stole a scene or two from Woody Allen and Elisabeth Shue, really comes off ironically as butch to Swank, yet manages a sexy, blue collar girl next door femininity. She also does a great job. Peter Sarsgaard is perfect as John Lotter, trailer trash car thief and homophobic redneck degenerate.

Very disturbing is the ending. If you know the story, you know the ending. Just how true this was to the real life story it is based on is really irrelevant. I knew nothing about the story, but I know that film makers always take license to tell it the way they think it will play best, and so it's best to just experience the film as the film, independent of the real story, which, like all real stories, can never be totally told.

Obviously this is not for the kiddies and comes as close to an "X" rating as any "R" movie you'll ever see. It will make most viewers uncomfortable, but it is the kind of story that needs to be told.

For a movie to be able to start off a "little" (emphasis on little) slow, and turn into a spectacle of both amazing acting, directing, and an amazing script is not only a rarity, but is almost unheard of. "Boys Don't Cry" is one of the most powerful films that I have ever seen. Ms. Hilary Swank embraced her character with open arms, and turned him into a hero. A incredibly hard task, considering a "few minor 'glitches'". The fact that this movie is based upon a true story only emphasizes the themes it is trying to portray. As a human race, it only makes sense that we should strive to accept our originality and differences, and celebrate them, rather than diminish them, and look upon them as being "bad". This movie is one that gives the audience the "complete package", and not just a pretty actress or soundtrack. As an all encompassing film, "Boys Don't Cry" is brilliant.

"Boys Don't Cry", the debut film of director Kimberly Peirce, is more than anything a movie about who you really are to yourself and to the others. It's a story about courage, strength, love. Not only because of the strong sexuality and violence, but also because of its serious thematics and the way it treats these subjects, "Boys Don't Cry" is the strongest film of '99.

The story, which has been shocking many people, is about a girl named Teena Brandon (Hilary Swank) who dresses like and considers herself a boy, and changes her name for Brandon Teena. After some trouble in his town, Brandon meets a group of people and go with them to Falls City, in Nebraska. There his life will change even more, specially after he meets Lana (Chloe Sevigny), a girl who is tired of her life. Many things will happen, and I'm not able to tell this here, even this being a true story.

What is special in this film is that we forget that it is based on real life. And this is because of the amazing performance by Hilary Swank. I was quite unsure if she deserved to win the Oscar, because she was competing with Annette Bening and Julianne Moore! But she won, and now I can understand why. The film has many qualities, but it wouldn't have been so good without Hilary. It is one of the best female performances of the '90s. But Chloe Sevigny shouldn't be forgotten. She is worth of as much recognition as Ms. Swank, in a very difficult role too.

With a great film editing and a very well written screenplay, "Boys Don't Cry" is a must-see. However, it is not for everyone. Some scenes can shock many people, and people who are not mature enough shouldn't see it.

When the film ends, we get back to reality and realize that it was all true. It's so sad, unfair and absurd how things like that happen because of a dirty feeling. It gives a great discussion about how truly unfair and ugly inside some people are. But the world is not lost...

9/10

I just watched Boys don´t cry, and I am really sad about what I saw here. It is so hard to understand that there are still people out there (in America) who feel threatened if there is a queer, transsexual or just DIFFERENT person.... Hillary Swank´s outstanding,natural performance among the other great ones... the beautiful scenery and great music... the realistic setting of a hick, disillusioned village ... it all comes together to have created a wonderful, touching film that should everybody make thoughtful about why they don´t like some other people or what kind of prejudices they have.... watch that film!!

Having read numerous rave reviews, and several friends commenting on how wonderful this film was, I decided to finally see it for myself. I wish I hadn't. The film plods along (the 2 hour running time is *painfully slow* and could have easily been cut back without damaging the film) and only for the charasmatic leads Chole Sevigny and Hillary Swank,(who does give an astonishingly true and heartbreaking performance as Brandon Teena) I would not have watched the entire thing. 'Boys Don't Cry' bravely attempts to deal with very weighty and serious subject matter, but in the end the whole thing just doesn't seem to sit right. 6 out of 10.

Hilary Swank is brilliant--almost brilliant enough to carry this naieve interpretation of a modern tragedy. Even if you don't know the story, it is predictable, and-- worse-- maudlin as presented here. All the characters except Chloe Sevigny's are cliches, and only Swank rises above the screenplay's weaknesses.

I could barely watch this film, not because it was bad, or I thought it was boring, but because it was so awful what they did to that poor girl.

Sometimes when I watch a film, I say to myself 'That's horrible - but it's just a film' but this was true.

Hilary Swank does a good job as Brandon. She deserved that Oscar.

Lessons can be learned from this film, to treat other people with respect and not run scared becuase people are different. People need to be aware that this stuff really does happen.

I recommend this, but just beware what you're letting yourself in for.

9 out of 10 -Sproosey

When a movie gets the label "based on actual events" or something of that kind, then I'm already extra careful. Most of the time this kind of movies ends up to be some mellow tearjerker / TV-movie which went straight to video because it wasn't good enough to make it to the cinema. Well, if I'm wrong, I don't mind telling you that too and this time I was wrong.

