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| Plot Synopsis In this successful psychological thriller, a reluctant agent of the Irish Republican Army discovers that some people just aren't who you expect them to be. Fergus (Stephen Rea) is an IRA "volunteer" who, despite personal misgivings, takes part in the kidnapping of a black British soldier, Jody (Forest Whitaker), stationed in Northern Ireland. The IRA hopes to use Jody as a bargaining chip to win the release of IRA operatives behind bars, but, while guarding Jody, Fergus becomes fast friends with his prisoner. Jody makes Fergus promise him that if he dies, Fegus will look in on his girlfriend, Dil (Jaye Davidson), and see if she's all right. Jody escapes, and Fergus doesn't have the heart to shoot him; as fate would have it, Jody runs from the woods into a street only to be run over by a British police vehicle, which then flushes out the IRA compound. Fergus escapes to London, where he's wanted by the law for Jody's kidnapping and also by his former girlfriend, IRA operative Jude (Miranda Richardson), who thinks he knows too much to fall into the hands of the British authorities. Good to his word, Fergus tracks down Dil, and soon the two outcasts find themselves entering into a love affair, although Fergus discovers that Dil is not the sort of woman he thought she was. Writer/director Neil Jordan won an Academy Award for his screenplay; the title song, which was a U.K. hit for Dave Berry in 1965, was re-recorded for the film by one-time Culture Club vocalist Boy George with backing by the Pet Shop Boys. - Mark Deming, All Movie Guide Reviews MATTHEW DOBERMAN All Movie guide Attributes: High Historical Importance The Crying Game was heavily marketed based on its story's "secret" -- "the movie no one is talking about," quipped one news magazine about the burden of knowing the big revelation. The hype helped fill a lot of seats, but it's still a good twist -- if it hasn't been spoiled for you -- in a challenging, daring film. Writer/director Neil Jordan earned a well-deserved Academy Award for the expertly written script, which starts as a tense thriller and winds its way into a unique and engrossing love story. It is backed by the strong performance of Jordan regular Stephen Rea as Fergus, as well as excellent supporting turns from Miranda Richardson and Forest Whitaker, and a striking (to say the least) debut by Jaye Davidson as Dil. The Crying Game is much more than a mere setup for a shock. While Fergus must escape his own past, physically and emotionally, he and Dil enjoy a quirky romance that must survive the powerful revelations each has in store for the other, a romance that would be intriguing regardless of "the secret" at its core. Indeed, as strong as The Crying Game is as a thriller, it is even stronger as a study of people, their relationships, and, ultimately, human nature. PETE CROATTO filmcritic.com Years ago on David Spade's "Hollywood Minute" segment on Saturday Night Live, the comedian offered his take on The Crying Game's big secret. "Sssh," he said. "It's overrated." Sarcasm aside, I have to agree with Spade. Is it a good secret? Sure. Is it one of the most memorable in cinema's last 15 years? Possibly. But one good surprise/twist does not make a great movie, and there's very little else in director/writer Neil Jordan's drama to deserve such lavish wide-eyed acclaim. It's a solid, well-acted character study. That's it, I'm afraid. The main character is Fergus (Stephen Rea), a volunteer with the Irish Republican Army who helps kidnap a jovial British soldier (Forest Whitaker) in retaliation for the British interrogating one of the IRA's own. Fergus stands guard over the solider for three days, and the two get close. The solider, Jody, tells Fergus about his life, including his girlfriend. With his execution nearing, Fergus promises Jody he'll look after his lady in London when he has a chance. Opportunity abruptly presents itself, when the British army swoops in on Fergus and his mates, accidentally killing Jody, who had run away from his big-hearted friend and then executioner. Fergus' superior, Maguire (Adrian Dunbar), and his flame, Jude (the always reliable Miranda Richardson), escape the attack unscathed. As for Fergus, he moves to London, where he gets a haircut, lands a construction job, and sets out finding Jody's girlfriend. He does so, and his motives may be less than noble, as Dil (Jaye Davidson) is a knockout, with her cocoa brown skin, exotic good looks and slim build. Fergus' role as