Most critics respond warmly to Boys Don’t Cry, praising its emotional force, strong performances and refusal to soften its violence or its romance. Hilary Swank receives much of the praise, while Chloë Sevigny is also singled out for subtle, affecting work. The Guardian judges Sevigny’s performance even stronger than Swank’s. The reviews repeatedly admire the film’s sympathetic treatment of Brandon and its raw small-town setting, finding tenderness and hope within an otherwise harrowing story.
The spread is wide, though the disagreement comes chiefly from one negative review rather than an evenly divided response. Empire admires the acting and taut direction but finds the character backgrounds sparse and the running time slightly overlong. The Evening Standard rejects the central casting, finding Swank unconvincing and the film’s treatment of identity and romance awkward. That objection runs directly against the prevailing view that the performances make the story credible and emotionally involving.