A powerful provocative and unforgettable study of sex politics and terrorism. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 08/30/2005 Starring: Forest Whitaker Stephen Rea Run time: 112 minutes Rating: RThe Crying Game offers a rare and precious movie experience. The film is an unclassifiable original that surprises, intrigues, confounds, and delights you with its freshness, humor, and honesty from beginning to end. It starts as a psychological thriller, as IRA foot soldier Fergus (the incomparable Stephen Rea) kidnaps a British soldier (Forest Whitaker) and waits for the news that will determine whether he executes his victim or sets him free. As the night wears on, a peculiar bond begins to form between the two men. Later, the movie shifts tone and morphs into something of a romantic comedy as Fergus unexpectedly becomes involved with the soldier’s girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson) and discovers more about himself, and human nature in general, than he ever dreamed possible. Like Spielberg’s E.T., The Crying Game was supposed to be director Neil Jordan’s “little, personal movie,” the one he just had to make, even though no studio was willing to give him money because the story was so unusual. Instead, it became a surprise popular sensation, thanks in part to Miramax’s cleverly provocative campaign playing up the hush-hush nature of the movie’s big secret. The performances (including Miranda Richardson as one of Fergus’s IRA colleagues) are subtly shaded, and the writing and direction are tantalizingly rich and suggestive; you’re always trying to figure out the characters’ true motives and feelings–even when they themselves are fully aware of their own motives and feelings. The Crying Game is a wise, witty, wondrous treasure of a movie. Director Jordan’s credits include Mona Lisa, Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins, and The Butcher Boy. –Jim Emerson
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March 19, 2008
#1
I’ve got a spoiler so if you don’t want to look at a spoiler look away right now O.K. here’s the spoiler: this movie sucks big time.
March 19, 2008
#2
This is an unusual review because I cannot say that I have seen this movie. Well, not in its entirety. It is an incredible movie so tightly acted, moving, and compelling that you are completely drawn into it. But if you are like me, what in this “politically correct” millineum is accused of being a homophobe, appx. two-thirds the way into this movie you will careen out of your home theatre with nausea hoping Pepto will save you. That is all I can tell you except at least you were warned unlike I was.
P.S. My friends still laugh at my reaction!
P.S.S. No, I don’t care how great this movie is I’m never going to return to finish it. Even the trailer could send me to the porcelain god!
March 19, 2008
#3
Call me homophobic if you will, but I was entirely grossed out by “the big surprise” of this film. Oh, it started out OK, but I seriously can’t recommend this one to anybody, unless you find yourself attracted to transvestites — in which case this flick is for you!!!
March 19, 2008
#4
As a gay man I expected to see “love conquers all” and Fergus falling in true love with Dill and her with him and it lasting no matter what. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. All you hear about that is hype.
The story is about a very emotionally needy Dil who’ll go with anyone who’s “nice” to her (from her very own mouth), no love needed. And that’s exactly what she does. What worse, Fergus had some sexual attraction at first and did have some caring but completely lost his sexual attraction once the obvious “secret” of the film was so unclimatically revealed and but he never fell in love with Dil before or after but simply because he tried to keep a promise to the man he inadvertantly killed and cared Dil uses him the entire film and creates a false romantic relationship even tho it is not his desire or wish even at the final closing cinema. He is a friend and guardian nothing more, but Dil doesn’t even respect that and calls him “love” etc when he doesn’t want it. What kind of love disrespects one’s partner and uses him? None that I know of!
So the true story is of Dil mentally raping and using Fergus who lets Dil do so out of his feelings of guilt for killing Dil’s lover and out of a misguided feelings of friendship.
March 19, 2008
#5
After reading about how wonderful this movie was, I decided to rent it from a video store. To my surprise, the movie was completely opposite of what I expected. The beginning was boring and slow. The characters were great, but the story just wasn’t. The relationship between Dil and “Jimmy” is so confusing, I don’t understand how they could possibly *love* one another. Also, how could “Jimmy” not notice that Dil was not a man? The facial features were so obvious. I wouldn’t waste your time on this movie. Just listen to Boy George’s ballad “The Crying Game”. It sums up what the movie is in about 3 minutes.