Film Review: The Crying Game (1992)

There are films that, due to their subject matter, seem more relevant today than they were at the time of premiere. Yet, that very same passage of time can also make them dated and not as effective as before. This is what, to a certain degree, happened to The Crying Game, 1992 British thriller drama written and directed by Neil Jordan.

The plot begins in Northern Ireland where black British soldier named Jody (played by Forest Whitaker) gets seduced by local woman named Jude (played by Miranda Richardson) and falls into a trap set up by Irish Republican Army. Protagonist, played by Stephen Rea, is Fergus, member of IRA unit that abducted Jody in order to exchange it for one of its leaders in British custody. He is given the task of guarding prisoner and during couple of days two men surprisingly find that they like each other and become friends, although it is very likely that Jody would be ultimately be killed. Jody asks Fergus to take care of Dil (played by Jaye Davidson), his lover he had left in London. Although Fergus is ultimately unable to execute Jody, a soldier nevertheless dies. Guilty conscience makes Fergus leave IRA and head to London where he would try to start new life as “Jimmy”. He meets Dil, a mixed race hairdresser and part-time lounge singer, and becomes intrigued by her, gradually falling in love with her. The complicated relationship between Fergus and Dil will be challenged when he discovers Dil’s well-kept but important secret, but even more so when Fergus’ old IRA comrades track him down and try to force him to take part in high-profile assassination, threatening Dil in the process.

When The Crying Game was originally distributed at British Isles, it failed at the box office. This could be explained by the subplot dealing with still-ongoing Northern Ireland conflict; British audience didn’t appreciate sympathetic portrayal of protagonist who happens to be IRA militant, while Irish audience didn’t like members of IRA being portrayed as cold-blooded and cruel killers. The Crying Game ultimately found its success on the other side of Big Pond, being greeted with enormous enthusiasm by critics and becoming box office hit. Much of that could be credited to the major plot twist that happens at the half of the film; it made critics enforce their own code of silence in order to avoid spoiler, while at the same time creating great publicity for the film. In many ways, that shocking revelation was the same as in The Sixth Sense few years later. It would ultimately become the only thing actually remembered about film, subject of numerous parodies and homages and part of popular culture. The Crying Game also became synonymous with certain uncomfortable and embarrassing situation certain men, like the protagonist, can find themselves in real life.

Yet, that plot twist is both the film’s strength and its weakness, the latter being more visible in our times. What was rather shocking and unusual in early 1990s is definitely less so in our times, when certain alternative forms of sexuality and gender identities have became not only part of mainstream, but also a superior force in current culture wars in the West. The twist in the film managed to overshadow everything else, even elements of Jordan’s script that dealt with issues of class, race and even Norther Irish Troubles. Yet, it doesn’t mean that The Crying Game is bad film because of it. On the contrary, by having his film in contemporary urban setting, very much like his earlier hit Mona Lisa, Jordan has again proven himself as very talented director. Film is very-well paced and, despite troubles with budget, shows high production values. Jordan cleverly uses some of traditional pop songs with lyrics that serve as ironic commentary of the plot. He also relies on an excellent cast. Irish actor Stephen Rea, mostly specialised in character roles, shines in one of rare opportunities to play lead. Character of Fergus/Jimmy is strangely passive, often doesn’t make the smartest choices but nevertheless manages to win audience’s sympathies as person that ultimately wants to do the right thing. English actress Miranda Richardson is also great in the role of a woman who radiates seductive beauty and pure evil at the same time. American actor Forest Whitaker also does a marvellous job in potentially thankless role that had him use British accent. Unfortunately, model Jaye Davidson in the role of film’s femme fatale is the weakest link. Davidson’s performance looks rather underwhelming in comparison with the rest of the cast, which might explain why Davidson’s acting career, despite Oscar nomination, ended only after few years. The Crying Game ultimately won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and became big boost for Miramax, US distributor that would become major driving force of independent cinemas in 1990s.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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