Boys Don't Cry (1999)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Kimberly Peirce

Writers:

Kimberly Peirce (written by) &
Andy Bienen (written by)

Release Date:

29 October 1999 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A true story about finding the courage to be yourself.

Plot:

The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.

Plot Keywords:

Nebraska | Hate Crime | Voice Over Narration | Gay Slur | Stabbed In Stomach

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 41 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Hilary Swank	...	Brandon Teena
Chloë Sevigny	...	Lana Tisdel
Peter Sarsgaard	...	John Lotter
Brendan Sexton III	...	Tom Nissen
Alicia Goranson	...	Candace
Alison Folland	...	Kate
Jeanetta Arnette	...	Lana's Mom (as Jeannetta Arnette)
Rob Campbell	...	Brian
Matt McGrath	...	Lonny
Cheyenne Rushing	...	Nicole
Robert Prentiss	...	Trucker
Josh Ridgway	...	Kwik Stop Cashier
Craig Erickson	...	Trucker in Kwik Stop
Stephanie Sechrist	...	April
Jerry Haynes	...	Judge
Lou Perryman	...	Sheriff
Lisa Renee Wilson	...	Pam (as Lisa Wilson)
Jackson Kane	...	Sam Phillips
Joseph Gibson	...	Tom
Michael Tripp	...	Nerdy Teen
Shana McClendon	...	Girl in Car
Libby Villari	...	Nurse
Paige Carl Griggs	...	Dave - Deputy
Gail Cronauer	...	Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guilford Adams	...	Teena Brandon's Father (uncredited)
Chad Briley	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ryan Thomas Brockington	...	Kiss (uncredited)
Michelle Fairbanks	...	Girl in Car (uncredited)
Gabriel Horn	...	Lester - Restraining Order Guy (uncredited)
Robert A. Steffenino	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Natalie Zea	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Kimberly Peirce

Writing credits
Kimberly Peirce		(written by) &
Andy Bienen		(written by)

Produced by
Jill Footlick	....	line producer
John Hart	....	producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Eva Kolodner	....	producer
Jon Marcus	....	line producer: additional photography, New York
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Jeff Sharp	....	producer (as Jeffrey Sharp)
Bradford Simpson	....	associate producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Morton Swinsky	....	co-producer (as Mort Swinsky)
Christine Vachon	....	producer

Original Music by
Nathan Larson

Cinematography by
Jim Denault

Film Editing by
Tracy Granger
Lee Percy

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Jennifer McNamara
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Art Direction by
Shawn Carroll

Costume Design by
Victoria Farrell

Makeup Department
Angela Angel	....	hair assistant
Angela Angel	....	makeup assistant
Jane Choi	....	key makeup artist: additional photography, New York
Jeff Francis	....	hair stylist: Ms. Sevigny, additional photography, New York
Kalen Hoyle	....	makeup artist
Renee Lecuyer	....	key hair stylist (as Renee Le Cuyer)
Renee Lecuyer	....	key makeup artist (as Renee Le Cuyer)
Renee Lecuyer	....	key makeup effects (as Renee Le Cuyer)
Kerrie R. Plant	....	key hair stylist: additional photography, New York (as Kerrie Plant)
Kerrie R. Plant	....	makeup stylist: additional photography, New York (as Kerrie Plant)
Nicki Ledermann	....	makeup consultant (uncredited)

Production Management
Jon Marcus	....	unit production manager: additional photography, New York
Rachel Peters	....	executive in charge of production: Hart Sharp
Katie Roumel	....	executive in charge of production: Killer Films
Jamie H. Zelermyer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alfie Kiernan	....	second assistant director
W. Alex Korp	....	second second assistant director
Jim LaClair	....	first assistant director (as Jim Laclair)
Jay Richard Piro	....	first assistant director: additional photography, New York (as Jay Piro)
Jeanine Rohn	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Phyllis Detrich	....	property master
Sherief Elkatsha	....	set dresser: additional photography, New York
Jimmy Estrada	....	assistant props (as Jimmy Joe Estrada)
Lynn A. Johanson	....	leadperson
Lissa Murphy	....	set dresser (as Lisa Murphy)
Amy Beth Silver	....	art director: additional photography, New York (as Amy Silver)
Andrea Stanley	....	art director: additional photography, New York
Debra Sugarman	....	set dresser
Sarah J. Thompson	....	set dresser
Minda Work	....	leadperson

