Black Snake Moan
by Craig Brewer
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. JacksonDirector: Craig Brewer
Brand: Paramount
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 115 minutes
Published: 2007-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-26
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Product features:
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- AC-3; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; NTSC; Subtitled; Widescreen
Movie Reviews of Black Snake Moan
Movie Review: Chains of Love
Summary: 5 Stars
When I saw the first theatrical trailer for "Black Snake Moan," my mind immediately reeled over what the story was about. The concept of a half naked young woman chained to a radiator can go in many different directions, not all of which would be beneficial to the story. Having actually seen the film, I now know that the filmmakers went in the right direction; this is a fascinating, darkly humorous, and surprisingly heartfelt film that creatively explores the relationships between certain people. Taking place in a rural Southern town, a wealth of complex issues hide behind a simplistic, stylized plot, a fact that only serves to strengthen its message. The story is not concerned with finding convenient solutions; the intention is to show how the characters learn to understand one another. If peace is made, great. If not, at least one knows where the other is coming from.
I think the best thing about this movie is the main characters are neither good nor bad. They're portrayed realistically, deeply flawed yet not without redeeming qualities. We first meet Rae (Christina Ricci), an incredibly misguided young woman who periodically has bouts of nymphomania. She describes her condition near the end of the film; when she has a strange thought, it travels down her body as a burning sensation. Having been the victim of abuse as a child, her only method of relieving the pain is sexual contact. We periodically see her having an attack; she's bombarded with intense physical sensations, causing her to collapse and frantically touch every inch of her body. One gets the sense that she feels an unwelcome mixture of pain and pleasure.
We then meet the God-fearing Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), a vegetable farmer who was once a blues musician. He's a broken man, having just split with his wife of twelve years (Adriane Lenox). We immediately understand how immature she is; she wants to leave him for his brother (Leonard L. Thomas) because he makes her feel young again. This leaves Lazarus feeling lost; not only did he provide for her as best he could, he also never raised a hand to her in anger (even when he was drinking). How could she be so unfeeling to someone who treated her well? He tries to find solace in alcohol, his Blues music, and the Good Book. But it's to no avail; even his friend, the Reverend R.L. (John Cothran, Jr.) isn't able to help.
Then comes the fateful day when he crosses paths with Rae; he finds her lying in the middle of the road, barely dressed and beaten. She's also sick with pneumonia and under the influence of some heavy drugs, obtained the night before at a particularly wild party. For the next two days, Lazarus tries to care for Rae, who continuously slips in and out of consciousness (occasionally, she runs around the property, incoherently ranting and raving). While in town buying her some medicine, Lazarus learns of her promiscuous reputation, which prompts the release of his inner Dutiful Christian; God saw fit to send her to him, and because of that, he intends to cure her of her wickedness. He decides to tether her to his radiator with a long, sturdy chain.
As you might expect, Rae isn't exactly thrilled when she finally comes to. She tries screaming for help. She tries running away. She tries enticing Lazarus with her body. But this is one household where potent sexuality will have no effect. Nor should it; Lazarus may be flawed, but he also understands that people should have more respect for themselves. This is something he's trying to instill in Rae, which would be admirable if only his method wasn't so unorthodox. Nonetheless, its obvious that he cares for her and that he's doing this to help, not hurt. Rae has always let men have their way with her; if she had a shred of dignity, she wouldn't allow herself to be used.
As the film progresses, their relationship grows deeper, each one learning about the other's life. Lazarus eventually learns of Rae's boyfriend, Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), who leaves for the military early on in the film. It's quickly established that he's just as emotionally handicapped as Rae; he suffers crippling panic attacks when exposed to loud noises. It's also established that the two love each other deeply, despite Rae's sexual overdrive. By the end of the film, the audience will come to understand that the two were meant to be together, if not because they're dysfunctional, then because their dysfunctions complete each other. What an interesting relationship: when separated, their problems work against them, but when together, they function harmoniously.
This is the kind of complexity that makes "Black Snake Moan" so engrossing. It helps that the film is perfectly cast, with each actor giving some of the most believable performances in recent memory. Jackson gives Lazarus a style that's both authoritative and compassionate. He's also makes him quite vulnerable, especially when he's around the kind-hearted Angela (S. Epatha Meckerson). Ricci does a wonderful job with Rae, perfectly balancing obvious sexuality with hidden insecurity. Timberlake shows terrific range as Ronnie, giving him a neurotic, strained edge that's matched only by his youthful naivety. All the characters add dimension to the story, something that effectively examines how the most unlikely people can leave lasting impressions. This is an original, finely crafted, well-acted film, and I definitely recommend it.
Summary of Black Snake Moan
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