Huffman saves the day
Lead performance rescues forgettable film
Scott Hansen
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Scene
There is a song sung by Dolly Parton that accompanies the credits of "Transamerica" titled "Traveling Through." The song was an Oscar Nominee for Best Song in 2006, and rightfully so. It is hard to recall a movie's song that expresses where the film lies amongst past films of its nature.
"Transamerica" could easily be called an edgier type of film, as it showcases transsexuals and their lifestyle in a way that really has never been done before. Because of this, you would think the makers of the film would make sure everything about the film is perfect.
Taking a look at other movies that take on edgier topics, such as "Brokeback Mountain" or "Passion of the Christ," there is a hint that everyone involved in the films' making believed in what was being put on the screen. They understood that in order to present what they believed in, they had to make the movie in a way that no one could fault them for.
The movie lacks a respect for itself in many instances, and if it were not for the amazing performance by "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman, I doubt it would be as interesting to watch as it ends up being.
Huffman plays Bree, a highly intelligent and conservative transsexual woman who lives in a poor section of Los Angeles and works as both a dishwasher at a Mexican restaurant and as a telemarketer.
The money she is earning from both jobs is not going to her housing payments as one would expect. Instead the money she earns goes into paying her therapist and saving for her final sexual reassignment surgery.
In order to get the surgery, Bree must have clearance from her therapist. Moments away from convincing the therapist to allow her to go through with it, she receives a phone call informing her that when she was a 'he,' she fathered a son.
The therapist is convinced that the only way the surgery will truly make Bree happy is if it forces her to leave her old life behind, and insists Bree confront the boy before she gives consent to undergo the surgery.
"Transamerica" could easily be called an edgier type of film, as it showcases transsexuals and their lifestyle in a way that really has never been done before. Because of this, you would think the makers of the film would make sure everything about the film is perfect.
Taking a look at other movies that take on edgier topics, such as "Brokeback Mountain" or "Passion of the Christ," there is a hint that everyone involved in the films' making believed in what was being put on the screen. They understood that in order to present what they believed in, they had to make the movie in a way that no one could fault them for.
The movie lacks a respect for itself in many instances, and if it were not for the amazing performance by "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman, I doubt it would be as interesting to watch as it ends up being.
Huffman plays Bree, a highly intelligent and conservative transsexual woman who lives in a poor section of Los Angeles and works as both a dishwasher at a Mexican restaurant and as a telemarketer.
The money she is earning from both jobs is not going to her housing payments as one would expect. Instead the money she earns goes into paying her therapist and saving for her final sexual reassignment surgery.
In order to get the surgery, Bree must have clearance from her therapist. Moments away from convincing the therapist to allow her to go through with it, she receives a phone call informing her that when she was a 'he,' she fathered a son.
The therapist is convinced that the only way the surgery will truly make Bree happy is if it forces her to leave her old life behind, and insists Bree confront the boy before she gives consent to undergo the surgery.
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