JT LeRoy a captivating story about art and identity

Based on the memoir written by Savannah Knoop, JT LeRoy is about an author who has found success writing under an alternate identity and who petitions her boyfriend’s sister, Savannah, to embody him. Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern are electric in this fascinating story. (JRL: 4 / 5) 

Looking to start a new life, Savannah Knoop (Kristen Stewart) moves to San Francisco to live with her brother, Geoff (Jim Sturgess) and his wife, Laura (Laura Dern). Laura is a writer who’s gained notoriety for her book, Sarah, written under the persona of “JT LeRoy”, a young man raised as a woman and ostracized when the truth is revealed. Until this point, she has been sticking to phone interviews, speaking in a dicey southern accent and insisting that JT is too shy to enter the public eye. But as Laura gets to know Savannah, she realizes that Savannah could be the face of JT LeRoy for in-person photoshoots and interviews. She convinces Savannah to take on the role, telling her that “I felt JT leave my body and enter yours.” Savannah agrees, enticed by the opportunity to take on a new persona. Laura becomes “Speedie”, JT LeRoy’s finicky, British manager. 

Savannah and Laura travel the country taking photos and doing interviews. Savannah, perpetually afraid that others won’t believe she’s JT, adds a reserved and timid quality to JT that is actually incredibly enticing, only adding to public fascination about the writer. 

Things get more complicated when a movie producer (played by Courtney Love, who, coincidentally, was friends with the real JT LeRoy) approaches them to make a feature film out of Laura’s novel. They travel to France to collaborate with Eva (Diane Kruger), who’s adamant on directing and starring in the film. Savannah develops an attraction to her and the two have a sexual encounter, but Eva may only be attracted to the idea of JT and the movie rights he can grant her. 

As time goes on, Laura and Savannah struggle deeply with the complications that JT brings to their lives and they must grapple with complicated questions of self-worth and identity and how it’s tied to their art. 

My favorite thing about JT LeRoy is its two fascinating main characters, whom the film refuses to put in boxes. Laura, for example, is one the one hand passionate and loving and forest-nymph-like, but in other moments tosses out comments so biting that her morals are called completely into question. Both Laura Dern, the actor playing the role, and the conflicting and nuanced writing together manage to create a character that is truly impossible to fully love or fully hate, which is extremely impressive. Savannah is androgynous and fluid, in her gender and sexuality and in the way she interacts with those around her. 

However, the other personalities in the film don’t match Savannah and Laura in nuance  at all. In fact, they all feel a bit like accessories, meant to bring out certain sides of Laura and Savannah. Laura’s husband Geoff and Savannah’s boyfriend Sean (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) in particular felt incomplete, only focused on the two protagonists and without trajectories of their own. Because Savannah and Laura are such rich characters, I would have liked to see the people around them match in complexity. 

On the plus side, because the main characters Savannah and Laura are quite fluid, JT LeRoy presents queerness in a way that I haven’t seen it done before. Both Savannah and Laura express interest in men and women, and yet neither seems too hard-pressed to define herself according to any of it. Savannah is also genderqueer, avoiding fattening foods because she doesn’t want “curves,” but doesn’t quite come out as a transgender man. It seems like she mostly doesn’t want to be a woman, that she’s something else instead, whether or not that’s a man. I think this fluidity of gender is something that a lot of people experience but that doesn’t get much of representation in media. This film could connect with a queer audience in a really meaningful way. 

Kristen Stewart seems to have found her acting niche with the role of Savannah. She switches seamlessly from the character of an eager young woman to the character of a brooding young man and is able to embody the fearful conflict of a young and queer person in a way that is seriously captivating. Stewart’s performance in this film shows that she is far more complex than the Bella Swan-type roles she’s been relegated to in the past. 

At its core, JT LeRoy is a film about art. To Laura, the story she tells as JT is truth, regardless of whether or not she is JT. Art is a medium for truth that transcends identities and facts; it’s about a feeling and an intuitive understanding of what’s being said. I don’t know how much of JT LeRoy is from the real story and how much is embellishment, but in the spirit of its message, that doesn’t matter;  JT LeRoy feels deeply true. 