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor
Jeremy Brill	....	sound intern
Eric A. Christoffersen	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Eric Christoffersen)
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sean Garnhart	....	sound effects editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Haasch	....	foley engineer
Alex Herrera	....	boom operator (as Alex A. Herrera)
William Kozy	....	sound mixer: additional photography, New York
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor (as Hal Levinson)
Mack Melson	....	production sound mixer
Cate Montana	....	sound intern
Igor Nikolic	....	assistant editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley supervisor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Matthew C. Beville	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Kate Eales	....	background sound editor (uncredited)
Sean Garnhart	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Jennifer Ralston	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jack Bennett	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical effects: Custom Film Effects
Vincent Lavares	....	digital asset manager (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	optical camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Tim Buchanan	....	stunts
Jeremy Hill	....	stunts (as Jeramy Hill)
Ben Loggins	....	stunt coordinator
Diane Towery	....	stunts
Russell Towery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Troy Anderson	....	third electric
Joe Arcidiacono	....	director of photography: additional photography, New York
Paul Armstrong	....	additional camera assistant
Rhett Bakke	....	second assistant camera
Hugo Bonilla	....	best boy grip: additional photography, New York
John Cadenhead	....	third grip (as John T. Cadenhead III)
Claire F. Cario	....	first assistant camera (as Claire Cario)
Elizabeth Casinelli	....	best boy electric
Jack Cocker	....	grip/electric swing
Christopher Davis	....	additional electric
Lance Dooley	....	additional swing
James D. Faust	....	additional electric (as Jhames D. Faust)
Hank Fischer	....	grip/electric swing
Tom Graybael	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Dallas (as Tom 'Barney' Graybael)
Matthew Hale	....	best boy grip (as Matthew D. Hale)
Carrie Huff	....	additional grip
Daniel Jacob	....	additional electric (as Daniel Jacobs)
Ruben Levins	....	camera production assistant: second unit, Dallas
Russell Lindsay	....	additional grip
Seth Loft	....	key grip: additional photography, New York
Bill Matlock	....	still photographer
Brian McKee	....	key grip
Scott Miller	....	gaffer
Scott Miller	....	gaffer: additional photography, New York
Michael Mizell	....	best boy electric: additional photography, New York
Eric Montes	....	additional grip
Nathan O'Neal	....	camera loader
John Pirozzi	....	director of photography: time-lapse photography
Chris Reynolds	....	additional camera assistant
Antonio Rossi	....	first assistant camera: additional photography, New York
James Soward	....	additional electric
Seamus Tierney	....	additional electric
Joshua Van Praag	....	grip/electric swing
Matt Walters	....	additional grip
Sebastian Widmann	....	camera loader: additional photography, New York
John Wilcox	....	additional swing (as John 'J.D.' Wilcox)
Jason May	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul S. Shapiro	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Emily Abt	....	extras casting assistant
Elizabeth Beck	....	extras casting director
Mark Bennett	....	casting assistant: New York
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Amy Grappell	....	casting director: local

