Monster's Ball
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.43 You Save: $9.55 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.93 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Monster's Ball
Movie Review: Raw, Real & Unflinching
Summary: 5 Stars
Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) is a career prison guard in a state that still uses the electric chair for its method of execution. His father (Peter Boyle) before him was a prison guard and his son (Heath Ledger) has followed in his footsteps.Hank and his son oversee the execution of a mild-mannered prisoner who has artistic abilities that were never honed or recognized when he was still a free man. Hank has no idea how he will later be affected by circumstances in the prisoner's family, much less his own.
Hank soon loses his son to tragedy, but he's been trained by his own father to not only follow in his footsteps in being a prison guard, but also as being a narrow-minded, bigoted, selfish and repugnant father figure who has never appreciated his own child and almost seems unaffected, if not relieved that his son has died.
After the death of his son he has a chance encounter with Leticia (Halle Berry) who has just tragically lost her own son. While the viewer knows who's who, Leticia has no idea that Hank oversaw the execution of her husband (yes, the same one), and he doesn't realize who she is, either.
Hank continues to bump into Leticia and gives her rides to her home after her car breaks down... which ultimately leads to one of the wildest sex scenes you will probably ever see in a movie that hasn't been rated X or at least NC-17. The scene is powerful, but is uncomfortably long an it really intensifies the sense that you are a voyeur, if not a participant, in these scenes. It is filmed in such a way, that you feel like you're peeking through the crack of a door... powerful scene, but almost too powerful.
The film does not preach... while we see all sorts of things that would be normally highly controversial or at least fodder for a heated debate, none of it is presented as an opinion. You see mixed-race relationships, bigotry, child abuse, obesity, execution and suicide - but the film does not present these topics as though there is a way you should or should not feel about any of these issues and it's up to you to decide how to view & interpret.
Halle Berry won a well-deserved Oscar for her performance - and not for the sex scene as some critics have suggested. When Halle Berry acts, she becomes that person - a 3D person, not just a flat character. She does more than put her heart upon her sleeve and if a scene demanded it, she could yank out her own heart and take a bite out of it.
The sex scenes alone, in my opinion, should have merited an NC-17 rating. No one under 18 has any business seeing this film... even if their parents are either too [poor] to get a baby sitter or else are too stupid to know better. I get mildly enraged when I see parents sauntering into a movie like this with 8-year olds tagging along. When I saw this film in the theater, there were a number of young people there - none of which should have been exposed to the intense level of violence or explicit sex at such tender ages.
Other than my problems w/ the rating, I recommend the film to any adult who wants to see real, raw & unflinching reality and acting at its best.
Movie Review: Halle Berry's shining moment
Summary: 5 Stars
Independent filmmaking is alive and well and evident in Monster's Ball. This film had a minuscule $4 million budget, a terrific script and a director not afraid to take some risks. Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry practically donated their time they were paid so little. The result is a powerful and disturbing film that walked off with a boatload of awards, not the least of which was a best actress Oscar for Berry.Director Marc Forster conjures a forceful presentation with stark sets, next to nothing in the way of props and other set decoration, and a non existent soundtrack. Forster does it with innovative use of the camera, sharp editing and most importantly excellent actor direction. Forster could have done better at character development and the ending is nebulous and unsatisfying, but these shortcomings can be partially forgiven for the films many assets.
This is an actors' showcase, with outstanding performances all around. Heath Ledger makes a short but intense appearance as the son that Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) despises. Ledger pumps the character full of repressed anger and disappointment, simultaneously resenting him and seeking his father's approval. Peter Boyle is despicable as Hank's bigoted and self centered father. Billy Bob Thornton delivers his best performance since "Sling Blade" with a complex character torn between his prejudices and his attraction to Leticia (Halle Berry).
Of course the big story here is Halle Berry. Berry shows once again that she is not just another pretty face. I first took serious notice of her after seeing her performance in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", a little seen TV movie in which she won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy. After that marvelous dramatic performance, I was surprised that she couldn't land roles any better than "Swordfish" and "X-Men", which tapped nothing more substantial than her looks.
In this film, Berry is sexy and alluring, but these are only incidental attributes. She displays a full range of emotions from vibrant elation and unbridled passion, to utter despondency. She practically rips her heart out and throws it at the camera. She can convey volumes with a single look, or come completely unglued with equal impact. Her Oscar for this performance was richly deserved and had nothing to do with her race as so many have rationalized. She just flat out won it going away. As good as Nicole Kidman was in "Moulin Rouge", it wasn't even close.
This is an excellent film that is worth seeing for the acting alone. I rated it a 9/10. It is a compelling and deeply disturbing drama that serious film lovers will surely enjoy.
Movie Review: THIS CROSSES THE LINE BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT!
Summary: 5 Stars
First and foremost, I just want to say that Halle Berry deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Even though the film picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, the film should have had more recognition as far as Academy Awards.There are several elements about this film that needs to be brought to attention, but I wouldn't have enough room to mention all of them on this particular review.
I have heard numerous people protest that this film is stupid, that it's a waste of time, it's not worth watching, that it makes absolutely no sense, or that it is a total disappointment. - - NOT TRUE - -
Some people will take another person's opinion into perspective and then accept it for granted. - - DON'T - - (at least not in this case) Give this movie a chance. It deserves every chance it can take. This motion picture is proficient and it will forever in my mind remain everlasting and unforgettable.
