southwest3210-156-400970 And actually not terribly far from the quality of either as well... I rented this definitely out of my box of what I typically watch. I saw the material, and decided to go out on a limb, subject matter wise. I certainly was not expecting a movie that would have gotten raves if released at theaters. I honestly would say that the two leads displayed Academy worthy brilliance. Perhaps MORE than some nominees of recent years. The intensity of the acting was just overwhelming. This one is something you just can't forget after the credits roll. The director, Frank Pierson, has made many cable movies for HBO/Showtime and such, and they are every bit was worthy as the best that is offered at theaters. Do yourself a favor and rent anything this man has directed for cable. He is easily the finest in that realm that ever was or will be.

reneweddan There were a few factors that led me to this movie: Lee Pace, the guy from Alpha Dog (Shawn Hatosy), and the plot.All throughout the movie, I found myself completely entranced by the performances and the truth behind the story.It's one of those movies you know you'll have to use Wikipedia to read about every detail about this tragic story.This film is unique as it doesn't take the perspective of the trans-gender (although the narrator is) but rather of the victim. It is interesting, compassionate, and tragic.If you have an open mind and you are willing to accept those as they are, then this film will amaze you.Extremely well done, and I'm glad this helped Lee Pace launch his career, and Troy Garity was excellent, I hope he finds some luck.Great film... but tragic, not for the faint of heart.

thinker1691 It has always amazed me how our country professes it's superiority over other nations by proclaiming itself the epicenter of freedom, but it's nearly always the last to endorse it. It's noble attributes are not automatic, as each isolated, maligned and vilified segment of society has to endure ridicule until a certain number of deaths have accumulated to grudgingly acknowledge what others already accept. This is one extraordinary and courageous story about Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) who dreamed of being a soldier and serve his country. Believing he could do so with pride and honor, became an elite soldier and part of the Armed Forces. However he quickly learns, despite the overwhelming power of the military, it's still terrifies leaders that a gay man could virtually destroy the mightiest nation on earth with a forbidden kiss. Taken from the private life, military court records and public accounts of Barry Winchell, the young man visits a night club frequented by cross dressers, where he is attracted to and eventually falls in love with Calpernia Addams. (Lee Pace) Also known as 'Scottie' to his friends, the two begin a deep and passionate affair which led Barry to believe he had found true love. Unfortunately, bigoted fellow soldiers Justin Fisher and Calvin Glover (Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls) become hate-filled adversaries of Barry and his lover and seek at first to torment and later to destroy their Homosexual relationship. What this film fails to accentuate is the ambivalent attitude of the military as it discovers to what length soldiers will go to destroy the personal choice of others. Touching and emotional, the film does allow some convincing interludes and compassionate notions between the two lovers. Indeed, their singular affair will at the very least give hope to other gays that eventually, the United States as well as the Military will accept the notion that there is more at stake than homophobic fear. ****

bkoganbing The cause of equality and justice got another martyr in 2003 with the beating death of Barry Winchell, a young private from Kansas who was assaulted, with a baseball bat by another young private while Winchell was sleeping. in his company. The case galvanized a thorough review of the Armed Services 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy implemented by the same president who put in the policy in the first place, Bill Clinton. Right now recruiting needs for an unpopular war may have more to do with reversing that policy than young Barry Winchell, a kid who only wanted to serve his country.It was only in the previous two century that human sexuality itself began to be researched and understood from a non-religious point of view. And it was only in the last half of the last century that those who deviated from the binary norm of male/female heterosexism began to demand their just due in society.Barry Winchell is played beautifully here by Troy Gerity and probably in another part of the army could have served his time as quietly and well as his lover Calpurnia Adams, a pre-operative transgender entertainer who in fact was a veteran from the army medical corps. Gays and Lesbians have been doing military service since the Battle of Thermopylae and before that. But in the west had to do it on the Q.T. We were considered bad for morale.In fact I've known gay veterans from every war this country has engaged in since World War II. Barry Winchell unfortunately chose to be part of the 101st Airbourne Division, a battle tested regiment, but with all the macho tradition that goes with it.Some Pentagon brass would have been mortified had they seen people who wear the famous Screaming Eagle patch on their uniforms getting serviced by men in drag at a gay club in Nashville. Or in the army parlance, a place frequented by sexual deviants. When Shawn Hatosy brought Barry Winchell to that club and he met Calpurnia who would be the love of his short life, he was also having some serious sexual issues himself in a society that told him what he felt was the worst thing in the world.Gerity, Hatosy who was the agent provocateur in Winchell's death and Lee Pace who played Calpurnia all deliver fine realistic performances. But the performance that touched me most was that of Phillip Eddolls who played the recruit who did the deed, responding to Hatosy's prodding. This poor individual is a product of some carefully taught fear that to be thought of as gay in society was the worst thing that could happen to you. In society in general, let alone the 101st Airborne Division. Even after he does the deed he can't comprehend what has happened. Eddolls will move you deeply.The Winchell case reminded me very much of the famous racial bias case where a black kid named Yusuf Hawkins was stabbed to death in Bensonhurst in Brooklyn back in the Eighties. Yusuf lived in the area, a very Italian area that to this day is not friendly to other races, not even to other white ethnics for that matter. He was stabbed to death by a young kid named Joey Fama who was part of a gang of about fifteen young men who were yelling and screaming racial epithets. Like Eddolls character, Fama responded to the prodding and actually did the deed, but the others in the mob held their share of guilt.This is a wonderful film about another GLBT martyr, a list that grows longer and sadder each year. It includes people like James Zappalorti, Julio Rivera, Henry Marquez people whose surviving families I got to know after their deaths from my former job with New York State Crime Victims Board. But this review is dedicated to another man who served his country in the Army like Barry Winchell. Paul Pastorella was a clerk typist in the army posted to the Presidio in San Francisco. Paul met the love of his life, a dancer named Kim Sherwood while stationed there and they were a devoted couple. Paul was also a bias attack victim that I first met in Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn when he was stabbed after he left the army. Both Paul and Kim are dead now, but their lives on earth were totally spent in devotion to each other.To Paul, To Kim, To Barry, RIP.