I saw this yesterday at an advanced screening. I have to say that I went in not really expecting much and came away really impressed. I woke up this morning with elements of the story still running through my mind
It was a very interesting story well told. It's mostly a movie about LA but the opening, which take place in a small Southern town, tells us all we need to about the 'back story' in just a few moments with very few words. Everything centers on a character named Early, played by John Carroll Lynch. He is a man of few words and so much of the movie's style revolves around that. However, Early is book-ended by two very different, but equally 'outspoken', women. In fact, sometimes both seem incapable of knowing when a bit of silence would be appropriate. However, a third woman is always in the background. We never see her but, in one of the loveliest scenes in the film, we hear her words which are simple, clear and affectionate. I think that perhaps dealing with the loud and theatrical personality of the woman with whom he is now fascinated, is more of a stretch for Early than dealing with her gender.
A word about Matt Bomer: If memory serves there was something of an uproar from trans activists when he was cast in this part. I admit that I was somewhat skeptical that he could pull it off. However I have to say that Freda was a memorable, and totally believable, screen character. I suppose there was some Matt Bomer in her somewhere but I didn't really see it or feel it. It was an amazing piece of work. Bomer is an out gay actor who was totally convincing playing a straight romantic lead in White Collar, and who then moved on to break my heart playing closeted Felix in The Normal Heart. I can't wait for The Boys in the Band, opening soon on Broadway.
This movie has a lot of supportive things to say about Freda, an attractive and interesting trans woman. In my opinion it would be a shame if trans activists were to decide to shoot themselves in the foot..... to shoot the entire trans community in the foot actually..... by trying to deny it an audience. I might point out that Boys in the Band was attacked as being an 'incorrect' depiction of gay life when it originally played.
I might add that if one insists that a cisgender actor should not be cast to play a transgender character then it follows that a transgender actor should not be cast to play a cisgender character.