What I like best about this film is the mood changes. Mood drastically changes as it is rolling from from beginning to end. Now you know what they say, that it is caused by the character's overall emotions. Yes that is true, but in this case, only partially. The change of mood is also caused by the events that make up the plot created by the characters, the environment of the film, and, of course, the film's scoring (music). Asche and Spencer did an outstanding, superb, and compelling job with writing, creating, and composing the music to this film. If it hadn't have been for the music, I don't think my mind would have set so highly and clear on the movie as it did.
Don't get me wrong, as I said before, every aspect of this film is wonderful. However, if one aspect of the film is crossed out, such as the performances, it can cost the film's grasp of emotion and the film could not be as magnificent as it was or it might even be ruined. Remember that!!!!
This film may contain many adult issues, but you cannot let that statement cancel out the film as a whole. It stands out to its potential.
Finally, you can't forget the remarkable performances created by Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Sean Combs, and especially Peter Boyle. Their performances, along with Halle Berry and the rest of the cast ties in together to create a story about what it is like to be depressed, frustrated, cared, sensitive, and above all loved.
This motion picture deserves all of the recognition it can get. Most of that can come from you, viewers. It's everything I could ask for, and it could be everything you would ask for.
Watch it today!!
Movie Review: Do you think?
Summary: 5 Stars
Monster's Ball is a pretty realistic slice of a couple of pretty depressing lives, yet it ends with a similarly realistic note of optimism.
Billy Bob Thornton plays Hank, a supervisor on death row at the local pen. Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy) plays Lawrence Musgrove, an admitted "bad man" on that death row. Hank has a son, played by Heath Ledger, who also works at the prison, and Hank's father, played by Peter Boyle, retired from the same place. Dad is now old and decrepit, and is a poisonous racist. Lawrence's wife, Leticia, is trying to make ends meet as a waitress while supporting their son, Tyrell.
The first act ends with Lawrence's execution, and we see in that scene that Hank is deadly serious about professionalism on death row.
Hank goes often to the diner where Leticia works, and they gradually strike up a casual relationship.
Without giving away spoilers, disasters happen in both of their families, and they are drawn to one another in their respective grief. This causes no small amount of conflict. Leticia is black. Hank's father is an extreme racist. Hank doesn't know that Leticia is P. Diddy's widow. Leticia doesn't know that Hank supervised her husband's execution.
It's inevitable that Leticia discovers that Hank was involved in the execution. In a different movie that might have led to a final act full of histrionics and ending in some hokey reconcilement. In "Monster's Ball" this discovery is realistic and low-key. For several moments there is no dialogue, and the scene ends with shared ice cream rather than screaming.
Hank and Leticia both begin this movie with emotional baggage, and during the course of the movie, more baggage is added to both of them. Yet at the end I felt justified hoping that things were headed in the right direction for both of them.
I see several reviews for "Monster's Ball" complaining about how boring and bad it is. Several of these enlightened reviewers go on to say that Halle Berry's nudity is the only reason to watch it at all. Curious that I can't find many negative reviews without misspelled words. On the first page alone I see the following "difficult" words misspelled or improperly used: "write", "roll", "would", "makes".
My point is that I see "criticism" divided pretty evenly - those who have difficulty expressing themselves in written English don't like the movie, while those without said difficulty do. So - the question for you, the potential viewer, is "do you think?"
Movie Review: THIS CROSSES THE LINE BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT!
Summary: 5 Stars
First and foremost, I just want to say that Halle Berry deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Even though the film picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, the film should have had more recognition as far as Academy Awards.There are several elements about this film that have to be brought to attention, but I wouldn't have enough room to mention all of them on this particular review.
I have heard numerous people protest that this film is stupid, that it's a waste of time, it's not worth watching, that it makes absolutely no sense, or that it is a total disappointment. - - NOT TRUE - -
Some people will take another person's opinion into perspective and then accept it for granted. - - DON'T - - (at least not in this case) Give this movie a chance. It deserves every chance it can take. This motion picture is proficient and it will forever in my mind remain everlasting and unforgettable.
What I like best about this film is the mood changes. Mood drastically changes as it rolls from beginning to end. Now you know what they say, that it is caused by the character's overall emotions. Yes that is true, but in this case, only partially. The change of mood is also caused by the events that make up the plot created by the characters, the environment of the film, and, of course, the film's scoring (music). Asche and Spencer did an outstanding, superb, and compelling job with creating and writing the music to this film. If it hadn't have been for the music, I don't think my mind would have set so highly and clear on the movie as it did.
Don't get me wrong, as I said before, every aspect of this film is wonderful. However, if one aspect of the film is crossed out, such as the performances, it can cost the film's grasp of emotion and the film could not be as magnificent as it was or it might even be ruined. Remember that!!!
This film may contain many adult issues, but you cannot let that statement cancel out the film as a whole. It stands out to its potential.
Finally, you can't forget the remarkable performances created by Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Sean Combs, and especially Peter Boyle. Their performances, along with Halle Berry and the rest of the cast ties in together to create a story about what it is like to be depressed, frustrated, cared, sensitive, and above all loved.
This motion picture deserves all of the recognition it can get. Most of that can come from you, viewers. It's everything I could ask for, and it could be everything you would ask for.
Watch it today!!