TransAmerica
September 9th 2006 03:24
I saw this film at the recommendation of a friend who understands my penchant for independent films. After all, independent tends to be where the good stories are at these days.
TransAmerica had me hooked from beginning to end. Sure there were awkward moments – but that was expected, after all the film is about a transsexual that discovers he has a son just before his operation to become a fully-fledged woman. There were even touches of soap opera here and there but over all, it was a triumph for both the debut writer- director Duncan Tucker and accomplished actress, Felicity Huffman.
Huffman played the character of Bree Osbourne (once known as Stanley) with a truth and authenticity that will resonate for years to come. Thus proving she ain’t just a pretty face and in this, she’s anything but. Her vocal work and physicality were so honed that I really believed her. I believed she was a man who wanted to be a woman. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that she was a woman playing a man who wanted to be a woman. Not a bad effort for someone who is so well known for her sassy character on Desperate Housewives.
Co-star Kevin Zegers was almost too beautiful to play her long lost drugged up prostitute son but managed to pull if off, displaying an innocence that worked in some ways and didn’t in others.
However the relationship between father/ mother and son was really what made this film worth watching. It was realistically and beautifully written and I fell in love with all the characters in this movie along with the touching and often comedic journey they took.
For those who see this film as simply a reworking of the tried and true transformational road trip story, look closer. There are no new stories, only new perspectives.
This film never had the feel of a lecture or speech on transgender awareness or the plight of a downtrodden misfit. It was a story about people and their relationships.
I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed films such as Mysterious Skin and Thumbsucker.
TransAmerica had me hooked from beginning to end. Sure there were awkward moments – but that was expected, after all the film is about a transsexual that discovers he has a son just before his operation to become a fully-fledged woman. There were even touches of soap opera here and there but over all, it was a triumph for both the debut writer- director Duncan Tucker and accomplished actress, Felicity Huffman.
Huffman played the character of Bree Osbourne (once known as Stanley) with a truth and authenticity that will resonate for years to come. Thus proving she ain’t just a pretty face and in this, she’s anything but. Her vocal work and physicality were so honed that I really believed her. I believed she was a man who wanted to be a woman. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that she was a woman playing a man who wanted to be a woman. Not a bad effort for someone who is so well known for her sassy character on Desperate Housewives.
Co-star Kevin Zegers was almost too beautiful to play her long lost drugged up prostitute son but managed to pull if off, displaying an innocence that worked in some ways and didn’t in others.
However the relationship between father/ mother and son was really what made this film worth watching. It was realistically and beautifully written and I fell in love with all the characters in this movie along with the touching and often comedic journey they took.
For those who see this film as simply a reworking of the tried and true transformational road trip story, look closer. There are no new stories, only new perspectives.
This film never had the feel of a lecture or speech on transgender awareness or the plight of a downtrodden misfit. It was a story about people and their relationships.
I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed films such as Mysterious Skin and Thumbsucker.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
They managed to avoid that "Made-for-tv" feel and instead delved deeply into the issues and emotion at hand.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I also liked Thumbsucker and Mysterious Skin, both very good films.