Boys Don't Cry

Name: Boys Don't Cry
Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime
Released: October 8, 1999
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Chloë Sevigny, Hilary Swank

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 110 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 110 Ratings

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Boys Don't Cry

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 8, 1999 | TV-MA

Starring: Chloë Sevigny, Hilary Swank

Summary: Based on a true story, Brandon Teena (Swank) is the popular new "guy" in a tiny Nebraska town and falls in love with local girl Lana (Sevigny). When it is revealed that Brandon is actually a woman, Lana's family and friends put Brandon's life in jeopardy.

Director: Kimberly Peirce

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 118 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

One of the best films of the year. Read full review

100

Lawrence Toppman

For a movie that ends in the profoundest depths of sadness, Boys Don't Cry contains one of the year's purest moments of joy. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Scorches the screen like a prairie fire. Read full review

Jonathan Foreman

A haunting, superbly made film. But it's also an unrelentingly sad and depressing experience.

Shawn Levy

A kick to the heart, and Swank is a marvel. Any problems in the storytelling are more than balanced by her wholly committed work.

Peter Travers

A shockingly intimate and deeply affecting film about the roots of sexual role playing.

Elizabeth L. Bland

The movie lets down the material. It's to cool: all attitude, no sizzle. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bones

May 25, 2011

The film's greatest highlights are probably the acting performances. The performances by Hilary Swank & Chloe are unforgettable and terrific. although the movie looks horribly cheap, it has a well-written script and set to be one of the best movies of 1999.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

snoopyw.

Nov 14, 2005

Un tres beau film a voir absolument !!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DeneL.

Aug 8, 2007

This movie is truly amazing, sad, and a true tear-jerker. It was well made and even though it didn't stay true to the real Teena Brandon, Swank acting was great.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LOmarG

Jul 3, 2013

This movie is no joke. It's fierce, provocative, and tragic. I don't know if the observation that Swank and Sevigny both resemble the opposite sex is a flaw or a benefit to the story, but everything else is suspenseful and worthy of conversation.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

allamiaanima

Feb 5, 2016

Excuse, machine translation.

What is known, today, in light of all the "Huge" scientific achievements, of sex, of "normal sex" and all the countless variables? And the terminologies? I'm not sure to be underestimated! Indeed, they are precisely the ones you qualify, identify, encapsulate,Excuse, machine translation.

What is known, today, in light of all the "Huge" scientific achievements, of sex, of "normal sex" and all the countless variables? And the terminologies? I'm not sure to be underestimated! Indeed, they are precisely the ones you qualify, identify, encapsulate, they give you the beautiful "brand" that then the "good society" is' just after a careful and aesthetically persuasive disclosure. The consequence of the "mark" is, labeling. You are, that is, that one does', you know that this other is a / an ... and all the rest and the rest.

The value of "Boys Do not Cry" is to avoid any labeling. So I understand. Teena / Brandon is not a "scientific case." Absolutely. He 'girl, beautiful, noble sentiments, that goes' over his own body and that in and of the other body, wants to know the essence and then caress the soul.
Boys Do not Cry is a poetic drama. Brandon Hilary Swank / to live by herself runs many dangers and in his wanderings from place to place, comes to know and fall in love with a girl named Lana Tisdel Chloe Sevigny /
Lana, Brandon becomes, little by little a very special person. One of those guys who all, once in their life, they would like to meet and with whom think of a serious plan of life; perhaps far, it is far from that lonely and cursed place. Meet John Peter Sarsgaard / and then Tom Brendan Sexton I I I / two boys to say is perhaps a little violent.

What would be the performance of Hilary Swank and then the whole story without the wonderful presence of Lana? Lana understands who is really Brandon or maybe does not want to know? Kimberly Peirce Director and co-screenwriter with Andy Bienen / shaped characters and has plunged them into a story that I recommend to know. A true story, a true story like many others that the film offers but with time and space enthusiasts and exciting; with music that give light to engaging images leaving a trail of questions. Two above all: - Who are the free spirits? How much it costs, be?

To you,
that you love,
and make your dreams.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

markwhelan

Sep 17, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Hilary Swank's Academy Award winning performance as Brandon Teena is, of course, brave and gender-bending role. A review elsewhere incorrectly refers to Brandon Teena as a trans man.

Based on Brandon Teena's relationship with Lana Tisdel, it is also incorrectly billed as a romance. It is nothing of the sort.

This true story of the anatomically born (young) woman who is brutally raped and murdered after her identity is revealed.

The story foregrounds the struggle of a psychologically tortured woman’s unsuccessful efforts to have that life-changing operation to bring her peace in both body and spirit. She is severely limited and tested by her economically poor background. The story highlights the disgusting violence perpetrated by men filled with equal doses of ignorance and hatred.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dollis

Dec 30, 2012

Bad movie the story is very awful i found this film weak with no plot , only thing i like in this movie is the soundtrack , And i don't like Kimberly Peirce movies.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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8	#8 Best Movie of 1999
46	#46 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
33	#33 Most Shared Movie of 1999