guardian becomes more difficult after he makes an unfortunate discovery about his new lady friend. After some vomiting and a gut check from his conscience, Fergus continues to serve as Dil's companion. That's the most interesting part of The Crying Game, as Jordan shows how we can't change our nature. Fergus, for his tough guy posturing, is a good, sweet guy. He's going to stand by his promise to watch over Jody's girl, and he'll do that, regardless of what comes up. Jude and Maguire can't forget their IRA ties, so they will come looking for Fergus, who has a decision to make. The twist poisons the movie. When a movie gets built around one memorable highlight, viewers becomes consumed by it, trying to brace themselves for the point of impact. It's a distraction. And with 13 years and numerous pop culture references behind it (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Naked Gun 33 1/3, etc.), The Crying Game is in a no-win situation: The buzz surrounding the twist is the best and the worst thing that could have happened to Jordan's film, giving it an enormous surge of buzz and mystery in 1992, and completely deflating the suspense for anyone who saw it after that point. Reasons remain to watch this movie: the development of Fergus and the fine performances, most notably Whitaker and Richardson, who plays her character with just the right number of screws loose. Don't feel bad if the movie doesn't hold the same resonance that it did in 1992. A lot of pop culture stalwarts from that time have suffered the same fate. Awards 1992-Academy Best Picture (nom) Best Actor (nom)-Stephen Rea Best Director (nom)-Neil Jordan Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Jaye Davidson Best Editing (nom)-Kant Pan Best Original Screenplay (win)-Neil Jordan 1992 British Academy Awards Best Actor (nom)-Stephen Rea Best Director (David Lean Award) (nom)-Neil Jordan Best Film (nom) Best Original Screenplay (nom)-Neil Jordan Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Jaye Davidson Best Supporting Actress (nom)-Miranda Richardson 1992 National Society of Film Critics Best Actor (win)-Stephen Rae Best Picture (Runner-up) (win) Best Screenplay (Runner-up) (win)-Neil Jordan Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up) (win)-Jaye Davidson Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up) (win)-Miranda Richardson Other Awards Best Director (nom)-Neil Jordan -1992 Directors Guild of America Best Film (Drama) (nom)- -1992 Golden Globe Best Foreign Film (win)-Neil Jordan -1992 Independent Spirit Award Best Picture (nom)- -1992 National Board of Review Best Screenplay (win)-Neil Jordan - 1992 New York Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress (win)-Miranda Richardson -1992 New York Film Critics Circle Film Presented- -1992 Telluride Film Festival (win)- -1993 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Film (nom)-Neil Jordan -1993 British Academy Awards European Achievement of the Year (win)-Nik Powell -1993 European Film Academy Best Foreign Film (win)- -1991 L.A. Film Critics Association |
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| THE CRYING GAME 1992 - UK/Ireland/USA - 112 min. - Feature, Color Director: Neil Jordan |
| Genre / Type: Drama, Psychological Daram, Political Thriller Flags; Not for Children, Violence, Nudity, Adult situations, Strong Sexual Content MPAA Rating: R Keywords: friendship, kidnap, redemption, soldier, suicide-mission, terrorism, transvestite, IRA (Irish Republican Army), tragic Love Themes: Gender-Bending, Assassiantion Plots, Dangerous Attraction, Terrorism Box office: $62,548,947 Set In: Ireland Color type: Metrocolor Cinematic Process: Panavision widescreen Sound by: Dolby Produced by: British Screen / Channel Four Films / Eurotrustees / Miramax / Nippon Film Development and Finance / Palace Films / Palace Pictures Release: Nov 25, 1992 (USA) Released by: Mayfair Entertainment / Miramax MPAA Reasons: for sexuality, strong violence and language DVD Street Date: Jan 25, 2005 Languages: English Subtitles: English, Spanish Screen Format: Widescreen Sound: DDDD2, DTS Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (DVD) Studio: Live/Artisan DVD Sides: 1 Cast Stephen Rea -- Fergus Jaye Davidson -- Dil Miranda Richardson -- Jude Forest Whitaker -- Jody Jim Broadbent -- Col Adrian Dunbar -- Maguire Ralph Brown -- Dave Susie Figgis - Chris Rea - Jack Carr -- Franknum Brian Coleman - Andre Bernard -- Jane Birdy Sweeney -- Tommy Tony Slattery -- Deveroux |
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