Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Aron Lewis "Normal" took me completely by surprise. Usually, a television only broadcasted movie means that this film wasn't even good enough to be shown in the theater. But that's not the case at all. "Normal" tells the story of a man who should have been born a woman. At first, the premise doesn't seem so different than "A Beautiful Boxer". However, what makes this story special is that the main character is a middle-aged man who has been married for 20 years, has two children, and a solid job where he is in line for a promotion. You can only imagine the reaction his wife, co-workers, and the community had when they found out the secret he's been hiding for decades. That's the premise, and as you follow along with everything that happens on screen, you'll be amazed at how fluidly and realistically it flows.This is a perfect example of a "what if". What if this happened in your neighborhood? What if this was your uncle or father? What would you do and what would happen around you? Honestly, whatever happens, it probably wouldn't be too different than what happens in "Normal".A lot of the credit goes to the actors here. Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson give an amazing performance as husband and wife. The kids do an exceptional job, as well. To back it up writer and director Jane Anderson plots out this movie painstakingly, lingering at just the right moments and pulling away at just the right times.Overall, I highly recommend "Normal" to everyone. If you consider this a niche movie just because it handles transgender themes then your missing out because this is one of the most touching and pure love stories I have ever seen.

hacness I thought this was one of the most beautiful love stories of modern time. The last line of the movie sums up in a few words what the entire story is about. It is a story about soul mates, about true love and about the things we do for the people we love. It's also a story about acceptance. While it portrays very well the expected cruelty and misunderstanding of co-workers, family and the community; it also reminds us that there are people out there who are accepting and open-minded, who form their opinions of people based on what's inside. It is a beautiful story and the subject matter was dealt with tastefully and subtly.

nycritic One look at Roy and "masculine" comes to mind. Added to that, other adjectives such as "beefy" and "virile". However, Roy isn't your ordinary guy who happens to be married and with two teenage kids. Roy is a woman trapped in a man's body, about to come to terms with this predicament.Jane Anderson's NORMAL is, from its title, a question of what truly constitutes the meaning of such a term. Set in the Midwest, where values and morals are strictly on the conservative side of the spectrum, Roy's acknowledgement is one that defies explanation... or maybe not.It all depends on what side of the coin you are looking into. On one hand, if "God made you a Man, thus you must remain..." as the thought goes. But when you are Roy -- and indeed, there are many men who have come to terms that they are in the wrong gender -- such a postulate flies out the window.This, of course, comes with an immense toll on the family. Roy's decision begins to affect his wife Irma, who teeters between a vague resignation and sheer fury not at the thought that Roy states he is a woman, but at what this all means. In her mind, this is something so alien to her, and now it's being thrown at her face.Jane Anderson tackles an extremely delicate material, a preamble to what TRANSAMERICA would eventually become (since Roy's conversion into a woman is never actually seen, only his hormonal therapy that renders him not female, but somewhere in between). Less a movie about transsexualism than about the power of love, NORMAL is not for all tastes but is worth paying attention to due to the fact it is one of the first films bringing to life a subject that has until now been relegated to sordid documentaries shown only on late-night cable television. Tom Wilkinson and Jessica Lange take their characters and have a great deal of ease playing them -- Wilkinson never overplaying his newfound femininity; Lange never overacting to her situation -- and while somehow the ending comes a little too pat, it is something of value that it doesn't choose to exploit, nor go too far, but show things as they are and give a chance to acceptance, even when it may not be understood.

Isaac5855 NORMAL was a taboo-shattering TV movie made by HBO that shocked some, offended others, and moved me deeply. This movie, directed and written by Jane Anderson, based on her play, focuses on Irma and Roy Applewood, a small town couple who have been married for over 25 years, have two children and are considered pillars of their community. Roy passes out at a church function one day and Irma thinks there's something physically wrong with him, but it is revealed that Roy has developed a physical illness related to the stress he has put on himself by keeping a secret about himself buried for all these years. Roy finally admits to Irma that he has always felt that he is a woman trapped in a man's body and that he wants to have a sex change operation. Now the twist in this story is that Roy does not want to end his relationship with Irma and even though her entire world has been turned upside down, Irma can't walk away from Roy either and watching these two people deal with this painful revelation is the crux of this story. Roy initially moves out but he realizes he still loves Irma and still wants to be a father to his daughter so he returns home, begins hormone treatments, and starts experimenting with women's clothing in a gradual manner. Of course, this affects all parts of his life drastically...there is a heartbreaking scene where he shows up at his blue collar job wearing earrings and gets beat up because of it. This movie is deeply moving as we watch Roy's inner torment as he tries to be true to himself without destroying his family and watching Irma trying to accept what Roy is going through even though it has completely ripped her world and her whole belief system to shreds. Not to mention Roy and Irma's kids, who have completely different reactions to what is going on. Tom Wilkenson and Jessica Lange deliver two powerhouse performances as Roy and Irma that should have won them both Emmy awards. Hayden Pannetiere lights up the screen as their daughter and Joseph Sikora is solid as their son. Clancy Brown also registers as Roy's boss, who upon learning of Roy's secret, seizes the opportunity to act on some long buried feelings he has always had for Irma. This movie is about tolerance and requires an open mind and patience, as it asks as many questions as it answers. A special film experience for the adult film-goer.