The Crying Game Reviews

One of the best British films

The British Film Industry has always been a bit hit or miss. This film is a definite hit.

Just about everyone knows the twist in the film, but even so, this is still an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable film. If you don't know the twist, the definitely get this film out, watch and enjoy.

If only we could make more like this.

A brit flick, not a chick flick...

This movie is different. If you are open minded and can cope with 107 minutes of quality british drama then it's a must see.

In brief an exceptional film with a twisting plot involving race, politics, murder, love, lust & sexuality.

Boy George's haunting cover of Dave Berry's theme song is the high point of the soundtrack as well as accompanying the film's famous 'surprise'.

This film is certainly not a casual viewing but is well worth the effort.

WARNING

This film is Pro I.R.A.

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

pants? (warning contains spoilers)

s/he should have kept them on! Seriously, this film is an interesting idea, but BADLY flawed with the main weakness being incredible leaps in the plot .. like the first one, that a British Squaddy would be wandering around at the fair with the civilians in the FIRST PLACE!!

then, this: 'oh he's a softie with the prisoner so we'll let him go off on his own to shoot him' (yeah, right)

like: The British forces were there, apparently en masse, strafing the hostage-spot (leaving aside the far-fetchedness of them finding the spot in the first place) and yet the three main IRA characters manage to escape alive ?

It's also totally unconvincing that the Steven Rea character would go looking for the 'girl' but there woudl be no story withouth this ..couldnt some less clunky contrivance have been made ? maybe just leave out the whole IRA thing, and have a macho guy falling for a tranny, that'd have been interesting enough . the prisoner-warden dialogue was totally beyond belief!

then one of them is supopsed to have gone so far to ground the Brist can't find him, but the aforementioned IRA super-ppl CAN find him?

-- nothing about the 'girl's' interaction with the bully-boyf seemed at all convincing ... it was like they'd had originally scripted him in one role (say a dealer after his dosh or something) then decided no, he was a live-in lover, actually .. erm, it's called CONTINUITY, folks, not too much to ask!

also a matter of continuity / intergrity to the credibility of the plot device of Steven Rea 'not noticing this is a transvestite he's falling for', the pub is a typical straight looking pub until the great 'outing' scene and then it is full of obvious queers .. tsk! If you're goin to do gay issues, do them honestly!

Then there is the heaps of unconvincing dialogue and due to the clunky self-conscious script the talented actors were often unable to salvage anything useful from their lines

I don't usually write negative reviews, but this film has annoyed me .. I'm queer myself, and would say this was a great *idea* for a flm .. but this treatment was sadly deficient in some key areas of what you need in a film:

credible plot

continuity,

good script

good acting!

Great drama

This film was more topical when it was made, as things seem to have improved over the last few years. Some IRA terrorists mess up the kidnapping of a British soldier. This leads to some unlikely relationships developing. The film has a good pace and contains a good mix of drama, humour and action. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a dramatic story.

Jordan's masterpiece

Intelligent, brave, sexy and cool, this is possibly Neil Jordan's crowning achievement.

Part violent thriller, part romantic drama, the difficulty with pigeon-holing this film is part of its charm.

Tackling big issues such as terrorism and sexuality, it is a sensitive and most importantly, believable film, boasting strong performances from Stephen Rea as the bewildered lead, Jaye Davidson as his lover and Miranda Richardson on fine evil form as Rea's IRA boss.

The symbolic use of cricketer's dress, and the slightly compromised final scene are the only odd notes in the otherwise perfect atmosphere.

Suddenly - one helluva film

This is one of those rare films without a single unnecessary scene, taut dialogue without a word wasted, and actors to do the whole thing justice. Add to that exceptionally good editing and you have a winner.

Early supporting role by James Broadbent, and also Forest Whitaker who later was brilliant in "Ghost Dog".

Stephen Rea is superb as the disaffected IRA gunman who is involved in the kidnapping of a British solider and his subsequent death. The scenes between Rea and Whitaker (the solider) are incredibly realistic.

Everything else is excellent but I will leave it at this so I do not give away the plot which has some great twists.

As I say, one helluva film.

When you know the twist, you view the film in a different light, but the first time I saw this It was a bit of a shocker.

Unusual entertainment?

I'd heard good things from some about this movie but didn't know what to expect; barely remembering some of the reviews I'd read in the Press, I 'spose I kinda expected a big-screen version of Cold Feet! How wrong can you be?

The plot sucessfully combines a transgender line with IRA terrorism! Doesn't sound too plausible, but produces a very entertaining and mildly thought-provoking film that can only be called unusual.

Unmissable story about human relationships

One of the best films I have seen. There was a lot of hype when it first came out and some criticism that it portayed the IRA in a good light, so I have waited a long time to see it. Forget the hype and the criticism; it is a great story about human relationships; touching and at times violent but compelling throughout and with a unique story to tell. Unmissable!