Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard

Follow Teena Brandon as she becomes Brandon Teena and claims a new male identity in the rural town of Falls City, Nebraska. There, Brandon successfully pulls off portraying a man unbeknownst to the wo...( read more  read more... )men he's dating, eventually falling in love with Lana. He also befriends Lana's friends John and Tom. At First, Brandon's new friends like him and treat him as a buddy. But when Brandon's sexual identity is revealed, the deception triggers a spiral of horrific violence that ends in homicide.

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85% liked it

60,671 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

73 critics

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

Release Date: October 8, 1999

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DVD Release Date: April 18, 2000

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Stats: 3,822 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,822)


  • September 22, 2009
    Very good acting, but it was a really disturbing story. So sad! It made me sick that people would act this way.
  • September 16, 2009
    Swank, Sevigny and Sarsgaard put in brilliant performances in Peirce's uneasy and powerful film, based on real life events. Recommended!
  • June 18, 2009
    "A true story about finding the courage to be yourself."

    The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.

    ...( read more)REVIEW
    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.
  • April 13, 2009
    A great true story. Pierce keeps the film on a single minded track. Opening up the life of a very confused individual. Swank does a wonderful job at creating her girl disguised as boy. She's 100% convincing. She also manages to bring a touch of contempt for Brandon, without ever ...( read more)alienating the viewer. Brandon's constant lies hardly make for a typical hero. The film always has a grim tone, wich makes Brandon's overall fall, not as shocking. A wonderful comment on the complexities of humans.
  • January 2, 2009
    Directed by:Kimberly Peirce.
    Starring: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III.

    "You want your mother to lock you up again, is that it? Is that what you want? Then why don't you just admit your a dyke?

    ...Because I'm not a
    ...( read more) dyke."

    The story follows Teena Brandon, born a female, she has something that many see as a disease or a disorder...she has a sexual identity crisis. A rebel and a thief, she skips town to Falls City, Nebraska, where she takes the identity of Brandon Teena, successfully pulling off a man and fitting in with the town folk and falling in love, while saving for her wanted sex change. But when her true identity and her lies are brought out, she is caught up in something that should never be confronted.

    I'm still left breathless from this film, under its gritty coating lies an intensity and power so great, that as soon as the shocking end hits, including and graphic and intense 20 minutes before that, I couldn't touch the stop button all through the credits (even if I do sometimes watch them). Kimberly Peirce is one hell of a gifted filmmaker. Her visual style is so gritty and surreal and with the brilliantly paced and profound instrumental music, the tone is so real and its what the topic deserves. That's another thing as well, I think the best way to watch this film is to be unknown to it beforehand, because as soon as I clicked onto it being actual events by the end, it made it that much more unsettling. These real events (for the most part) that unfold are used to Kimberly Peirce's advantage...I know that sounds bad, saying that these shocking and very real events are the advantage of the film, but they help her to develop these characters as they should be. I thought I could have hated the film by the end, mainly because of such an unlikable main character. She is one full of lies and deceit...and a rebel and thief by nature and she pulls an unexpected family into this trap...but I was so compelled by her development and her story and her love interests slightly misunderstood, but very true and forgiving connection...and the performances add to that.

    Hilary Swank won that Oscar for a reason. Not only did she come out of nowhere and show such dedication to the role in her transformation, as you would expect from actor, but she shows the right amount of southern charm and unexpected depth that is needed for such a role, not only does she look like a convincing boy, but she convinces you that she is from the first frame, while leaving that underlying knowledge or hint that she really is a girl. Chloë Sevigny was left with just a nomination and I am shocked. She is a crucial character to the story and one reason the film worked was because of her spot-on performance. She is another that shows depth and vulnerability for her role and shes a site to see, from her trailer trash persona to her convincing love for Brandon, shes shows a lot of potential at being a brilliant actress.Peter Sarsgaard has always had a very likable charisma about him and theres no difference here...until his change of character that is so chillingly realistic and intense, he shows another side of his brilliance.

    Intense, Surreal, Brutal, Shocking...Real. Boy's Don't Cry is an unexpectedly outstanding film with brilliant performances that can't be judged on entertainment value, but only on the sheer showmanship and craftsmanship in each element of the film and the difficult topic is used respectably and never exploited.

    89/100

    << "Shut up, that's your business. I don't care if you are half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here!" >>

  • November 20, 2009
    An excellent biopic about some of the last moments of Brandon Teena's life. Hillary Swank definately reassures anyone who sees this movie that she is a great actress.
  • November 16, 2009
    I LOVED THE MOVIE!!! Hilary Swank played her charcter so well that I didn't realize that she wasn't a guy. This is one of my favorite time movies now.
  • November 13, 2009
    Penso che per i prossimi vent'anni non sarò in grado di riguardarlo, causa magone.
  • November 4, 2009
    The story was very disturbing! Swank's did a remarkable performance here, she was really good.
  • October 16, 2009
    This movie is a very sad movie..transgendered people are people just like anyone else....and they deserve to be happy..

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the best films of the year! full review

View more Boys Don't Cry reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • pinkcielojean
    July 7, 2008
    i reallly love evrything bout hilary swank and her movies..and this one made for those who are numb!
  • eagleseyewazir
    March 11, 2008
    just fabolous. one of the best movie i ever seen so far. Rest in Peace{Brandon}
  • 1HotGrandma
    July 15, 2007
    A MOVIE THAT WILL TOUCH YOU TO THE VERY DEPTH OF YOUR SOUL. IT WILL STAY WITH YOU LONG AFTER SEEING IT, WISH I HAD SEEN IT SOONER. PERHAPS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PERFORMANCES I THINK I HAVE SEEN HILARY SWANK GIVE, OTHER THAN IN MILLION DOLLAR BABY. HILARY MAKES YOU FEEL HER PAIN, TORMENT, DESIRES AS SHE PORTRAYS "BRANDON" WHO STRUGGLES TO BE LOVED, UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED AS A YOUNG MAN TRAPPED INSIDE A FEMALE BODY.
    SOME SCENES ARE QUITE GRAPHIC & RAW, NOT A MOVIE FOR EVERYONE. JUST EXCELLECT PERFORMANCES BY ALL, WITHOUT ALOT OF FANCY HOLLYWOOD FRILLS. A MOVIE YOU WILL NOT EASILY IF EVER FORGET, TRAGICLY BASED ON TRUE EVENTS.
  • deadantz22
    July 10, 2007
    This movie is so tragic.. Hilary Swank is such a good actress
  • stephsmatrix
    July 8, 2007
    this movie is the most depressing movie ever, everytime i remember seeing the movie, or see a comercial for it, i get so depressed, so sad!!!!!!!!!!
  • lovinghim1428
    April 17, 2007
    I loved this movie...it is a really good movie...one of the best that i have seen...really sad ending..i cried..:'(
  • angelxoxo711
    February 15, 2007
    Excellent movie. its one of the top movies i have ever seen!!!!!1
  • ILuvGreen69
    January 27, 2007
    All i have to say is This is the best movie!!!!!!!

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Boys Don't Cry Trivia


  • Which actress won an Oscar for her role as transvestite Brandon Teena in the 1999 film Boys Don't Cry?   Answer »
  • This movie starred Hilary Swank as a transgendered teen named Brandon Teena.  Answer »
  • What two movies did Hilary Swank win best actress for?   Answer »
  • she starred in the following film: buffy the vampire slayer Boys dont cry million dollar baby the reapers freedom writers  Answer »

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