User reviews

Highly unusual drama concerning an English soldier (Forest Whitaker) who is kidnapped by an underground Irish Army, eventually befriending his captor (Stephen Rea), which leads to a complicated series of personal entanglements involving the soldier's lover (the mysterious Jaye Davidson). Exceptionally well-made picture from canny director Neil Jordan, who also penned the screenplay and won an Oscar. Too bad the third act is so convoluted, and the final scene so banal, that a slight dissatisfaction clouds the overall result. Nevertheless, a daring and provocative piece with excellent performances. **1/2 from ****

The less you know about this film, the better. I won't tell you anything except what a well-written and well-acted movie this is. from the first 15 minutes, which is mainly dialogue between two actors, you are completely drawn in to the film, which has almost dream-like qualities.

If you were planning to see it just because of the "twist" and to see what everyone was talking about, then see it. If you were planning to see it for the amazing script, acting and direction - see it. And if you were planning on not seeing it - see it

Looking back at The Crying Game after a quarter of a century from its cinema release, it still is an intriguing film. It also looks increasingly quaint because within two years of its release there was a rapprochement between the IRA and the British government that would eventually lead to the peace process.

Jody (Forest Whitaker) is a British soldier in Northern Ireland who is befriended by Jude (Miranda Richardson) who is an IRA agent. She plans to lure him into a honey trap where he is kidnapped.

Jody angry and shocked befriends Fergus (Stephen Rea) one of his kidnappers. They tell stories to each other, Jody talks of his passion for cricket and his girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson.) Jody asks Fergus to look up Dil after he is dead.

When the times comes Fergus reluctantly takes up the task to shoot him but Jody runs away into the woods and is run over by an army van that was on its way to rescue him and engages in battle with some of the kidnappers.

Fergus escapes and arrives to London, gets a job in a building site and finds Dil who works as an hairdresser and performs at a nearby pub. They initially communicate via Col the barman (Jim Broadbent.)

Dil is being harassed by a bully called Dave and it is not long before Fergus's IRA comrades arrive. They are angry at him for escaping in the aftermath of the botched hit on Jody. Yet Fergus and Dil still manage to fall in love through all the obstacles that arise.

The film has an opening of a kidnap thriller with angry performances from Miranda Richardson and Adrian Dunbar as the IRA operatives. It then deviates to another kind of story, one involving a blossoming romance between essentially two outsiders, damaged in their own ways. Dil grieving over her boyfriend who has been killed but not knowing of Fergus's involvement in it.

There are now two Oscar winners in this film. Forest Whitaker's cockney accent makes Dick van Dyke's turn in Mary Poppins into a masterclass of accents. The more subtle performance is from Jim Broadbent as the knowing barman.

There is a precocious, vulnerable performance from Jaye Davidson whose hands betray a secret which Fergus failed to pick up on.

The film has characters that lacked depth and a third act which was clunky and disappointing as Fergus is lured to another job by his so called IRA friends.

I felt actors Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, Jim Broadbent, and Miranda Richardson, carried an unlikely story along by following its philosophical theme of "It's easy to come tumbling out" which I found made it too hard to accept as plausible.

Despite his talent and likeability, I also didn't find Forest Whittaker's English squaddie too convincing as his now-and-then cockney accent stuck out like dog's nuts.

But the acting is worth a look, and quite frankly, like most viewers, you will probably like it - and possibly even hail it as a masterpiece?

A British soldier called Jody is kidnapped by the IRA and held hostage . Given the task of guarding him Fergus listens to Jody discuss his life . Showing Fergus a photograph of his girlfriend Dil and Fergus starts a strange obsession for Dil

In 1992 this came and went in the blink of an eye at the British box office . Hardly surprising because the British box office appetite for Brit movies was still three or four years away . A British film in those days was basically a TV play with slightly better production values and this one is little different . When it was released in the rest of the world it became the film to see especially in America . Cynical Brits who hadn't seen the film would sneer that showing the IRA is a good light might have everything to do with it but then critics and marketing started making reference to the film's twist so much that when the film started picking up nominations at the big awards ceremonies people would jokingly ask if Jaye Davidson would be Oscar nominated as best supporting actor or best supporting actress

