The Crying Game (1992)

Don't Believe the Hype

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There are so many elements to this incredible film that I could go through, but they have been pointed out over and over. Suffice it to say that it has an intense, dangerous element, with forces at work that are utterly overwhelming. It has a couple love stories that transcend the ordinary (not just romantic love but that which holds us up as human). We have characters that are so complex and who reveal themselves to us in ways we seldom see. The plot is complex and engaging. It could be divided into fourths, with each part a single plot line which then comes back to center. There are no cheap, superfluous elements here. At the time, it was controversial and there was talk that it was simply pushing shock value. Put the commentary aside and be ready for the ride.

Released in 1992, The Crying Game was considered to be one of the most controversial films of its time, and it featured one of the most well-kept secret plot twists in movie history. This film was criticized in both the UK, where it was filmed, and in America, but for entirely different reasons. Within the UK, The Crying Game was not well- received because of the underlying political issues, particularly the sympathetic portrayal of an IRA agent. In the U.S., the film was criticized mainly for what director Neil Jordan referred to as "sexual politics." These specific elements, however, were precisely what drew audiences to the film. Neil Jordan's outstanding film deals with important themes of race, nationality, gender, and sexuality in a way that has opened my mind to a whole new approach to filmmaking. I have a tremendous appreciation for the way this film pushed boundaries, not for the sake of shock value but because it was absolutely essential for telling this story. It is my belief that artists should to be able to freely express themselves in their work, however contentious it may be. Controversial topics like those in The Crying Game should be embraced and celebrated rather than shied away from.

I expected this movie to be rubbish. I'd never seen it before, I'd only heard it referenced in popular culture, in movies, TV-shows, etc, where they made fun of it.So I expected it to be horrible. But it was not. It was great. It had everything. It had action, shooting, suspense, violence, comedy. Romance. The unexpected.If this movie wasn't the way it was, it'd be far higher rated. It's simply a very good movie, with very good and accomplished actors in it, and a very good storyline.I would watch it again.

Jody (Forest Whitaker) is a British soldier lured and kidnapped by Jude (Miranda Richardson) and her IRA group with Fergus (Stephen Rea). Jody befriends Fergus and Jody tells him about his girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson). Jody runs away as Fergus follows reluctant to shoot him. By coincidence, the British army arrive to gun down the IRA group and accidentally runs over Jody. Fergus escapes and seeks out Dil, the London hairdresser.Writer/director Neil Jordan does something special here. There is a slightly homosexual tone between Jody and Fergus' interaction. It doesn't let on but it's constantly there. Of course it's about the shocking reveal. It certainly shocked me when I first saw it. At first glance, it could be seen as a simple gimmick. However watching it more than once, the whole movie is infused with that theme. The twist isn't something out of the blue and yet it's completely unexpected.