Rent Transamerica (2005)
3.7 of 5 from 229 ratings
1h 39min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Bree (Felicity Huffman), is a pre-operative, male to female transsexual who discovers she has a son, Toby, (Kevin Zegers), the product of a somewhat clumsy sexual encounter years ago when she was a man. Bree flies from Los Angeles to New York in order to bail Toby out of jail. Greeting Toby in the guise of a Christian missionary, Bree persuades him to accompany her back to the west coast - secretly planning to return him to his stepfather along the way. As each lies to and manipulates the other, Bree and Toby find themselves travelling across the heartland of a continent on an unexpected journey - Transamerica.
- Actors:
- Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Andrea James, Danny Burstein, Maurice Orozco, Elizabeth Peña, Craig Bockhorn, Paul Borghese, Jon Budinoff, Venida Evans, Raynor Scheine, Kate Bayley, Stella Maeve, Teala Dunn, Jim Frangione, Bianca Leigh, Kelly O'Donnell, Calpernia Addams, Sandi Alexander
- Directors:
- Duncan Tucker
- Writers:
- Duncan Tucker
- Others:
- Dolly Parton, "Travelin' Thru" song; Music and Lyric by Dolly Parton
- Studio:
- Pathe
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Comedy, Lesbian & Gay
- Collections:
- A History of Gay Cinema: According to Hollywood, The Best American Road Movies
More like Transamerica
Found in these customers lists
Reviews (4) of Transamerica
A great story with an exceptional performance from Huffman. - Transamerica review by CP Customer
The plot of 'Transamerica' revolves around the character of Bree 'Stanley' Osbourne, a transsexual man living as a woman who is close to achieving her ambition of gender reassignment surgery to fully become a woman. Shortly before she is due to have surgery Bree receives a call from Toby, a 17 year old in a New York jail looking for his estranged father Stanley. After denying her true identity to Toby, Bree calls her psychiatrist for advice, who informs her she will not sign the consent forms for Bree's reassignment surgery until she resolves the issue with Toby. With no other option Bree travels to New York and posing as a religious social worker bails Toby out of jail. Alarmed at his sexually promiscuous lifestyle and life of petty crime, Bree convinces Toby to ride with her to California, all the while still concealing her true identity as his father. The film is essentially a road movie beginning with two strangers who along the course of their journey come to terms with the demons of their past. Felicity Huffman's performance is simply exceptional; she skilfully shows Bree as a character with insecurity, pathos, warmth, humour, intelligence and personal growth which ultimately transforms your view of Bree as something of an oddity to someone you can totally empathise with, and ultimately leaves you with the feeling that she was clearly robbed of an Oscar. Overall, Transamerica is a film which works so well because it takes the sensitive and serious personal issue of Bree's dilemma and presents it in a very human and accessible way which cleverly manages to walk that fine line between laughter and tears, all the while never allowing Bree's plight to be viewed as pitiful or pathetic. If you enjoyed films like 'Sideways', 'Lost In Translation' and 'Welcome To The Dollhouse' then chances are this is film you'll love.
3 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
He becomes she - Transamerica review by CP Customer
Felicity Huffman gives an astomishing performance as transexual Bree in this thought-provoking drama. The film follows his/her progress through the final stages before the life-changing operation, discovering that he had fathered a son 17 years ago. Bree is contacted by New York police and has to bail him out of jail, posing as a missionary. They travel together to the West coast, teaming up with various colourful characters along the way. There are many touchingand quirky scenes in this unusual road movie and some splendid ensemble peerformances from Bree's family. This is definitely one NOT to miss.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
BORING - Transamerica review by BF
Main lead is good acting but that's the only redeeming feature of this film. Awkward editing, predictable and cheesy - just because it's about a trans-sexual doesn't mean that it can carry itself off as an interesting film.
0 out of 2 members found this review helpful.