Boys Don’t Cry: 25th Anniversary- A Second Look: Still Very Resonante In 2024
Quick Take: It has been 25 years since Hilary Swank burst onto the screen with her Oscar winning performance as Brandon Teena, a performance that some believe today should have been played by a trans actor. The truth is, it likely would not have had the same profile, as it already felt subversive for 1999, just existing. I don’t even remember this opening near me until after it won the Oscar. I came from a rural area, like brandon, and the truth is that LGBTQ culture in those areas was non-existent out in the open. And these small towns certainly were not looking to cultivate anything. I always found it amazing we even got films like The Birdcage and To Wong Foo, but those were major releases. Hilary’s performance here is still stunning. in the battle of Annette Bening vs Hilary Swank, I’d balance the scales by letting Bening win for American Beauty (as it was not her first nomination), leaving Swank the win for Million Dollar baby on her second. For more thoughts, check out the video.