Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
WillSushyMedia
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Gutsycurene
Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
mbrace394
11121585 I had to watch this film for a university class and was very surprised how much I liked it. The film did a fantastic job of showing the main character Bree's development throughout the film as she becomes ready to finally complete her surgery. At the beginning of the film in her therapy session, Bree's psychologist tells her that gender dysphoria is a serious mental disorder that Bree questions, by saying it is a disorder that she can cure with plastic surgery. Bree relates the contradiction that exists between gender dysphoria and a cure. A serious mental disorder, as the psychologist deemed Bree's condition to be, is something that is very rarely able to be cured; it is inherent. The person living with a mental disorder will most likely live with it for the entirety of their life. However, Bree challenges the stigma of gender dysphoria with stating that a surgical repair can cure her of her distress. I think this film did an excellent job of portraying just how different gender dysphoria is compared to a mental disorder. By placing gender dysphoria under the mental disorder stigma, society maintains the bi-gendered system; stating that if one is born female, they must remain and identify as a female and vice versa with those born male. This film does an excellent job of depicting the struggles and challenges a trans gendered person may go through on their journey to "cure" themselves, and gives the main character the fairytale ending everyone hopes for. Bree is finally able to be transformed into the "woman" she so desperately wants to be, and the audience is able to observe her as truly happy with her transformation and seemingly "cured" of the distress she exhibited at the beginning of the film once again slamming the door on gender dysphoria being a mental disorder.
Christie Mcgregor
11103829 The director of this film, Duncan Tucker, stated that he wanted a female actress to play the role of Bree, a character who is a transsexual woman, because it would allow Bree to become the woman she wants to be. Felicity Huffman was cast in this role, and although she did an incredible job, I don't think the choice of a biological female was necessary to give the character Bree the life she always wanted. In my opinion, Tucker's statement contrasts the important message this film gives, which is to find oneself, and oneself can be in any gender, sex, identity or expression. Bree became the woman she wanted to be in the end, but it would have been achieved regardless of the actor's biological sex. I also think that the choice to have a female cast in the role shows that gender is and can be a performance, and that anyone can create a new or different identity for themselves. The fact that Huffman is a female that plays a transsexual woman who was previously a man, connects the goal of the film and can work in many different ways. Huffman's deeper voice and exaggerated feminine mannerisms gave a realistic performance of a transsexual woman, which shows that gender is a performance and something that is constructed. Performance can be learned and put to use for individuals trying to transition to the opposite sex. This film was well done and successfully showed a realistic story of a transsexual woman, and the struggles that many transsexual women may go through. I did wish to see a transsexual woman in the role, because it would provide the opportunity for a transsexual woman to have a lead role, and possibly become a more widely known actor
eric262003
Felicity Huffman turns in one of the most complex and engaging performances I've seen in a long time as Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne, a transsexual who's down to her final stages of her final operation as she's about to lose the man jewels as she is finally rid of the horrid past she encountered when she was a man named Stanley. It's a misnomer to some who think that this is a goofy zany comedy film, or a preachy film about the trials and tribulations of becoming transsexual. It is a vulgar satire that uplifts the dramatic elements from the obstacles of the plot and the surprising outcomes that manifest at the principal elements as the movie progresses.In his directorial debut, Duncan Tucker has took on the classic road movie to a new direction that pits Bree and her re-acquaintance with the son she only once fathered. Toby is a juvenile homeless kid who is the biological son of the former Stanley who was once in a relationship with his recently deceased mother. Bree and Toby embark on a cross-country journey from New York to Los Angeles. Sure people might scoff by saying that this is another cross-country road movie. But if you look into the movie beyond the surface, it's really about a journey of a man trying to adapt into womanhood and the hardships it is in trying to adjust to the new life that has become of Bree.Tucker cleverly uses Bree's dreadful occupation as a telemarketer as a symbol of the obstacles Stanley faced during his quest of becoming a woman and Huffman utilizes her character's vulnerable traits and stiff posture. Sure it looked like open field for comical farce, but her acting it pitch perfect and takes her training and regiments very seriously which is all very believable. With the help from Jason Hayes (wig designer) we get to see the gradual physical molding of a man turn woman right before our very eyes and the fear of Bree returning to her old alter ego.The supporting cast backs Huffman up nicely. Young Kevin Zegers was accurate as the poor young confused misunderstood soul Toby who's oblivious that his father is now a mother and that Bree cowardly lied to Toby saying she was a church missionary when really she's really his biological father. Elizabeth Pena of "Lone Star" fame was sublime as Bree's strong-opinioned therapist. Graham Greene ("Dances With Wolves") was in top form as Bree's suitor Calvin Manygoats. And the scene-stealing comes from Bree's parents played by Bert Young and Fionnula Flanagan who are in perpetual denial over their son's life-rendering decision.Along with the parents, Carrie Preston as Bree's sister Sidney make the perfect dysfunctional family comedy foil as they easily go into Bree's self-loathing which is par for the course in most families who try to deal with problems. The film sporadically shifts into being overly sentimental tear-jerker and instead Tucker focuses more on the comedy elements and the absurd scenes that follow. This is a film worthy of its accolades and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.
Lee Eisenberg
Duncan Tucker has directed one of the best self-discovery movies of all. "Transamerica" casts Felicity Huffman as Bree, a trans-gender woman about to have a sex-change operation, when she learns that she has a son named Toby (Kevin Zegers). So, she gets the boy out of jail while masquerading as a church lady, and the two of them take a cross-country tour. In the process, Bree learns not only about what kind of boy Toby is, but also about herself.I can't really do the movie justice by simply talking about it. It's a REALLY good movie. Funny but serious at the same time -- without taking itself too seriously -- the movie hits all the right notes. The contrast between Bree's vibrant world in SoCal and Toby's dirty NY apartment couldn't be more stark. The film has got too many good qualities to list here, so I would advise you to just go ahead and see it! Also starring Graham Greene, Fionnula Flanagan, Burt Young (Paulie in "Rocky"), Carrie Preston and Elizabeth Peña.PS: When "Transamerica", "Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote" (all LGBT-themed) won big at the Golden Globes in 2006, Jay Leno called it "God's way of punishing Pat Robertson".
