Hmmm, I was floored by it as was my now-wife. But I'll admit we went in knowing only that it was a must-see indie film.
Of course I had many friends who claimed it was obvious, especially from Jaye's manly hands, but a number of them admitted it was only obvious in retrospect.
People tend to accept the reality with which they're presented.
That said, me and the missus had a huge laugh at the end credits; both kids of the 80s, we immediately recognized the voice of our own generation's most famous cross-dresser, Boy George.
I also recall Billy Crystal at the Oscars saying he specifically wouldn't spoil it except to say, "White men CAN jump."
So who knows? It's been thirty years, very nearly. I still know people who haven't been spoiled by "Sixth Sense" (another film that floored me when I first saw it, but that was still within the first few weeks).
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Heisenberg (6730)
3 years ago
Great for you.
But it sounds like you were lucky enough to see it early on in its theatrical run.
I saw it on vhs as soon as it came out and the cat was already out of the bag internationally.
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ExTechOp (2770)
3 years ago
Hmmm, now that you mention it, the moment Billy Crystal made that joke, the camera cut to Jaye Davidson.
THAT's an unavoidable spoiler.
And of course he went on to win the Oscar that year.
Yeah, definitely spoiled. Though I don't know that it was about "zero respect transgenderism" so much as zero understanding in the mainstream. It was too big a secret to keep quiet back then.
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Heisenberg (6730)
3 years ago
Too big a secret...because SHE had a DICK!!!!!!!
Scandal! Shocking! Gotta warn everyone! It's a cookbook!
Come on, rhe general attitude was of shock and disgust and ridicule, zero respect for the issue or the work of art itself, they treated the whole deal with the same sensibility used by the lowlyest Diana chasing paparazzo.
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