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Beers	....	wardrobe supervisor: additional photography, New York
Mary McCormick	....	seamstress
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Matthew Ballen	....	post-production intern
Janna Bilski	....	post-production intern
Marc Bruni	....	post-production intern (as Mark Bruni)
Gabrielle Demeestere	....	post-production intern
Emily Digiacomo	....	post-production intern
Ryan Ganimian	....	post-production intern
Joe Graceffa	....	post-production intern
Rebecca Green	....	post-production intern
Fred Grinstein	....	post-production intern
Michelle Harrison	....	associate editor
Elizabeth Heeden	....	second conform assistant editor (as Elizabeth R. Heeden)
Kit Hui	....	post-production assistant
Irene Kassow	....	first assistant editor
Jonathan Kaye	....	second conform assistant editor (as Jonatan Kaye)
Marc Landers	....	post-production intern
Jordan Leff	....	post-production intern
Addison MacDonald	....	post-production intern (as Addison Macdonald)
Berndt Mader	....	post-production intern
Aleeza Marashlian	....	post-production intern
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Daishiro Narita	....	post-production assistant
Andy Newcomer	....	post-production intern
Tina Pacheco	....	first assistant editor
Maxine Pardo	....	post-production intern
Seyi Peter-Thomas	....	post-production intern
Cecile Rebbot	....	post-production intern
Olivia Relova	....	post-production intern
Sebastien Robeis	....	post-production intern
April Roth	....	post-production intern
Jennifer Ruff	....	avid support
Lousine Shamamian	....	apprentice editor
Michael Sledd	....	post-production intern
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Stan Sztaba	....	negative cutter (as Stan)
Laura Weinberg	....	conform assistant editor
Virginia Williams	....	post-production intern
Tanya Yokum	....	post-production intern
John McNulty	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Ken Rubenfeld	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Jim Dunbar	....	executive music producer
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearances (as Chris Parker)
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Allan Zaleski	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Marty Carrington	....	driver
Robert C. Fite	....	driver
Wally Welch	....	driver

Other crew
Laird Adamson	....	assistant: Christine Vachon
Leora Backer	....	assistant production office coordinator
Aaron Bartz	....	production assistant
Paul Brennan	....	legal services: Sloss Law
Peter Burns	....	assistant: John Hart
Ronnie Butler	....	security
John Cadenhead	....	location manager
Terry K. Cahill	....	security
George Camarda	....	script supervisor: additional photography, New York
Judson Davenport	....	location production assistant
Rachel Dawson	....	production office coordinator: additional photography, New York
Stephen Dupree	....	production assistant
Barak Epstein	....	intern
Tony Estrada	....	location scout
Dee Evans	....	production office coordinator
Mark M. Faulkner	....	security
Andrea Friedman	....	additional location manager
Tommy Garrett	....	security
Kyle Gross	....	security
Jeremy Slade Haak	....	intern
Gabriel Harris	....	production assistant: additional photography, New York
Beverly G. Hendley	....	security
Jeff Hill	....	publicist
Gates Houp	....	production assistant
Susanne Jones	....	travel
Louis Katz	....	physician: New York (as Louis Katz, MD)
Kim Kyle	....	intern
Maria Lee	....	intern
Sherri Lennon	....	location manager
Joni Linton	....	script supervisor: second unit, Dallas
Jennifer Lobban	....	accounting intern
Jennifer Lobban	....	production intern
Ann Marsland	....	office production assistant
Jen McGowan	....	production assistant: additional photography, New York (as Jennifer McGowan)
Dr. Gerald Michaelson	....	physician: California (as Gerald Michaelson, MD)
Randy Miears	....	key set production assistant
Susan R. Millard	....	security
Ross Miller	....	insurance: D.R. Reiff And Associates
Pamela Mount	....	location scout
David O	....	production assistant
Roman Ostrowski	....	physician: New York (as Roman Ostrowski, MD)
Bill Perkins	....	location production assistant
Michael Raines	....	production assistant
Jack Riccobono	....	production assistant: additional photography, New York (as Jack Ricobono)
Pamela Richardson	....	script supervisor
Stanton Grant Richardson	....	security
Cody Rogers	....	office production assistant
Cody Rogers	....	set medic
Bob Roizman	....	projectionist: additional photography, New York
Ben Schoen	....	titles: Scarlet Letters
Paula Schoen	....	physician: California (as Paula Shoen, MD)
M.K. Shaw	....	production accountant
Mark Shelby	....	location scout
Fred Siegel	....	tax accountant (as Fred Siegel, CPA)
Anitra K-M Smith	....	office production assistant
Maya Stowe	....	assistant: Kim Peirce
Paul Worrel	....	physician: Texas (as Paul Worrel, MD)
Jason Zampino	....	production assistant: additional photography, New York
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	production advisor (uncredited)
Robert P. Campbell	....	product placement (uncredited)
Dylan Verrechia	....	assistant: Kim Peirce (uncredited)