© Julia Lasker | FF2 Media

Commentary by Review Coach Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

Usually it’s the people with the most to gain from lying who say truth is whatever you want it to be, and this is true with JT Leroy. Everyone in the movie is pushing their own angle, whether it’s Laura manipulating Sarah or Savannah manipulating Eva and Sean. Eva in turn manipulates Savannah/ JT, and on and on it goes. Perhaps in that sense truth is fluid, since it’s all about whose narrative happens to be winning at the moment. However, while I appreciated what the movie had to say about fluid sexuality and gender, it struck me as problematic that the film seemed to put the experience of reinventing one’s identity through queerness in the same vein as Savannah masquerading as a bestselling author. 

There’s a pernicious narrative that trans people are just dressing up as their true gender rather than existing as that gender, so a reading of Savannah as trans would give this film a reactionary bent, especially considering the way the plot wraps up. If Savannah dates women as JT but then goes back to her life as a woman and dates Sean, does that mean she can be any gender she wants to be, as long as she’s always straight?  Savannah comments to Laura that she has dated women before but wouldn’t call herself queer (or something to that effect; the line escapes me) and Laura gives her that groan-worthy “I experiment” narrative that queer women will have heard from countless straight girls. 

I’m not saying this wasn’t a great movie; I enjoyed it. I just didn’t enjoy it as a queer manifesto. What it had to say about identity was about as unfocused as many of the vague half-truths Savannah used to keep up her pretenses as JT. I find films that explore truth often have trouble actually pinning down an angle on truth other than the nebulous “truth is whatever you want it to be,” and JT Leroy is one such. While you won’t leave the movie wondering if the top ever stops spinning a la Inception, the film sets up a lot of questions about identity and truth only to leave them at the end still spinning, just as surely as Leo’s dream totem. However, I’m not opposed to a fun movie that uses Shakespeare style cross-dressing deception for high-stakes love affairs with paupers posing as princes. As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s more thematically flat plays, but it’s still a great comedy–and just so, JT Leroy is still a great drama.

192 comments

  1. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite sure I will learn many new
    stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

  2. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d
    most certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I suppose for
    now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
    Chat soon!

  3. Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop,
    just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad
    is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this
    is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  4. You actually make it seem really easy together with your
    presentation but I to find this topic to be actually
    something that I feel I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for
    me. I’m taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I’ll try to get the
    cling of it!

  5. Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Taking the time and
    actual effort to create a good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t manage to
    get anything done.

  6. When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment
    is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
    Appreciate it!

  7. Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea
    shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and
    screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
    She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

  8. I do accept as true with all the concepts you’ve introduced in your post.

    They’re really convincing and can certainly work.
    Still, the posts are too brief for novices. Could you please extend them a
    little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

  9. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick
    heads up. The text in your article seem to be running
    off the screen in Firefox. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let
    you know. The style and design look great though!
    Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Cheers

  10. Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely excellent.
    I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the
    way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still
    care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from
    you. This is actually a great site.

  11. Superb blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so
    many options out there that I’m completely overwhelmed ..
    Any tips? Bless you!

  12. each time i used to read smaller articles or reviews which also
    clear their motive, and that is also happening with this article which I am reading at this place.

  13. Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your site, how could
    i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account aided me a applicable
    deal. I have been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided vibrant clear idea

  14. I will right away take hold of your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.

    Do you have any? Please permit me recognise so that I could subscribe.
    Thanks.

  15. Hiya very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful ..
    I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
    I am satisfied to find so many useful info here within the
    post, we’d like develop more techniques in this regard, thank you
    for sharing. . . . . .

  16. You have made some good points there. I checked on the internet to learn more about
    the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.

  17. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You have performed an impressive activity and our
    entire community will probably be grateful to you.

