Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) is a young soldier just transferred to airborne infantry. Calpernia Adams (Lee Pace) is a transsexual nightclub performer.
Their paths cross when Barry’s roommate Fisher (Shawn Hatosy) takes his gang out to this club, supposedly on a test of manhood. While everyone enjoys Fisher’s crude behavior to a certain extent, Barry is embarrassed by it. Moreover he seems fascinated by her. It seems like Fisher is a regular in the club yet he is referring to the performers as freaks. Barry, on the other hand, seems genuinely taken by Calpernia and starts dating her. It takes a while for Barry to get rid of the shock himself but he realizes he is happy so he just tries to keep his private life secret. However Fisher seems bothered by the fact Barry is spending less and less time with him and the gang. It seems like Fisher is not as “straight” and as “butch” as he wants everyone to think. His behavior gets out of control and he finds a great way to make Barry’s life hell, especially when a young and impressionable kid joins their infantry…
Trailer:
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sRGi4UFqj8[/pro-player]
Why you should see it:
* This is a haunting and tragic true story.
* The acting is fantastic. Both Troy Garity and Lee Pace were nominated for Golden Globes in 2003 for their roles. Why they didn’t win is beyond me, especially Lee Pace. If you have seen him in any other movie (Possession, The Fall, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) or in the TV show Pushing Daisies, you will know what I am talking about. We are talking about a tall, well-built, masculine actor who has completely transformed himself. Sure make-up helps, but the moves are all his.
Fun fact: The Fall’s director Tarsem Singh saw Soldier’s Girl and decided he wanted Lee Pace for the role of Roy Walker. Nope, there is nothing feminine about the Roy character. However Tarsem wanted to make sure Lee was a guy. You can watch the fun interview here.
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RVMuqBH9kc[/pro-player]
You can also check how Lee is in character during Soldier’s Girl interview on set:
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTVawteuLd4[/pro-player]
8.0 on IMDB. Fair enough. 10/10 for everyone involved, especially Troy and Pace.
A note: real Carpelia Adams was on the set as a consultant.
Other Posts on Lee Pace
Possession starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Pace and Michael Landes
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams, Frances McDormand and Lee Pace
The Fall starring Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru
When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. feat. Lee Pace
The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie & Lee Pace