Emmy® winner Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) won the Best Actress (Drama) Golden Globe® Award for her “fiercely funny and deeply powerful” performance (Pete Hammond, Maxim) that is “thrilling to watch.” (A.O. Scott, The New York Times) Huffman plays Bree Osbourne, a conservative transsexual woman, who learns she is the parent of a long-lost 17-year-old son (Kevin Zegers). The wheels of fortune take Bree and son on a cross-country adventure, including a memorable visit with Bree’s parents, that will change both of their lives. A funny, touching, completely original look at the modern American family, “TRANSAMERICA will leave you in a state of movie euphoria. It’s hilarious and deeply affecting.” (Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal. “Felicity Huffman is incredible. One of the year’s most unforgettable performances.” -Stephen Mooallem, InterviewFelicity Huffman deserves every award she’s received for her outstanding performance in Transamerica, a small but rich movie about Bree–formerly Stanley–a pre-operative male-to-female transexual awaiting gender-reassignment surgery who learns she has a wayward teenage son named Toby. When her therapist (Elizabeth Peña, Jacob’s Ladder) strongarms Bree into facing her past, she bails Toby (Kevin Zegers, Dawn of the Dead) out of jail and they end up on a road trip across the country. Such a premise could feel forced, but the script and performances make it persuasive and natural. Bree wrestles with discomfort and compassion as she learns about Toby’s own troubles, even while her own grow worse when she’s forced to ask for help from her hostile parents (the superb Fionnula Flanagan, The Others, and Burt Young, Rocky). Transamerica doesn’t push for any great catharsis, but instead slowly peels away the layers of Bree’s defenses, laying bare her basic struggle for respect and a chance at happiness. In many ways it’s a showy role, but Huffman (Desperate Housewives) keeps her acting simple, direct, and thoroughly compelling. –Bret Fetzer
Buy “Transamerica “ For Only $2.41
March 18, 2008
#1
If you think TS’s are funny or idiotic, then rejoice, your flick is here. If you are TS (or TG), then skip. I only made it as far as the line, “Look at my new va—-!” then, delete.
March 18, 2008
#2
On NPR today, Felicity Huffman’s voice coach, Andrea James, was interviewed. She is the number one trainer of the stars to sound like men pretending to be women. I must say that she has that talent herself. The segment did not mention the obscene pictures of Michael Bailey’s children that Andrea James had on her wesite during 2003. I wonder what Felicity Huffman would say about that. Perhaps Andrea James told her about them?
March 18, 2008
#3
The myth of the Easter Bunny is 100 times more realistic than the plot twists in this movie.
March 18, 2008
#4
A very, very, very quiet movie. Born a man, he want’s to be a woman. Familiar material. He’s in his/her late 40′s, I’m guessing. Well, his parent’s or I should say his overly toasted mother is all upset about his decision, but it looks to me that it wouldn’t take much to up upset his/her mother. Oh, yeah, his sister is an recovering druggie/alkie/tramp. Parents look like they have money. Oh, he also just met his son he didn’t know he had, and brings him along to his/her parents house for the fun. I have the deepest sympathy for these people they travel to hell and back emotionally. Enough already.
March 18, 2008
#5
Inappropriate use of Ms. Huffman’s television persona in the cover art to market this film. Was this really necessary? I enjoyed the film (but not immensely), and now I would never consider buying it.