  18. Can I just say what a relief to discover someone that genuinely understands what they are talking about over the internet.
    You actually know how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More people really need to read this and understand this
    side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular given that you definitely possess the
    gift.

  19. When I originally commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments
    are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I
    get 4 emails with the exact same comment. Is there a means you are able to remove
    me from that service? Many thanks!

  20. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well
    written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it
    and come back to read more of your useful information.
    Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  21. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m
    quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the
    next!

  22. Heya! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I had
    to ask. Does managing a well-established blog such as
    yours take a massive amount work? I’m brand new to running a blog however I do
    write in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my personal experience and thoughts online.
    Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers.
    Appreciate it!

  23. I think that is among the most vital information for me.

    And i’m happy studying your article. However should commentary on few normal issues, The site style is ideal,
    the articles is actually nice : D. Excellent task, cheers

  24. Hi, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.

    When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine
    but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.

    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent
    blog!

  25. Amazing blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost
    on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a
    paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused ..
    Any recommendations? Bless you!

  26. Hey there, You have done an incredible job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
    I am confident they will be benefited from this
    site.

  27. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my
    own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set
    up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours
    would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet savvy
    so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Kudos

  28. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!

    Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I
    care for such info a lot. I was looking for this particular info for
    a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  29. Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better!
    Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept preaching about this. I’ll send this information to him.

    Pretty sure he’s going to have a great read. Thank you for
    sharing!

  30. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as
    I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog is in the
    exact same niche as yours and my users would really benefit from a lot of the information you present here.
    Please let me know if this alright with you. Appreciate it!

  31. Hi to every one, for the reason that I am truly eager of reading this
    website’s post to be updated regularly. It carries
    fastidious information.

  32. This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained.
    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.

    Too cool!

  33. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your weblog.

    You have some really great posts and I feel I would be a
    good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load
    off, I’d absolutely love to write some content for
    your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
    Please send me an email if interested. Thank you!

  34. I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else experiencing problems with your website.

    It appears like some of the text in your
    posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please
    comment and let me know if this is happening to them
    too? This might be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.

    Many thanks

  35. I really love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself?
    Please reply back as I’m trying to create my own personal blog and would love to find out where you got this from or just what
    the theme is called. Thanks!

  36. Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better!
    Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept preaching about this. I most certainly will send this article to him.

    Fairly certain he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!

  37. After exploring a handful of the articles on your web site, I seriously like your
    technique of writing a blog. I saved it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near
    future. Please check out my web site too and let me know what you think.

  38. Howdy would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with?
    I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard
    time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m
    looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I
    had to ask!

  39. We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for.
    can you offer guest writers to write content
    available for you? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating
    on some of the subjects you write related to here.
    Again, awesome blog!

  40. I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours nowadays, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing
    article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.

    In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made
    just right content as you probably did, the internet will likely be much more useful than ever before.

  41. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the easiest thing
    to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get
    annoyed while people think about worries that they just
    don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having
    side-effects , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
    Thanks

  42. Can I just say what a comfort to find a person that truly knows what they
    are talking about over the internet. You certainly
    understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
    More people need to read this and understand this side of the
    story. It’s surprising you aren’t more popular because
    you most certainly have the gift.

  43. Undeniably imagine that which you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be at
    the internet the simplest factor to take into account of.
    I say to you, I certainly get annoyed even as other folks
    think about worries that they just don’t know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the entire thing with
    no need side-effects , folks can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.
    Thanks

  44. Great post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am inspired!
    Extremely helpful info specially the ultimate phase 🙂
    I handle such information a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a very lengthy time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  45. Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with
    browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
    The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Thanks

  46. A person essentially assist to make critically posts I might state.
    This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far?
    I amazed with the analysis you made to create this actual post
    incredible. Magnificent task!

  47. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to
    find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

  48. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance”
    between superb usability and visual appeal.
    I must say you’ve done a fantastic job with this.
    Also, the blog loads very fast for me on Internet explorer.
    Exceptional Blog!