"Boys Don't Cry" was actually a good movie with a disturbing, but also interesting subject. Brendon Teena pretends to be a boy but is actually a girl called Teena Brandon who is waiting for a sex change. But in the meantime he/she hangs out with other guys, drinking beer, bumper surfing and trying to charm the ladies, who are very pleased with Brendon, because he's more considerate and caring than the other boys. At first everything seems to go perfectly, but than his new friends find out his true identity, thanks to a letter from the police. Brandon has committed grand theft auto, but that's not their main concern. Their biggest problem is the fact that she has lied to them and that Brendon isn't a guy, but a girl pretending to be one. They can't cope with that and decide to learn him/her a lesson. What follows is humiliation, rape and eventually even murder...

Of course this kind of movies is very popular when the Oscars are being handed out, and this time it wasn't any different. It won two Oscars, one was for Hilary Swank's performance. I can only agree with that. Not only has she been courageous enough to play a role like that (I'm sure that many conservative Americans will have a lot of difficulties with this role), she also played it very convincingly. The other actors did a good job as well of course, but her performance stood out in my opinion.

All in all this is a very interesting movie that is more than just worth a watch, thanks to the good acting and the subject. I give it a 7.5/10.

When I first saw this film, many years ago, I thought it was both amazing and horrible. I was 10 or 11 and I wasn't ready for this, having lived all of life in a sweet little town in Sweden. I still remember how painful it was to watch is. It certainly reminds you of how horrible the world can be, and how cruel and narrow-minded people are. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.

Everybody should see this film. This is the kind of film where it doesn't really matter if the lighting is perfect or if the art direction is good or if the camera angles are correct, because this film has got such an important message. However, it just so happens that this film also has good lighting and camera work etc. Everything about this film shows the pain and the fear, the loneliness and it really shows how much we are willing to do just to be accepted, and to be loved. I am so happy Hilary Swank got an Oscar for this, because she is Excellent!

We must never stop fighting for what is right, and we have to start accepting people. Making other people feel bad won't make you feel good. Hitting back is not going to stop the pain from the first punch. This films won't leave anyone feeling nothing, it really touches you. It's painful seeing how horrible life is for some people, and just watching this film hurts you. It's really painful. So once again, See this film if you haven't already. People need to see this, people need to feel this.

Difficult as an entertainment, but certainly worthwhile, this true story about a young woman with a gender-identity issue creeps forward to its preconceived conclusion with the unease of a bad stomach ache; there isn't a pleasant moment in it, but it is remarkable from an actors standpoint. Story of doomed Brandon Teena is retold with care and insight (although the climax was restructured for 'dramatic purposes'), and director Kimberly Pierce examines stifling small-town life in vivid and painful ways. It's not easy to sit through, but its impact stays with one for many days afterward. Hilary Swank gives a bravura, Oscar-winning lead performance; supporting cast is her equal. *** from ****

This movie is very very very good. It's a wonderful film. But is NOT the real story of what happened to Brandon Teena.

Director Kimberly Pierce did not care about Brandon's story. All she cared about was making money. So she turned Brandon's story into a Romeo & Juliet story when that was not true. Lana was right. It is a second murder of Brandon.

People need to understand Brandon's life was not a tragic love story. It was a tragic life period. Lana was not his soulmate. She was not his true love. She only knew him for two weeks. And she betrayed him. She set him up to be raped. And she was not there the night he was murdered. Lana is Just as guilty as the murderers.

Again, all Pierce cared about was making the bucks. She should've told the REAL story. The real truth.

This movies kind of fascinating to watch - but maybe not for the reasons the filmmakers intended. It basically about a lady masquerading as boy so she can pick up girls. She gets beat up a lot but continues the fakery - even when she gets involved with a low-income group of young people. The problem is, she's a bit out-of-control and they not a very tolerant group ... and the movie progresses from there.

There's really nothing new here that hasn't been extensively depicted in other similar stories (esp. Afr-Americans/Jews/Hutus/'obese'/handicapped). Intolerance is powerful and depressing ... and I'm left to wonder - what did I get out of this movie? Especially from watching a reckless gay lady mess around in a bad part of town ... Maybe it was to watch the battle of the stupid vs. the stupid.

Unless you've got to see Hilary Swank fully nude or are in the mood for watching oppression, there's not a strong reason to see this movie.

This film makes you answer the question : Why do I love cinema? This true story of Brandon Teena is the best film I have seen in all my life. The oscar for Hilary Swank is the most fair Oscar in 72 years of this prize; her performance is the best performance in cinema history, i am sure. The directing of Kim Peirce is just so heartbroken that you can't do any other thing except cry for this story of love and hate. Everybody has to see it.

On contrary! Movies based on real events often rely too heavily on real-life events and forget the cinematographic part. Boys don't cry has little to show besides the story, that is not oh-so great if you're not provoked by it's "provoking" topic. I think people overrate this movie in fear of being considered ignorant of it's committed topic. All in all: it's not (that) bad movie - acting is ok, but the movie as whole is choking. And it's overrated. I saw another far less pretentious "sexual identity" topic based movie the same week I saw this one and I liked the other one better. Hint: Fucking Amal!

This movie was pretty. Pretty well acted, pretty well written, pretty well directed, and pretty boring. Unfortunately the movie was slower than a baseball game being played by snails.

Maybe I was just depressed by the psychos in the small towns, and disappointed in Brandon's immature behaviour. Whatever the case, it's worth watching once, but the snails will be a more exciting prospect the second time round.