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Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III, Alison Folland ... see more see more... , Alicia Goranson , Matt McGrath , Rob Campbell , Jeanetta Arnette , Lou Perryman

Based on a true story, this drama was adapted from the life of Brandon Teena, born Teena Brandon, a woman who chose to live her life as a man and suffered tragic consequences as a result. In 1993, 20-... read more read more...year-old Brandon (Hilary Swank) leaves Lincoln, Nebraska for the nearby community of Falls City, where she sports a crew cut, favors jeans and boots, and is regarded as a man by most of the people in town. While Brandon's friend Lonny (Matt McGrath) warns her that sexual outsiders aren't looked upon kindly in Falls City, she develops a reputation for being something of a ladies' man, and is soon living with a single mother named Candace (Alicia Goranson). But when Brandon meets teenage Lana (Chloe Sevigny), the two become romantically involved almost immediately. Brandon makes friends with Lana's mother (Jeanetta Arnette) and a burly ex-con named John (Peter Sarsgaard). John and his buddy Tom (Brendan Sexton) run with a rough group of men who like to drink and carouse, and they accept Brandon as one of their own. However, when Brandon ends up in jail on a traffic violation, her secret comes out, and, while Lana stands by Brandon's side, John and Tom feel betrayed -- and their anger soon boils over into violence. A distinguished feature debut for director Kimberly Peirce, Boys Don't Cry was enthusiastically received in its showings at 1999 film festivals in Venice, Toronto, and New York. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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84% liked it

66,576 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

75 critics

R, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

Release Date: October 8, 1999

Keywords: sad, disturbing, depressing

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DVD Release Date: April 18, 2000

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Stats: 4,238 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,238)

  • blkbomb
    July 3, 2011
    blkbomb
    Lana: 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!

    Boys Don't Cry, hmmm, where to start. It's an emotional, powerful, and quite disturbing biopic that doesn't hold anything back. Kimberly Peirce did an amazing job ... read morewith this movie. I saw a documentary where she talked about having to cut a lot of stuff out because of the MPAA. This was originally NC-17 until she made the changes they wanted. The movie itself is simply amazing. Everyone that's heard of the movie knows about Hilary Swanks performance. She was absolutely superb and really deserved the Oscar for her portrayal of Brandon Teena(Teena Brandon). Peter Sarsgaard also gave a great performance as John. The film is an emotional rollercoaster and an absolute masterpiece.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    Absolutely heart wrenching! Hilary Swank deserved her Oscar and the fact that this was a true story is even more heart breaking. People in this world are so cruel and this film just shows you how much. 10/10
  • imrealgod
    April 23, 2011
    imrealgod
    Wanted to enjoy one hell of a life, but...... Teena could have avoided the mess, but I guess sometimes you just can't help play stupid. The consequences of Teena's actions were tragical, but those actions weren't any praiseworthy in the first place. The story deals with the final... read more years of Teena Brandon. The pacing could have been faster and the duration of the movie shorter. Hilary Swank was unbelievable in the role of Teena Brandon. Good one based on real events, but surely not the best.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    February 9, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Boys Don't Cry is the incredible true story of Teena Brandon who was born biologically female but who decided to become male. The story chronicles how she changed her identity and has fallen in love and made new friends. Unknown to her friends, Brendans true identity is unknown. ... read moreThey treat him like a friend. Unfortunately his true identity is revealed and both two of his friends John and Tom, two ex-convicts do the unthinkable. Boys Don't Cry is a flawed film, as by what I hear isn't 100% accurate, but the film does have enough good elements to tell this poignant story about Brandon Teena.
    Born Teena Brandon, Brandon had a desire to be male, and dared to be different. This is a film that can bring hope to people who don't have the courage to be themselves, hopefully this film may inspire them. Hilary Swank is simply terrific, and she really does look like Brandon Teena. She brings enthusiasm to the role and her on screen presence makes this film better than it really is. Boys Don't Cry is really a film about the courage about being yourself. Brandon Teena was a trans gender who was born a biological female but felt more like a boy. He makes new friends in Falls City, Nebraska and meets a girl. Everything seems to be perfect, but soon Brandon's secret is revealed. His two "friends" John and Tom rape Brandon after finding out he's actually a female. The scene is truly disturbing and makes you feel uneasy. Unfortunately Brandon also gets murdered due to the fact that he's different. The film gives an insight of bigotry and homophobia and how hate can sometimes lead people to do the unthinkable. A phenomenal, poignant film, Boys Don't Cry is a well crafted film.
  • ScoopOnline
    January 18, 2011
    ScoopOnline
    Very touching Movie based upon true story. I m not goin to survive the last scene if I ever watch this Movie a second time.
  • erika250
    September 10, 2010
    erika250
    I found this film weak with no plot or not good acting.
  • fb619846742
    August 24, 2010
    fb619846742
    An over-rated, heavily manipulative film detailing the true story of Teena Brandon, a woman trying to be a man and how she makes new friends in Nebraska, fooling them into thinking she's a man - and thus starting a relationship with a young, troubled woman there. By o... read morenly briefly mentioning her criminal past but not detailing it, it feels like director Peirce is only showing one side of the story, that being that Teena was an innocent, likable human being who everyone should've loved. The only thing that elevates this movie to slightly above average territory is three standout performances from Hilary Swank (just unbelievable here - she deserves her Oscar), Chloe Sevigny (showing a full, human character), and Peter Sarsgaard (a pure psychotic, out-of-control performance that deserves as much recognition as the first two). This has the potential to be a powerful, stirring picture, but instead I couldn't help but feel like we were only seeing one side of this person, as well as the fact that why she feels like she's really a man is poorly, poorly detailed. While I admire the excellent acting as well as some of the gritty scenes, I can't quite recommend that this movie is worth it due to sheer manipulation by its director by failing to detail the past of the most important character in the film.
  • ceWEBrity
    December 15, 2009
    ceWEBrity
    There are a surprising amount of "not interested"s on my friends list for this movie, and I can't really figure out why - this is a stirring, and most importantly unique, biopic. Boys Don't Cry is tonally distinct, tempering free-spiritedness and the bliss of love with both the r... read moreoughness of poverty and the heavy reality of ignorance. Hilary Swank, who I only seem to see in her good movies, is unsurprisingly bold here, exemplifying the "tragic hero(ine)" by refusing to let him wallow in his misery. Brandon Teena is determined to be happy, and for a moment he is, though it costs him gravely. (Significant spoilers from here on out, but it's a true story, so lol I'm ruining real life for you.)