  49. Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long)
    so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to
    everything. Do you have any suggestions for first-time blog writers?
    I’d certainly appreciate it.

  50. Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together.
    I once again find myself personally spending way
    too much time both reading and commenting. But so what,
    it was still worth it!

  51. This is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly skilled blogger.
    I have joined your feed and look forward to in search
    of more of your fantastic post. Additionally, I have shared
    your site in my social networks

  52. Hello! I’ve been following your website for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead
    and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx! Just wanted to
    tell you keep up the great work!

  53. It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of info.
    I’m satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us.
    Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  54. This is the right blog for everyone who really wants to find
    out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
    You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic which has been discussed for a long time.

    Great stuff, just wonderful!

  55. Howdy just wanted to give you a brief heads
    up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly.
    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it
    in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

  56. First off I would like to say terrific blog!
    I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you do not
    mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing.
    I have had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
    I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like
    the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted
    simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints?

    Thanks!

  57. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this site.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and
    appearance. I must say you have done a very good job with this.
    Also, the blog loads super quick for me on Safari.
    Superb Blog!

  58. Attractive section of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that
    I get actually enjoyed account your weblog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing for your feeds or even I achievement you get admission to persistently rapidly.

  59. Hey! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted
    to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading your posts.
    Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums
    that deal with the same topics? Thanks for your time!

  60. I am no longer sure the place you’re getting your info, however
    great topic. I needs to spend some time studying more or figuring out more.
    Thanks for fantastic information I was searching for this
    info for my mission.

  61. It’s truly very complex in this active life to listen news on Television, therefore I simply use internet for that purpose,
    and obtain the most recent information.

  62. Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you provide.
    It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same
    unwanted rehashed information. Excellent read! I’ve saved your site
    and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  63. Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging
    for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is wonderful, let alone the
    content!

  64. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is
    a very well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark
    it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.

    I’ll certainly return.

  65. Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog.
    Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but
    I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about
    making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have
    any tips or suggestions? Many thanks

  66. I will immediately seize your rss feed as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.

    Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me recognize so that I may
    subscribe. Thanks.

  67. Hey there I am so delighted I found your blog, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else,
    Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to
    say many thanks for a fantastic post and a
    all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I
    have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will
    be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic b.

  68. Thanks for another fantastic article. Where else may just anybody get that type of information in such a
    perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and
    I’m on the look for such information.

  69. Wonderful work! That is the type of information that should
    be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for now not positioning this post
    higher! Come on over and consult with my website . Thank you =)

  70. certainly like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts.
    A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.

  71. Generally I don’t learn post on blogs, but I would
    like to say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do so!
    Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.

  72. Hi there I am so delighted I found your site, I really found you by mistake,
    while I was browsing on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here now
    and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable
    post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love
    the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read much more,
    Please do keep up the awesome jo.

  73. My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the
    expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using
    Movable-type on various websites for about a year and am nervous about switching
    to another platform. I have heard very good things about blogengine.net.
    Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content
    into it? Any kind of help would be really appreciated!

  74. I am curious to find out what blog platform you are
    utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safe.
    Do you have any suggestions?

  75. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site.
    I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by
    you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me
    to get my own blog now 😉

  76. Эта статья – источник ценной информации! Я оцениваю глубину исследования и разнообразие рассматриваемых аспектов. Она действительно расширила мои знания и помогла мне лучше понять тему. Большое спасибо автору за такую качественную работу!

  77. Эта статья оказалась исключительно информативной и понятной. Автор представил сложные концепции и теории в простой и доступной форме. Я нашел ее очень полезной и вдохновляющей!

  78. Ovarian function varies in the menstrual cycle, and in both long and short stimulation protocols E 2 is routinely measured before the initiation of ovulation viagra buy Quantifying metastatic inefficiency rare genotypes versus rare dynamics

Leave a Reply to wyoming llc Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *