Black Snake Moan
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Movie Reviews of Black Snake Moan
Movie Review: Breath of Fresh Air
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first saw the trailer for this movie at my local theatre, I was intrigued. The marketing department had done their job and established that Christina Ricci's character had a sexual addiction and after a rough night, ends up at Samuel L. Jackson's house. What gripped the viewers was the twist: she's chained to the radiator and he won't let her go.
I started wondering what the hell the movie could be about. How were they going to develop an entire script (although I wondered the same thing about "Saw" before I saw it)? Either way, I needed to see this film.
Sadly, I don't recall seeing this movie in theatres at all (and I was loosely looking). The trailer didn't give me a release date and before I knew it, here it is on DVD. Now that I've seen the film, I must say that I am in love with it. Unfortunately, judging from the progress of this film so far, it will die the sleeper film death and eventually only be known as an entry on "Mr. Skin's" web site because Ricci is topless multiple times throughout the movie.
The plot develops like a well-laid plan. We're never left in the dark too long, but we also aren't fed the plot and it's relatively unpredictable. Jackson delivers a fantastic performance of an aged African-American living in a poor Southern town. What is even more dynamic is that, while similar, it doesn't repeat his great performance in "A Time To Kill". Ricci delviers another solid performance (recent films like "Prozac Nation", "The Opposite of Sex", and even "Monster" have been building on her talent). She obviously lost a lot of weight for this role and the subsequent large sunken eyes compliment her character wonderfully. It was difficult, at times, imagining the young girl who refused to be naked in "The Opposite of Sex" when faced with the lustful powerhouse she transformed herself into for this role. Justin Timberlake also has a small role as Ricci's boyfriend and gives a tender and endearing performance. I must say that Timberlake impressed the most, even though he was the weakest performance of the three.
This movie combines trauma, sex, idiosyncracies, racism, and the wonderful tunes of the blues into a rough ride through one girl's struggle. Your emotions will be on a roller coaster as you find yourself loving, feeling sorry for, and hating Ricci and Jackson at times. If you're tired of the same old same old that Hollywood has been cranking out in record numbers, give this movie a try, it will impress.
Movie Review: Chains of Redemption
Summary: 5 Stars
This had to be a marketing nightmare for the execs at Paramount. The image most people had that I spoke to at the time of it's release was that this was a film about a black man who chains a white girl to his radiator. Lurid bondage images ensue. I can imagine this tag would repel black audiences as well as white. Though I've been a fan of both Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci for years my wife refused to see the movie with me when it was in theatres. Paramount doesn't help it's cause by reinforcing this image in it's cover art. This will probably turn out to be one of the best films of the year. Let's put things in context. Lazarus (Jackson) is experiencing a personal crisis because his wife recently left him for his brother. Rae (Ricci) is a young woman with deep psychological wounds whose G.I. boyfriend Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) is shipping off. Lazarus salves his sadness with booze. Rae also engages in self destructive behavior not the least wanton promiscuity. After a night of loose behavior with a bunch of rowdies Rae is picked up by Ronnie's best friend and subsequently beaten and left for dead on Lazarus' farm. Upon finding a semi-conscious Rae, Lazarus attempts to nurse her back to health. Lazarus, a god fearing man, subsequently finds out about Rae's reputation and in a drunken fever chains Rae to his radiator. It is Lazarus' feeble attempt to reform Rae. Not to give anything away Lazarus' eventually has an epiphany and realizes you cannot enforce morality but you can set an example. It is then that the true bond between Lazarus and Rae grows. There is a real love between the two and they have a redemptive influence on each other. In other words they heal each other's wounds. The film also emphasizes the healing influence of the polar opposites, religion and music, mainly the blues. You won't find a more beautiful scene than the one where Rae sings "Let it Shine" at the knee of Lazarus as he strums his guitar. "Black Snake Moan" is one of the more daring and provocative films in years. Though it's rough going at times there is a morality at it's center. Credit director Craig Brewer for tackling challenging material and making it work. Jackson, who I always admired for taking ambitious roles, may have given the performance of his career. This isn't hyperbole. You have to see it to believe it. Ricci is just as good here. Timberlake also gives a sympathetic turn here as the anxiety-ridden Ronnie. "Black Snake Moan" is a film that should not be forgotten.Movie Review: A movie just as strange as its title
Summary: 5 Stars
I will spare you the long paragraph and just say what is great about this movie.
