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Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Andre Braugher, Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls ... see more see more... , Merwin Mondesir , Daniel Petronijevic , Mike Realba , Jeanie Calleja , Barclay Hope , Tulsi Balram

A group of soldiers in the deep South take vengeance against one of their own when word circulates that he's become involved with a transgendered nightclub performer in this drama based on a true stor... read more read more...y. Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) was a young man with an educational disability who volunteered for the United States Army and found himself stationed in Tennessee, where he soon struck up a friendship with Justin Fisher (Shawn Hatosy), a high-strung fellow GI with a drug problem. One night with nothing to do, Winchell and Fisher tagged along with a group of soldiers who ended up taking in a drag show at a bar in Nashville. One of the performers on the bill that night was Calpernia Addams (Lee Pace), a transsexual and former combat medic in the Navy who was a veteran of the Gulf War before taking the first steps towards sexual reassignment. While Winchell, who was straight, was aware that Addams was at least partially still male, he found himself attracted to her for her intelligence and sensitivity, while she found herself similarly drawn to him. As Winchell and Addams' mutual attraction grew into a romance, the unstable Fisher found himself increasingly confused and angry with Winchell, and he struck back by spreading rumors that one of the men in their company was gay, with fingers soon pointing towards Winchell. Despite the Army's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the company's drill sergeant (Barclay Hope) took it upon himself to find and remove the gay soldier in his ranks, while the increasingly vicious Fisher aligned himself with Calvin Glover (Philip Eddolls), a young and narrow minded recruit eager to strike out with violence against those different from himself. Directed by veteran filmmaker Frank Pierson, Soldier's Girl premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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86% liked it

3,792 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

R, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: Frank Pierson

Release Date: May 31, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 27, 2004

Stats: 305 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (305)

  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Oh my goodness this was really, really, really good. I had no idea that this was a true story until the end. I just got done watching this and I am still reeling from it. It is just as good as Boy's Don't Cry. There is a great bonus feature on the DVD that explains the whole case... read more with the real people that the movie was about. Well done movie that honors this poor soldier.
  • kiriyamakazou
    May 2, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    A real gem of a made for TV movie. This deserved a cinematic release in my opinion. It's better than the majority of films that get released. Soldier's Girl tells of a beautiful true love story and it's shocking conclusion. There's a dreaded sense of knowing throughout this film.... read more The tension doesn't so much build up, but is strongly hinted at. You just know when the young, impressionable and very angry soldier joins, that something bad is going to happen. The performances are incredible. Pace was literally unrecognisable. I say this as a fan of Pushing Daisies, and even I had to look up who the actor was. He captures the feminism of his character perfectly and makes it very understandable for a straight man to fall for him. Hatosy also gives an excellent turn, one of great hate but also empathy. It's a tragic and very brutal film with a sickening finale. Not in it's gratuity, but just because of the nature of it all. A film that says, perhaps sex should be taken out of the equation when it comes to love.
  • RCCLBC
    June 10, 2008
    RCCLBC
    I guess it's Lee Pace week for me. (He never disapoints)

    This (Showtime) movie is impressive on many levels. It touches on everything from the ridiculousness of some of the militaries policies (both on homosexuals serving and recruiting practices in general), sexual represio... read moren, and the beauty of true love.

    The two main actors (Troy Garity & Lee Pace) do a truly amazing job at conveying the deep complexities of both of their (very different, but perfectly matched) characters.

    Even though there are a few very poorly written (after school special) moments of dialog and some of the charaters are a little too over the top/sterotypical for their own good...the cast as a whole is strong enough to carry you past these minor irritations. And the message isn't too badly cheapened by it.

    All things concidered it was a pretty powerful movie. And the fact that it is based on actual events...makes it a very timely and important film.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 24, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Fantastic film. Very well done and worth a viewing.
  • gator681
    August 21, 2009
    gator681
    In "Soldier's Girl," Fisher(Shawn Hatosy) takes his fellow soldiers to Visions, a nightclub in Nashville where you need a scorecard to tell the men from the women, to taunt the performers.(Well, that's what he says but later he ends up making out with one of the singers...) Most... read morely, he takes aim at Calpernia(Lee Pace), wondering aloud if her breasts are real. Since she is a pre-op transsexual, the answer might be a little complicated. What is rather simple is her attraction to Barry(Troy Garity), Fisher's roommate, who she invites backstage and gives his her phone number.

    The first person seen in "A Soldier's Girl" is a man dressed up as Queen Elizabeth I who was monarch when William Shakespeare's tragedies were first performed with men acting as women. Based on a true story, this is a very touching, heartfelt, well-acted and even occasionally erotic movie about how gender and sexual orientation are fluid, but this is not New York or San Francisco. It is the heartland of America where acceptance is surprisngly the order of the day. Not so with the military with its very macho attitude and the asinine Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy which should be repealed as soon as possible. See, there are times when compromise can backfire.
  • SunilJawahir
    May 11, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    I saw this movie for Lee Pace and he was great but Troy Garity as the soldier was excellent. I'm glad that Showtime made a movie out of this because I'd never heard this story before. Definitely not your average TV movie fare.
  • ileo
    January 16, 2008
    ileo
    Beautiful movie!

    I've first seen this with my sisters, one had an interest in this movie so I watched it then. The story is very sweet and touching, but yet the outcome is truly heartwrenching. It's so sad!

    Love the music, and KD LANG is phenomenal. Love her voice.
  • Jhortoninfo
    March 9, 2011
    Jhortoninfo
    Oh My God, I'm crying right now! I just seen the best movie until the end. I swear I can not believe that stupid ass 17 year old kid Gloover killed Berry. Just for the reason of Berry's room mate wanted him to. Right when he was discovering that he may have been gay he is brutall... read morey murdered. I do not know how to say the review for this movie. i'm very sad. WATCH IT YOURSELF!!!!! You will see.
  • ly102892
    July 12, 2009
    ly102892
    this was a beautiful love story
    and it was a true story
    very emotional and good
    i have it on dvd
    i cried at the end
  • lpswaggerty
    December 14, 2008
    lpswaggerty
    It's disturbing that this poor fella found true love and someone else decides to end his life for him because this other person doesn't agree with the lifestyle. Why are people so violently concerned about whom I love if it is not hurting them? If it is ultimately wrong, let my M... read moreaker address it directly with me.

View All Soldier's Girl Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
June 2, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

... a reluctant thumbs-down. Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson
June 10, 2003
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

Garity... is a rarity among young actors today: He's passionate. Full Review

David Rooney
November 21, 2008
David Rooney, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

January 20, 2004
Hollywood Reporter

No review available.

David Wiegand
July 8, 2003
David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

December 6, 2005
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

January 15, 2005
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Eric D. Snider
May 22, 2003
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Susan Granger
May 22, 2003
Susan Granger, www.susangranger.com

No review available.

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