Thanks
Rob Albright	....	thanks
Lynn Auerbach	....	thanks
Consuelo Saah Baehr	....	thanks
Tonyee Barretonetto	....	thanks
Kate Bornstein	....	thanks
Nancy Brody	....	thanks
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	thanks: Dallas/Fort Worth Film Commission (as Sara Bruce-Craft)
Eliza Byard	....	thanks
Lorne Cameron	....	thanks (as Loren Cameron)
Mark Christopher	....	thanks: for development in the film's initial stages
Dan Cowherd	....	thanks
DeMane Davis	....	thanks (as Demane Davis)
Lenore Dekoven	....	thanks
Esther Drill	....	thanks
Huong Duong	....	thanks
Nicole Eisenman	....	thanks
Alli Farrell	....	thanks (as Ali Farrell)
Tony Faulkner	....	thanks
Daphne Fitzpatrick	....	thanks
Ellen Franning	....	thanks
Alison Froling	....	thanks
Linda Gutierres	....	thanks
Lori E. Seid	....	thanks (as Lori E. Side)
Lana Tisdel	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (present)
• The Independent Film Channel Productions (present)
• Killer Films
• Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (Argentina)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (optical effects)

Other Companies

• AC Delco Co.  thanks to (as AC Delco)
• All Payments Services  payroll (as All Payments)
• American Auto Rental  picture cars
• Arent Fox  thanks to (as Eileen at Arnet Fox)
• Automotive Fabrication  picture cars
• Bank of America  bank (as Bank of America Texas)
• Broadway Skateland  thanks to
• Budget Rent-a-Car  trucks
• C5  audio post production services (as C5, Inc.)
• Candlewood Suites  accommodations
• Cape Cod Chips  thanks to (as Cape Cod Potato Chips)
• Celis Beer  thanks to (as Celius Beer)
• Cine Shop  prop/set dressing shop
• City of Crandall, Texas  thanks to
• City of McKinney, Texas  thanks to
• Club Tassas  thanks to
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  insurance (as D.R. Reiff And Associates)
• DTA Tours & Travel  travel (as DTA Travel And Tours)
• Dallas Peterbilt  picture cars
• Direct Events  prop/set dressing shop
• Double Duece Bar  thanks to
• Falco Ink.  publicity (as Falco, Inc.)
• Falls City Journal, The  thanks to
• Farkas Films  thanks to
• Fina  thanks to
• Fossil  thanks to
• Goodedit  conform room (as Good Edit)
• Hand Held Films  camera equipment by: additional photography, New York
• Health Nut, The  caterers
• Hill Top Classics  picture cars
• Honest John's Caddy Corner  picture cars (as Caddy Corner)
• Independent Studio Services  prop/set dressing shop
• JP Morgan Chase Bank  bank (as Chase Bank NY)
• Karaoke Capital  karaoke equipment
• Koch Records  soundtrack available on
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lesbian Herstory Archives, The  thanks to
• Mach II Travel  travel
• Mama's  catering by: additional photography, New York (as Mama's Food Shop)
• Manhattan Transfer  dailies
• McKinney Chamber of Commerce  thanks to
• McKinney Grain Company  thanks to
• Mill - McKinney, Texas, The  thanks to
• Mobile Production Services  expendables
• Nantucket Nectars  thanks to
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks to (as NYC Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting)
• New York Foundation for the Arts  thanks to
• New York State Council on the Arts  thanks to (as New York State Council for the Arts)
• North Dallas R.V.  picture cars
• Ozarka Natural Spring Water, Co.  thanks to
• Panavision  cameras & lenses (as Panavision®)
• Paris Film Productions  lighting equipment by: additional photography, New York
• Post 391  editing room
• Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman  thanks to
• PrimeCo Personal Communications  mobile phones (as Prime Co. Personal Communications)
• Red Derby Tavern, The  thanks to
• Reels on Wheels  shipping/freight
• Reliable Go Carts  picture cars
• Scarlet Letters  titles by
• Slosslaw  legal services (as Sloss Law)
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixer
• Spice of Life Catering  caterers
• Spin Cycle Post  ADR studio: NY
• Sundance Institute, The  developed with the assistance of (as the Sundance Film Institute)
• TMT  thanks to (as T.M.T. Inc.)
• Texas Metal Industries  thanks to
• The Astraea Foundation  thanks to (as Astrea Foundation)
• Thrifty Car Rental  cars (as Thrifty)
• Trade Audio Visuals  walkies (as Trade Audio Visual Corp.)
• Transsexual Menace  thanks to
• Ugly Duckling  picture cars
• Utility Trailer of Dallas  picture cars
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR studio: CA (as Wilshire Stages)
• Women Make Movies  thanks to
• World Cinevision Services  negative cutter (as World Cinevision)