"Christina Ricci a sex addict half naked in chains". Yes, this is what makes this film worth your time. Aside from the fact that Christina Ricci graces you with her amazing body and seductive ways for 115 minutes, Black Snake Moan actually has an interesting story. The movie itself is strange, and had the right actors for the parts. That is all except for Justin Timberlake, who has no business on any Cinema screen. He is a music performer, he should keep it that way. His parts almost de-rail the film as he doesn't look as if he belongs in the movie at all. With that said and out the way the rest of the movie is great. It's not A+ amazing, but Christina Ricci's character makes it all worth your while. Samuel L. Jackson plays another one of his oddball character rolls. This time he is a halfway crazy man (that's pretty good for a Samuel L. role) who wants to shed some light in the world. I'm not really sure what compelled him to out of no where decide to start helping Rae change her life. It seemed as though he was pretty off the wall and down on his own luck himself, then all of a sudden he is a religious warrior spreading good and cleansing the wicked. I think that transition is the only part of the movie that could have used more explaining. It made the things Samuel L. did seem akward because very little of the story was shed on what compelled him to save Rae, other than he found her on the road. With that aside it's hard to say anything bad about a plot that is focused around on a half naked Christina Ricci. Matter of fact suprisingly how easily this movie could of just been written off as ranchy, it never really crosses that line. It's actually about a caring man trying to help a young woman. Samuel L's character can only do but so much for Rae before he leaves it all up to her. Ironically in a movie that's so far from reality, it does have a sense of realism to it. **possible spoiler**Rae is never fully cured, but she now has the understanding of how she can ease and control her desires. That is the gift that Samuel L. gave to her. Overall Black Snake Moan was an interesting movie well worth checking out. It's not bad, it's not unbelievably amazing, it's just all out plain "good". and that makes it a 5 star film under my watch.
PS. I was going to take a star away for Justing Timberlake being in the film, but Christina Ricci's rebel girl outfit brought it back.
Movie Review: "I aim to cure you of your wickedness"
Summary: 5 Stars
Read it an weep, and with that one line of absolution spoken by Sam Jackson, Black Snake Moan takes you on a journey of faith, salvation, redemption and forgiveness of the two main characters Lazarus and Rea, two people who have suffered and endured hard times throughout their lives. Lazarus is trying to come to terms with his wife of 12 years leaving him for his younger brother. Rea is a woman who has suffered unmentionable sexual abuse since her childhood and therefore acts out the part for others to prey upon her. One night after a night of hard, careless partying she is beaten and left for dead on the road near Lazarus's house. Not knowing what to do but help her, Lazarus takes it upon himself to bring Rea back to health, only to discover that she has far deeper scars and problems than the physical ones left on her face. He is then determined to make her well, and through his faith,and belief that "God saw fit to have us cross paths" he does so the only way he knows how. The two ultimately develop a friendship under unusual circumstances, and through music which Lazarus has sworn off for so long, the two heal one another while unknowingly shedding their demons. The cords struck by Sam Jackson playing "Black Snake Moan" will resonate through you and send chills down your spine, which also turns out to be the turning point between the two characters in the film. This was a fantastic film I thoroughly enjoyed with Sam Jackson and Christina Ricci. My only disappointment was that Justin Timberlake was cast in this film, but fortunately with his roughly 10 minutes of screen time I can tolerate it. The soundtrack is phenomenal, and if you are as big a blues fan as I am, both the soundtrack and DVD are well worth purchasing. Sam Jackson is one of those rare actors that his on screen presence demands your full attention.Truely a tallented actor, Jackson took it upon himself to learn how to play guitar for this very film.The music in this film tells as much about this story as the dialog does,almost as an additional character playing alongside everyone else.Ricci is another tallented actress with a bright future by taking roles that get her noticed while graduating out of the kiddie roles she is most remembered for.Black Snake Moan delivers superb acting both by Jackson and Ricci, a fantastic and originally written story with a soundtrack to carry it every step of the way. I highly recommend this film, seeing is believing.Movie Review: Grindhouse Lives
Summary: 5 Stars
If almost naked Christina Ricci chained to a farmhouse by Samuel L. Jackson is not worth $20 and two hours I don't know what is. This is a film which like all grindhouse classics lives by its poster. The images of Ricci being walked through the Tennessee countryside held by an industrial chain by Jackson are still burned fresh in my mind 24 hours later. These scenes truly go down with Scarlet O'Hara's "with God as my witness" and "tomorrow is another day" scenes from `Gone With the Wind' as the greatest in film history.
`Black Snake Moan' is very effective as having the style and flow of an action movie with hardly any violence. The story itself is clearly a drama of the human character which combines the most sick and depraved of dark humor much like `Lolita'.
Jackson gives the performance of his life as a simple Southern folk farmer whose wife has just run away with his own brother. He's at the lowest point in his life.
Likewise Ricci is the result of a sexually abusive childhood and now lives as a drugged up nymphomaniac, literally sleeping with every man and boy she meets. The only stability in her life was her unstable boyfriend Justin Timberlake who has left town to join the army. (or the National Guard, it's unclear.)
The two tragic characters come together by Jackson literally chaining Ricci to his farmhouse. Ricci spends 90% of the film in nothing but a cut up T shirt and barely there white panties.
Forced to endure each other Jackson saves himself by saving Ricci and for the first time ever Ricci must survive without sex and drugs. But Jackson does provide her with rock and roll or blues.
While blues music is emphasized heavily in the trailers it is only about 10% of the film and more of a side element to provide ear candy.
The path to salvation is as narrow as a razor's edge. `Black Snake Moan' maintains its fast paced feel with eye candy and great directing while telling a rather simple but exciting story. "Jackson chains almost naked Ricci to his farmhouse." Now that's a narrative hook.