The Crying Game

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The Crying Game ★★★½ 1992 (R)

PR lesson in how to launch a small movie into the hypersphere and ensure critical silence on salient characterization. Jordan's gritty drama is on par with his best, a complex blend of violence, love, betrayal, guilt, and redemption and is not about what it seems to be about much of the time. Wonderful performances by all, including Rea as the appealing, conscience-stricken Fergus; Richardson as the cold, violent IRA moll Jude; and Davidson, in a film debut, as the needy, charismatic Dil. Whitaker is terrific in his 15 minutes of intense screen time. Filled with definite surprises and unexpected pleasures. Title is taken from a top-5 British hit of 1964, three versions of which are heard. 112m/C VHS, DVD . IR Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, Miranda Richardson, Forest Whitaker, Adrian Dunbar, Jim Broadbent, Ralph Brown, Bref-fini McKenna, Joe Savino, Birdy Sweeney, Andre Bernard; D: Neil Jordan; W: Neil Jordan; C: Ian Wilson; M: Anne Dudley. Oscars '92: Orig. Screenplay; Australian Film Inst. '93: Foreign Film; Ind. Spirit '93: Foreign Film; L.A. Film Critics '92: Foreign Film; N.Y. Film Critics '92: Screenplay, Support. Actress (Richardson); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '92: Actor (Rea); Writers Guild '92: Orig. Screenplay.