This of course lets the cat out of the bag for everyone who hadn't seen the film . THE CRYING GAME exists mainly to set up this plot twist . If it was a conventional love story it would have headed straight to video and obscurity . Great suspension of disbelief is needed and the disbelief is a bit too difficult to suspend . Dil might look very feminine on celluloid but I can tell you in real life ladyboy wannabes are not so convincing . I remember one time in Pokhara in Nepal the town opened its gates to a ladyboy convention and I guarantee you not even Stevie Wonder would be fooled . There's a mannerism and a metaphysical aura to a transsexual impersonating a woman that fails to convince and knowing this you'd have severe doubts that Fergus would be taken in . The screenplay itself is very contrived with Jody having to become conveniently deaf which seals his fate and Fergus having to bump in to old friends

That said I did find myself not exactly enjoying the film after first seeing it after a gap of nearly twenty years but respecting it more . This is certainly almost down to the hype surrounding the film on its release in America where the critics gave the impression this was the greatest film ever made . It's not but is a well acted well made drama . Forest Whittaker makes a mess of his accent which while rarely slipping in to American doesn't sound like a London accent . Stephen Rea manages to make his character likable even though he playing the long clichéd role of a " good " IRA man . Miranda Richardson who seemed to appear in every British film from the period does well enough enough to exorcise memories of her singularly awful performances as Queen Ezlibath in BLACKADDER 2 but the film quite rightly belongs to Jaye Davidson as Dil after appearing in this also gave an equally good performance in STARGATE then promptly disappeared as quickly arrived

In summary THE CRYING GAME is a film that probably suffered from its own hype after becoming a sleeper hit in the States . It's never as deep as it tries try to be fusing issues of sexuality and identity . It's a love story with a difference but apart from the shock plot twist it's a film that would have appeared on channel 4 one Thursday night without causing a ripple

This movie was quite disappointing to watch after reading the reviews saying it was great. I don't understand the allure this film holds on many people. The pace is slow and characters' motivations change after each scene. Stuck it out until the end to see if there was any great twist, but it just laid flat to the credits.

Known more for it's twist than anything, The crying game at best is a average drama . The film never went anywhere. First half was at least intriguing but after the Twist it began to feel cheap.

With Forest's awful accent, it can take anyone many minutes to realise he English. The overall acting was fine and the conversations between the hostage and the capturer were engaging. All fairness , the first half of the film was enjoyable but after the twist it began to be daft. Thought i was watching another overblown story from the writers for Eastenders I find it hard why the crying game is ranked up there with the greatest British films of all time. After listening to the cockney lady call out " Jimmy" for the hundredth time i began to loose my patience. The twist was unexpected but it did nothing for the overall film

This is a great movie. While "the scene" achieved great notoriety and some think that's all the movie is about, it's really about so much more. The desperation of the Irish to achieve freedom from England is very much on display here. Like other ancient feuds around the globe, the passion on both sides is evident in their willingness to do just about anything to advance their cause(s). It's also a powerful, if strange, story of human love. Complicated, deeply felt, real love. The kind that would make you sacrifice virtually everything to prevent the one you love from suffering pain. Excellent acting makes this a worthwhile investment of time. A film to remember and cherish.

Everybody who knows anything about Neil Jordan's film 'The Crying Game' knows about it's surprise ending. In fact, the twist comes well in advance of the end, but it's not the only surprising thing about this movie. Whereas some films lay out a premise and then never deviate from it, 'The Crying Game' moves repeatedly in unexpected (but not irrational) directions; if, at one quarter distance one attempted to guess what sort of film it would amount to, you'd probably call wrong; and again, at half-way, you'd make a different but still imperfect guess. It may be a thriller, but the overall narrative construction defies cliché.

Unfortuantly, Jordan proves quite a clunky director. The movie seems low-key without feeling particularly intimate, lacking a certain intensity that the plot would appear to demand. And the performances were also moderate: Miranda Richardson over-acts, while Forrest Whittaker, unconvincing as an Englishman, becomes even less believable when we see him playing cricket. Jaye Davidson, who plays the character in greatest emotional turmoil, never varies the tone of her voice; while being "cool" is part of her act, to me the character felt increasingly lifeless as the story continued. Stephen Rea, admittedly, was good in the lead role, but his understated character needs more life around him, and he can't save the movie on his own. It's still worth watching, and even you think you know what's coming, the way it's revealed will still take you by surprise. But Jordan's earlier film 'Mona Lisa' had a bit more spark.

The only reason I watched The Crying Game was because I had heard it was pretty good and it is from the same director as The Interview with the Vampire. Plus it was on TV. The film really surprised me. It was wonderfully made and had a great twist. The performances were real and profound. The writing was some of the best in years. And the direction was outstanding. And the costume design, art direction, makeup, and score were all amazing. The song The Crying Game also caught me as particularly wonderful. The Crying Game is a classic in every way. It makes a lasting impression and should be viewed many times. It is a true classic.

