#47 The Crying Game

Genre: psychological thriller

Director: Neil Jordan

Writer: Neil Jordan

Cast: Stephen Rea, Forest Whitaker, Miranda Richardson

Music by: Anne Dudley

Duration: approximately 6,720 seconds

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...

Riding a script full of twists, with a cast which are able to follow these turns convincingly, The Crying Game emerges as a rather enjoyable movie. Disregarding the hype, Neil Jordan shows great maturity in handling subjects which are perfect for stereotyping with a firm, open-minded touch. That love, whatever its form, can triumph over all adversity is a common theme in cinema, yet here the story remains fresh and vibrant. The fine acting helps of course, particularly that of Jaye Davidson, in breathing life into the characters, although it's a brave film which kills one of its stars early on. Continuing from this shocking event, the film never descends to palming us off with easy, Hollywood-like solutions - the ending is entirely reasonable and still leaves us with room to hope. It's true that there are some flaws in the plot and, perhaps, some superfluous scenes but the result is, definitely, memorable...

7 comments

#1, by xnefrex, on 25 October 2011, 8:05 pm

I have never seen this movie, but I'm glad you've chosen it anyway since its plot seems to be pretty interesting and now there is a chance you might think about the next movie that I'd like to recommend, with a pretty similar plot, by the way. Have you seen 'In The Name Of The Father'? Well, I think it would be nice to show it to the other members of our little club :) But, it's up to you! Also, I have another one that might be interesting as well... :)

#2, by Cottage, on 27 October 2011, 11:34 am

congrats on your anticipation of what might be on next in ccc..:) i've been thinking about 'in the name of the father' as it's a truly powerful cinematic experience and it's one of those films that change you and your seeing and understanding of the world.. both films show the irish struggling for their independence from the crown but i think the main focus differs a bit.. i don't want to reveal what i mean now since i'm going to do it when the time to see the sheridan movie comes..
btw, would you find time to give a talk next week? i've got a couple of things i'd like you to think about and then say what conclusions you've reached..:)
ah, what's the movie on your mind?

#3, by xnefrex, on 27 October 2011, 1:12 pm

haha! :D sure I would, I had a chance to give a talk last year, so I already know how it is, so I won't be so stressed out :) (not that I was last time... ;)) so, I'm waiting for your clues and tips and I'll make something up. Well, since Daniel Day-Lewis is my favourite actor and I'm in love with him (oh, that platonic love! :D) I'd like to recommend 'My Left Foot' that tells the story of an Irish painter, Christy Brown. Seen it? Also, the next one that is a good one is 'There Will Be Blood', but I think it'd be too hard to understand and some people could find it boring...

#4, by Cottage, on 28 October 2011, 10:28 am

if people checked the ethymology, they all'd know that daniel means quality..:]
well, i think a few things should be talked about before the movie's screened.. what follows will be the result of self-brainstorm, which somehow will be joycean-like in style..:) here we go then: the ira, british dominance, ireland, northern ireland, catholics vs protestants, sinn fein, struggle for freedom, negotiations or uprising?, can terror attacks be justified?, why it's worth/not worth fighting for freedom at any cost, difference (if any) between freedom and independence, ideologies - do they poison and are they ophium for mankind?, why can't the crown give up on northern ireland?
these are the things that come to me on this occasion..
as for your recommendations, somehow i knew you'd come up with 'my left foot' here..:) i've seen 'there will be blood' as well.. in the latter, the screen's just too small for daniel and the negative energy radiates in tidal waves from the character played by him.. really powerful.. wonder if you've seen one of my favourite day-lewis's roles that's definitely newland archer in 'the age of innocence'.. the film also happens to be one of the best (if not the best) book adaptations i've come across.. read it once years ago and really enjoyed it.. it's a rare situation when it's actually a good idea to see the film first and then admire how scorsese visualised it.. a real gem..

The last modyfication on 28 October 2011, 10:40 am, by Cottage

#5, by xnefrex, on 30 October 2011, 10:13 am

no doubts :)

fine, I'll think about those problems and try to make my talk interesting and appealing, maybe a bit peculiar, since last time they didn't really want to talk about old age, so now it might be even harder, just because young people, in my opinion, are not really into history, and they barely know about those things that occured... but I'll do my best!
well, I can always use music to make it clear and understandable, I guess everyone knows Sunday Bloody Sunday ;)

and oh, well, I haven't seen that one, actually tried to find it online yesterday, but couldn't.

#6, by Cottage, on 31 October 2011, 7:45 pm

do it then..:) i'd like to hear what you've got ready on wednesday.. possible?
and don't bother downloading 'the age of innocence' as i've got it on dvd.. so if you're patient enough and can wait, you'll get it in a couple of days..;)

#7, by xnefrex, on 31 October 2011, 8:54 pm

possible :)
awesome, thanks!