Also Known As:

Take It Like a Man (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence including an intense brutal rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:R (Approved No. 36926) (edited for re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 (director's cut) | France:-16 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | Brazil:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Diane Keaton originally considered directing with Drew Barrymore in the lead.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Near the beginning of the movie when Brandon's wallet spills to the floor, his license clearly is an Iowa driver's license. Yet towards the end after the rape scene, Brandon tells Lani she has never left Lincoln, Nebraska. In fact, it is common for fake ids (which Brandon has) to be out-of-state ids, since this makes authentication more difficult.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Brandon: "Dear Lana, By the time you read this I'll be back home in Lincoln. I'm scared of what's ahead, but when I think of you I know I'll be able to go on. You were right, Memphis isn't that far off. I'll be taking that trip down the highway before too long. I'll be waiting for you. Love always and forever, Brandon."

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Sugar Rush: (#2.5)" (2006/I)

Soundtrack:

A New Shade Of Blue

Sometimes they do

This movie really made me think about sexual differences and what it means to have a sex change or to want one, or to be trapped in a gender you don't want. It was very effective to have us see Hilary Swank (who plays Brandon Teena/Teena Brandon) with short hair and male facial expressions and gestures without giving us a glimpse of her as Teena. (Actually we did get a brief glimpse in a photo.) Swank looks like a boy, acts like a boy, in fact works hard to be a boy; indeed that is (sadly) part of what this movie is about, what it means to be a boy in middle America as opposed to being a girl. And then when we have the scene with the tampons and the breast wrapping and we see her legs, the effect is startling, an effect possibly lost on those who knew that the person playing Brandon was a woman. It was when I saw her legs and could tell at a glance that she was a woman with a woman's legs that I realized just how subtle, but unmistakable are the anatomical sexual differences, and how convincing Swank's portrayal was.

I was reminded as I watched this of being a young person, of being a teenager and going through all the rituals and rites, unspoken, unplanned, without social sanction, that we all go through to prove our identity, because that is what Brandon was so eager to do, to prove his identity as a boy. I thought, ah such an advantage he has with the girls because he knows what they like and what they want. He can be smooth, and how pretty he looks. It was strange. I actually knew some guys in my youth who had such talent, and the girls did love them.

The direction by Kimberly Peirce is nicely paced and the forebodings of horror to come are sprinkled lightly throughout so that we don't really think about the resolution perhaps until the campfire scene in which John Lotter shows his self-inflicted scars and tosses the knife to Brandon. Then we know for sure, something bad is going to happen.

Hilary Swank is very convincing. Her performance is stunning, and she deserved the Academy Award she won for Best Actress. She is the type of tomboy/girl so beloved of the French cinema, tomboyish, but obvious a girl like, for example, Zouzou as seen in Chloe in the Afternoon (1972) or Élodie Bouchez in the The Dreamlife of Angels (1998), or many others. Indeed, one is even reminded of Juliette Binoche, who of course can play anything, or going way back, Leslie Caron in Gigi (1958). Chloe Signvey, who plays Lana Tisdel, the girl Brandon loves, whom I first saw in Palmetto (1998), where she stole a scene or two from Woody Allen and Elisabeth Shue, really comes off ironically as butch to Swank, yet manages a sexy, blue collar girl next door femininity. She also does a great job. Peter Sarsgaard is perfect as John Lotter, trailer trash car thief and homophobic redneck degenerate.

Very disturbing is the ending. If you know the story, you know the ending. Just how true this was to the real life story it is based on is really irrelevant. I knew nothing about the story, but I know that film makers always take license to tell it the way they think it will play best, and so it's best to just experience the film as the film, independent of the real story, which, like all real stories, can never be totally told.

Obviously this is not for the kiddies and comes as close to an "X" rating as any "R" movie you'll ever see. It will make most viewers uncomfortable, but it is the kind of story that needs to be told.