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.
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.