    The one thing that didn't sit all that well with me, and again it's a true story so I suppose I don't have any right to complain, was that Brandon was sort of difficult to sympathize with at times. The movie doesn't martyr him or make him out to be some sort of saint, which I can appreciate, but it seems really bizarre to me that someone would be brutally raped, then actually return to the house of the people that committed said rape. Of course no one deserves what happened to him, but come on. It may well have been for love, but Brandon never seemed to learn from his mistakes, and his impatience is considerably frustrating. Perhaps it's frustrating because you know it'll culminate in his eventual death, in which case I really have no right to complain, but I think it's difficult for any viewer to see a likable character make the same poor choices over and over.

    Boys Don't Cry is economical and in-control, a film of considerable bravery and a great debut for Kimberly Peirce. It is difficult to watch on many levels, but that doesn't make it any less imperative.
  • SirPant
    September 16, 2009
    SirPant
    Swank, Sevigny and Sarsgaard put in brilliant performances in Peirce's uneasy and powerful film, based on real life events. Recommended!
  • aSpaceCowboy
    August 8, 2009
    aSpaceCowboy
    I disagree with the academy and critics on this. I have nothing against homosexuality, but this was done all wrong. It's hard to admit or even doubt a movie if it's inspired and based on a true tragedy that's happened. This wasn't hard at all to get out.

    Hillary Swank has the re... read moredneck charm to consume herself in this character and that's where it ends. She was not believable as a boy from the outside, nor in any other way. Her face and hair scream dike and to think that she's actually a male just doesn't fit together. Wasn't it obvious. Did the brutal interrogation of her sexual identity at least come by believable. Sure enough it did. Though, I have no confidence in her performance or appearance as Teena Brandon. The only close-cornered likeness was the hair-cut, and that was plainly off as well.

    Teena Brandon had a strong face. It had intensity and masculinity heightened. She wasn't "butch", but she was easier to mistaken genders with. Instead of the jolly, always smiling Joe that Swank portrayed, the real Brandon was as persuaded with her sexuality as she was with her body. She wouldn't act like girl being a boy, she was a boy. No giggles, no pressure, no falseness or visible shed from her reality, just the mental build and nothing else.

    Okay, so most adaptions don't go so in depth with each and every detail. More than most of the time events and dialog will be exaggerated. But characters need no change. History can never change, so leave it as it was remembered. Don't vary it on how either the audience would react to it or thinking a change might be the trick to spicing it up; forget all thoughts to change the past. Revive it, but don't harm it.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
January 1, 2000
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

The movie lets down the material. It's too cool: all attitude, no sizzle--horror under glass.

Louis B. Parks
January 1, 2000
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle

Powerful and unpretentious. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Stunning. Full Review

Chris Vognar
January 1, 2000
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

[Hilary Swank] has come out of nowhere to deliver one of the year's finest pieces of acting. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 1, 2000
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Flawless acting by the ensemble. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
January 1, 2000
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Director Pierce and Bienen and the expert cast engage us in the actuality of these rootless, hopeless, stoned-out lives without sentimentalizing or romanticizing them. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, At the Movies

One of the best films of the year! Full Review

Peter Rainer
January 1, 2000
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

The film is framed, too unquestioningly, as a transgender Rebel Without a Cause, with Brandon the martyred innocent who dies for her infatuations. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Peirce seems to have researched her subject with grad-school-thesis intensity.

Gemma Files
January 1, 2000
Gemma Files, Film.com

With its constant juxtaposition of blazing nighttime highwayscapes and the flat Nebraska skyline, Boys Don't Cry manages to perfectly evoke both a life spent in aimless forward motion and the stifling...

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  • 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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