I watched this movie recently for the first time. I knew all about the movie from the hype it got 10 years earlier, and I knew what to expect, so it wasn't really a shock to me (especially since I also dated a transexual shortly before the movie came out). I found myself also wondering if Jody had set Fergus up knowing that he would be killed. However, the movie focuses on the 'true nature' of people, considering the frog and scorpion story. I think that Jody genuinely liked Fergus and, due to life experience, knew that it was in his nature to be kind. Because of this, he wanted Fergus to visit his lover knowing that once he met her, there would be a strong chance that he would take care of her. He also knew that, if anyone else was going to be able to get past Gil's physical problem, that it would be Fergus.

I enjoyed this movie immensely and would recommend it to anyone interested in an adventurous/intelligent/romantic movie. And figure out for yourself if it was all a nasty last-resort prank played on Fergus by Jody, or if it was a loving last-resort plea to have Fergus look after Jody's ill-fated but beautiful lover.

This wonderful movie is even better on the repeat viewing after the secret was out because you'd pay more attention to the smallest details and enjoy the brilliant storytelling and acting by everyone. Besides Rea, Whitaker, and Miranda Richardson, I'd like to mention Jim Broadbent as a sympathetic bartender Col. For me, though, the absolutely stunning, one of the very best debuts in the movie history was Jaye Davidson who had no movie experience. You know, there are not many characters that I keep thinking about after the movie is over - where did they come from, how their life would turn after the final credits, how would this cruel world treat them, would they be happy? And I want them to be happy. Dil (Davidson) is one of them - what a marvelous creature, how vulnerable yet dignified she is, what a combination of dry remote coolness and quiet tenderness. No wonder, Fergus (Rea) (as Whitaker's Jody before him) fell under her spell even after he found out that nothing is what it seems. Great movie - makes you think, makes you feel, makes you talk about it, makes you want to see it again.

9.5/10

It's hard to tell whether they're portraying the IRA negatively or positively, but once the twist comes, you're sure to have your mind blown. The plot of course concerns an IRA agent (Stephen Rea) getting involved with the hubby (Jaye Davidson) of an English soldier (Forest Whitaker) whom he kidnapped. When I first heard what the plot was - including the twist - I actually assumed that "The Crying Game" was a comedy, sort of a modern-day "Some Like It Hot". But trust me, what this movie portrays is no laughing matter at all.

Anyway, it's not like anything that you've ever seen before. And it certainly affirms Neil Jordan as a unique director. Also starring Miranda Richardson and Jim Broadbent.

From a philosophical viewpoint, this movie illustrates unconditional love, which is not that prevalent in our present world. We could all learn some things from this movie, if we chose to do so.

I regret that I am only ten (10) years behind in seeing and understanding this work.

The entire cast and crew were excellent in their work and the writer deserves tremendous credit for such insight and understanding of the degree of heart and soul which can and does exist in some people.

I would recommend it to anyone who is attempting to understand humanity and some of the trials and tribulations it puts itself through.

It is classified as a "teaching movie" specializing in unconditional love, or "fiction with a definite positive purpose". Beautiful work.

I hadn't seen this film but had heard good things about it and knew the 'twist'. It was shown on Film4's 'Films for Life' season in April 2011 so finally decided to watch it and was astounded by how bad it was. I'm bemused by all the comments here about the good script, good acting, etc because I experienced the exact opposite. The acting was appalling, especially Forest Whitaker and Jaye Davidson; Whitaker's English accent made Dick Van Dyke's Mary Poppins accent look good. It was all over the place, varying from Cockney to Australian to Texan American in one sentence. He was obviously concentrating on the accent as his acting was very hammy. Davidson was perhaps the most wooden and un-natural actor I've ever seen on screen - his happy, sad, drunk, murderous and suicidal were all delivered with the same emotionless deadpan monotone. The dialogue was stilted and full of cliché after cliché. The plot was unreal and relied on suspension of disbelief - apparently English people cannot distinguish between a thick Belfast accent and a Scottish one (wait a minute, that's Americans isn't it?); apparently the IRA plot the assassination of politicians off-the-cuff the day before in the back of a car with a 5 minute run-through and then, when it goes wrong, just wing it and deliberately instigate an OK Corral shoot-out....oh my, such a bad film