The Crying Game

Rating:
Summary: In the end the story matters more than the infamous surprise
Review: Unfortunately by the time I got to the theater to see "The Crying Game" I already knew about the big surprise. I had been avoiding seeing or hearing anything about the movie and was flipping channels when I paused on David Letterman long enough for him to give away the big surprise. I was no more happy with his off-the cuff revealation than I was when Charles Schulz revealed the ending to "Citizen Kane" one Sunday in "Peanuts." However, in the final analysis what makes Neil Jordan's 1992 film really memorable is not the big surprise, but rather that the writer-director comes up with a fourth act to take what has been set up in the previous three to a new level.

[I will endeavor to write this review without giving away the big secret although in the wake of Jaye Davidson's Oscar nomination and Billy Crystal's memorable song about "The Crying Game" at the Academy Awards there cannot be too many people who are not in on the surprise at this point.]

Act One has Jude (Miranda Richardson) enticing Jody (Forest Whitaker), a English soldier stationed in Northern Ireland, into an IRA trap. Jody is taken to a secluded house in the forest where he is watched over by Fergus (Stephen Rea), who seems to have more of a conscience that the rest of the group. Maguire (Adrian Dunbar), the leader of the group, plans on exchanging Jody for members of the IRA held by the British, but neither Jody nor Fergus think there is much chance of that happening. The question is whether Fergus is going to be able to shoot Jody when the inevitable moment comes, and while this could be (and has been) the subject of an entire film, it is only Jordan's opening act.

In Act Two we find that Fergus has changed his name to Jimmy and is doing construction work to hide out from both the British and the IRA. Haunted by a photograph of Jody and his girlfriend, "Jimmy" visits the salon where she works and has Dil (Jaye Davidson) do his hair. Jimmy is attracted to Dil, but his feelings include a mixture of guilt as well. Clearly this relationship is headed for the inevitable moment when Dil finds out that Jimmy was involved with what happened to Jody. Again, this is a storyline that has been the subject of entire movies, but the twist is that before Dil finds out Jimmy's big secret, Dil has a bigger surprise for Jimmy.

As we get into Act Three the focus is clearly on what will happen to the relationship between Jimmy and Dil. Jordan does a reasonable good job of playing it as being able to go either way, and although we have our suspicions given what we know about Jimmy, I think we are dealing with shades of gray rather than clearcut black & white. It is at this point that Jordan earns his fifth star by coming up with a final act where what happened in the previous acts comes back with a vengeance.

Ultimately, what makes this a very good film is the simple fact that you do not see how the end game is going to play out (including the final scene and the song selected for the fade to black). There are certainly those who saw the big surprise coming from the start (I went to the movie with one of those people), but beyond the strong feeling that things are not going to work out well in the end the ending of "The Crying Game" is not at all predictable. Besides, what matters is not what happens but what Jimmy is trying to do, against the mounting odds.

The credit for the success of this film clearly goes to Jordan, as writer and director, which is amply evidences by the "alternate ending" provided on the DVD. This was the ending first shot for the movie, at the dictate of the backers, but was jettisoned in favor of the ending originally written, which was then shot. But "The Crying Game" also has the advantage of Rea's moving performance. He makes what his character feels and does seem totally believable in the face of an entire series of truly bizarre situations, and whatever shortcomings there are in the first time performance of Davidson are more than counter-balanced by what Rae does in this film.

Rating:
Summary: What's Love Got to Do with it?
Review: The only other phenomenon around this film bigger than the movie's brilliant "plot twist" is trying to explain why we love it. In review after review, one sees, "I'm not sure what it is about this film..." Well, for as long as we've been around, human beings have hungered for connection and love, the very fuel for romance and drama. And I think the mystique of this film is that it allows us, vicariously, to experience that most compelling of loves, unconditional love. The characters in this film, uniquely in recent cinematic history, share with us a story of unconditional love that draws us in and breaks our hearts open, but never without a touch of humor.

Kudos to writer/director Neil Jordan for his creative vision. Apparently inspired by a news article about IRA operatives enticing and entrapping British soldiers with sex, Jordan created one of the most intriguing storylines put to celluloid. Whether it's the political thriller that bookends the film and is always lurking in a BMW nearby, or the entrancing love story that unfolds in the center, this film is from start to finish about how human nature guides and colors our relationships. Probably the film's thesis moment is an exchange between two characters: the "Scorpion and the Frog" story versus a quotation from the Bible, "...I put an end to childish ways," which not by accident comes from Paul's famous "love passage" in I Corinthians. One character has become resigned to the fate of human nature; another believes in the possibility of change.

Those who don't recall or never paid attention should know that Oscar nominations were made for Stephen Rea (Best Actor) and Jaye Davidson (Best Supporting Actor). Forest Whitaker is good, at moments remarkable (he was on top of the game at the time), but not always convincing as soldier Jody (it could just be the accent). Miranda Richardson is coldly right-on all through the film as the steely IRA "volunteer." The dialogue is tight, witty, and convincing. There are incredibly touching moments shared between Rea and Whitaker, and then Rea and Davidson. Now-recognizable actors Jim Broadbent as the bartender and Ralph Brown as the cast-off train-wreck lover "Dave" are a stitch as supporting characters.

