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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Salesrank: 12455
Released: October 13, 2009 |
| Our Price: $7.79 |
| Used Price: $3.75 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A true story about hope, fear, and the courage it takes to be yourself, "Boys Don't Cry" is "One of the 10 best films of 1999" (National Board of Review). Critically acclaimed and nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, this four-star, "must-see" (People), "riveting" (Enterainment Weekly) drama features incredible performances by newcomers Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny.
Description of Boys Don't Cry:
When Brandon Teena, a young man with an infectious, aw-shucks grin and an angelic face that's all angles, wanders into Falls City, Nebraska, he takes to the town like it's a second skin. In little time he's fallen in with a gang of goofy if temperamental redneck boys, found himself a girlfriend, and befriended enough people to form something of a small family. In fact, it's the best time Brandon's ever had. However, there are shadows looming over Brandon's life: a court date for grand theft auto, a checkered criminal record, and a seemingly innocuous speeding ticket that could prove to be his undoing. Why? Because as it turns out, Brandon Teena is actually Teena Brandon, a woman masquerading as a man.
This fascinating story was based on real-life events (as documented in The Brandon Teena Story) that occurred in 1993 and ended in tragedy: Brandon's rape and murder by two of his supposed friends. Despite this horrible outcome, however, in the hands of director Kimberly Peirce (who cowrote the unfettered screenplay with Andy Bienen), Brandon's story becomes not oppressive or preachy, but rather oddly and touchingly transcendent, anchored by Hilary Swank's phenomenal, unsentimental performance. Swank inhabits Brandon's contradictions and passions with a natural vitality most actresses would refuse to give themselves over to. Brandon's deception is doomed from the start, but Swank's enthusiasm is infectious, and when Brandon starts romancing the sloe-eyed Lana (a pitch-perfect Chloë Sevigny), he finds a soul mate who wants to transcend boundaries and fated identities as much as he does. The last part of the film, when Brandon's true identity is discovered, is truly painful to watch, but in between the agony there are touching moments of sweetness between Brandon and Lana, who wrestles with the truth of who Brandon actually is. You'll come away from Boys Don't Cry with affection and respect for Brandon, not pity. --Mark Englehart
Boys Don't Cry Reviews:
What are little girls made of? 
2009-12-07 - This is a gutsy portrayal of prejudice, ignorance, and intolerance among a small clique of disenfranchised white trash. The cast all perform well, especially Hilary Swank as the gender dysphoric youth, Brandon, and Peter Sarsgaad as the simmering sociopath who boils over once he discovers Brandon's secret. There's a grim inevitability to the tale as Brandon runs headlong into disaster; she ploughs on regardless of the fact that it's patently clear what will eventually happen, and this refusal to recognise her fate makes it a tad difficult to sympathise with her at times. Nonetheless, this is a sobering and harrowing take on the inability, or unwillingness, of some people to empathise with those who they perceive as different, and consequently, in their ignorance, as a threat.
The most amazing movie 
2009-12-04 - This is not a kids movie to start out with. But it is the most amazing movie. It is loosely based on the true story and all of the facts in the movie dont line up with all of the facts of the actual case, but it is wonderful acting and the message is so powerful. Be prepared to cry when you see it for the first time. RIP Teena Brandon
Tragic Story of One Short Life
2009-09-26 - Hillary Swank gives a stellar performance as a young adult female who attempts to live her life as a male, in this well-produced tragic independent film. Based on the true story of "Brandon Teena" and set in Texas, this tragedy is reminiscent of Matthew Shepard's story, "The Laramie Project." Rated R for good reason: extreme violence, extreme language, sexual content, and nudity.
"Hilary Swank Is Outstanding"
2009-06-12 - "Boys Don't Cry" tells the true tale of Brandon Teena, a girl suffering from sexual identification disorder: she was born an actual female, but desires to be a guy through sexual reassignment surgery. The plot follows Brandon as "he" enounters a lot of trailer trash-type individuals, and the story concludes with Brandon being raped by two men who he associated with who learned Brandon was actually a girl. These two men eventually murder Brandon. The film is harrowing, yet truthful and is one of those rare American movies that shows the hatred against those that are different or are perceived to be abnormal. The film broke during the time Matthew Sheppherd was murdered, and as a result many were curious to view "Boys Don't Cry". Hilary Swank desevedly received the Oscar in 1999 for Best Actress in a Motion picture. For those who enjoyed "Boys Don't Cry" NBC released "The Matthew Sheppherd Story", so if you happen to come across it on televison viewings I would suggest in watching it: it too is an excellent film about the hatred that gays can be faced with. That film has never been put on DVD yet.
"Boys Don't Cry" was an independent film that found its way into the mainstream through word-of-mouth. It costs over two million to make but grossed over $11,000,000 at the boxoffice. The DVD comes with an excellent commentary by the director of the movie.
Hillary Swank really kills this
2009-04-11 - True story in which Hillary Swank absolutely inhabits the mind and body of Brandon Teena, aka, Tina Brandon. You may be a little confused by the gender confusion at first. I was. Cloe Savigny is perfect, too, as the white trash girlfriend with a little drug habit. Some arty moments just add to the overall moody vibe of this tale of dark doom.