But it is Rea's humorously understated "Fergus" and Davidson's delightfully sensual "Dil" who make this thing work. Both imperfect everyday people with a nature for love and kindness, they make choices about their lives that place them in the midst of people who don't love, but rather are driven by passions that harm. Eventually, their circumstances elicit a surprising response from one of them, but then, love can do that. And the way they choose to love one another unconditionally, despite various revelations through the film that would drive most people away from one another, sucks us in and keeps us riveted all the way. One of the best films I've ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: REJOICE! FINALLY, "THE CRYING GAME" GETS ITS DUE!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite films EVER. I remember watching this in the theater, aware that it had a surprise but lucky enough to not have known it. Aside from that, I love this film for so many different reasons. It's wholly unpredictable. For instance, as it began I thought this was going to be a "conversation" piece judging from the interaction between Jody and Fergus. WAS I WRONG! I adore the cinematography, which resembles the anamorphic films of the 70's and early 80's. The lenses utilized certainly have that look of vintage Panavision camerawork, a style I miss DEARLY. The acting is miraculous. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is PERFECT. I get so lost in the storytelling because everything is so well executed. And the ending. Oh, I just positively LOVE IT!! How the camera pulls back and hearing Lyle Lovett sing "Stand By Your Man" - I mean COME ON! Beautiful! Then, after that, the gorgeous rendition of the titular track, sung so wonderfully by Boy George and produced by the Pet Shop Boys, so hauntingly beautiful. I was riveted to my seat until the lights went up. It is ABOUT TIME The Crying Game had a deluxe edition as its original dvd release was marred by a HORRIBLE transfer, worse than the laserdisc! What a HAPPY day this is for THE CRYING GAME!

Rating:
Summary: "Ask him if he likes his new haircut."
Review: The Crying Game is by far the most provacative and stimulating film of the year when it came out. It features great performances from Miranda Richardson, Stephen Rea, Forest Whitaker, Jim Broadbent, and the unforgetable Jaye Davidson! It's a very original supense thriller that deals with love, sex, and revenge. It's not for all audiences, and you must watch it at your own risk, because I have heard that some people didn't make it pass halfway of this film, just like the shock that Fergus(Rea) had to go through.
Jody(Whitaker) was seduced and abducted by the (Jude)Miranda Richardson and her fellow partner(Rea) in crimes. He was gunned down when he tried to escaped. Fergus went to find Jody's girlfriend at the Metro, there he met the sultry and beautiful Dill(Davidson), and later she gave him a haircut. Fergus didn't tell her that he was involved in the hostage of her dead boyfriend. He soon got romantically involved with Dill, depite the fact that Richardson would inevitably mess things up. Fergus helped Dill get rid of her current money greedy bad boyfriend, who was abusive to her and constantly wanted her to "perform" for him. Yes, Dill is a great hairdresser by day, and a fabulous performer by night. Her best number is The Cryig Game. Just when Fergus was falling in love with Dill, she had an unexpected surprise for him.......
Jim Broadbent is great, even though he has very little screen time. He plays a seen-it-all bartender, who was a good friend to Dill, and his favorite line was: "Who knows the secret of the human heart."
Forest Whitaker only appeared in the early part of the film as well as in Fergus' imagination sequence. He was very good when he held hostage, and he conveyed all the fear of his character.
Miranda Richardson gave a scene stealing performace. The accent, the mysterious and dangerous looks were perfect for her nasty [...].
Stephen Rea got his best actor nomination for his character that was torn between good and bad, and vulnerability.
Finally, this movie made Jaye Davidson a star, and it gave everyone something to talk about. I thought she should've gotten the Oscar, because she was incomparable. The stage performing scene was great, so was the love scene, and definitely the scene when she shot (Jude)Miranda Richardson to bits as she shouted at her'" You killed my Jody, didn't you ******* bitch? You used your little **** and *** to seduced my Jody...." She was so riveting in this scene, and for someone who's making a debut in film, it was trully sensational!

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Plot Twist
Review: This great movie has a perfect plot twist and so much more. I have watched the movie 5 or 6 times. Even though I know the plot twist that does not detract me from enjoying this well-written and well-acted movie again and again. Also, the musical score is exquisite.

Rating:
Summary: One of my VERY favorite movies
Review: I never bothered to watch THE CRYING GAME in its entirety because of a silly History teacher who told us about it and informed us of the plot twist. Then one day, out of boredom I came upon it just starting on HBO. Since there was nothing else on, I decided to watch it.
I still don't know what it is about this movie that I love so much. The movie is dark, and melacholy, and the mood of the film never lets up. Although Forest Whitaker's character is only in the film for the first ten minutes you can feel his presence throughout.
Of course the one memorable scene for most people is Dil's revelation, but there are other scenes that are more intimate. Jody telling Fergus the story of the Scorpion and the Frog is wonderful; but an even better scene is when Jody asks Fergus to tell him a story, and Fergus replies: "When I was a child, I thought as a child.." The acting, setting, mood and deliverance of these two scenes are pitch perfect.
To me the most fascinating thing about the movie is Fergus' feelings for Dil. Even though he is disgusted with the revelation he is still drawn to her. He loves her, even though he knows her truth, and yet his horror of it all never eases up on him.
The Crying Game isn't just about the twist or the IRA. It's much more complex and thoughtful. Ten stars, all around!!!

Rating:
Summary: I'm loud, darling, but never cheap.
Review: I will always remember this film from the classic Simpson's episode where Mayor Quimby nearly gives away the ending. Also, the hordes of jokes that were simultaneously also released during the same time as this film. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing something about the almighty of almighty cliffhangers. This film had viewers up in arms, whether it disturbed or excited, this film caused a reaction. Director Neil Jordan did a spectacular job of bringing to life, not only some key issues, but also the cast of this film. Everything, from the song, to the actors did a Oscar-worthy job of bringing this story to life.

In my review of Dead Man Walking, I talked about how Oscar likes to award those who give us that "warm fuzzy" feeling, well, this is yet another example of how the Academy turns it head. Just like Sophia Coppola, Jordan's brilliant film only took home the award for best Screenplay when it should have taken home so much more.

The Crying Game is a brilliant story that did not get the respect that it deserved. This is a must-see for anyone with a passion in films.

Grade: ****** out of ******