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Monster's Ball (DVD, 2001)
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I had intended to see this movie for a long time and finally bought it on a whim. If a movie is controversial for any reason I prefer seeing it myself and making my own assessment of whatever the controversial content is rather than parroting the opinion of someone else. "Monster's Ball" got a lot of publicity because of Halle Berry's nude scene. The nudity is much more discreet than the publicity made it seem, and some of her vocabulary was more of a shock than the choreography of the nude scene, but her portrayal of the character throughout the movie is remarkable. It obviously wasn't the nude scene that earned her the Academy Award. Looking beyond the highly publicized nudity, the film needed more backstory to show why the three generations were so dysfunctional. The hostility leading up to the suicide needed much more backstory to make it seem like more than a plot device. Without spoiling the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it I'll also say that what is said and what is not said in the final scene makes it very easy to anticipate a sequel (if Berry had been interested in doing one). Despite the weak spots in the story line, I'm glad I saw it and I recommend it to anyone who can handle a small amount of discreet female nudity and a significant amount of "four-letter" words and harsh racist dialogue.Read full review
This movie is about Leticia (Halle Berry), a woman with a son, whose husband Lawrence (Sean Combs) has been sitting on death row for 11 years and he's about to be executed. Hank and his son Sonny, are corrections officers at the jail and the ones prepping Lawrence's execution. Hank's father Buck is a racist, his wife killed herself and Buck is filled with hate because he thinks she gave up on him (imagine that) and he considers her weak. He also thinks Sonny (his grandson) is weak because he has her ways. Buck's hate has rubbed off on Hank, who hates his son Sonny because he reminds him of his mother / grandmother. Because Sonny didn't have the hateful tendencies Buck and Hank have, he is considered a weakling. And this made Sonny a very unhappy person. When Sonny threw up while escorting Lawrence to the electric chair, and had to go to the bathroom to compose himself, Hank storms in, beats him up and screams obscenities at him. Guess he didn't want a dying man to see another human being having compassion for him, etc. The next morning, Hank busted in Sonny's room and told him he wanted him out of his house. Sonny pulls his gun and roughs Hank up. Hank tells Sonny he hates him. Well, I've always loved you Sonny says, and does the unthinkable! This movie is solely about COMPASSION, but it's about hate, too. Hate, which can be passed from one person to another, in the case of Buck, Hank and Sonny; from father to son. Some of us don't have any compassion for other people, until we are faced with the same pain and conflicts. Then, we see how idiotic our hateful notions are and how they stop us from being better people. Compassion is something Hank learned when he met Leticia. She reminded him of himself. He saw her pain and he had to think about his own, his actions, and his hate. He is forced to confront his inner demons and in doing so, he renews his mind, body and spirit. The movie was gritty and tells about the hoarse realities that exists. I liked this movie because of the compassion factor. It wasn't bad at all, very emotional. But not the type of role for Berry that deserved an Oscar. But hey, that's life.Read full review
If you watch movies purely for mindless entertainment, then this one is not for you - stick to action thrillers. If however you enjoy a good story well told, add this one to your library. I give little stock in that farce, know as the Academy Awards; however I have to agree with them for Halle Berry’s performance (Best Actress). The acting by all is first rate, including Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, and this may be among Billy Bob Thornton’s best ever. The story is not fast paced; instead care is taken to fully develop the characters, each of whom you get to know intensely. The story is not a common one, but one of common people in an extraordinary circumstance. The dialogue is not excessively wordy, so do not leave the room, use the pause button - you don’t want to miss anything in this one.Read full review
This movie was not a big favorite with audiences so I knew there had to be something meaningful in it that the shallow public could not see or was not able to see or perhaps refused to see. It has one of the loveliest soundtracks I've ever heard which clings to the soul with a lingering and misty melancholy. A movie for for those who have known suffering. The Monster's Ball is a very bleak film yet it's also quite rare in that it's truly unpredictable. You won't find Hollywood trappings here. This is an Indy film, thoughtful with symbolism and a profound message. This movie caused a knee jerk reaction in parts of the black community, causing calls for boycotting and some racial tension. Simply put, a white racist death row prison guard, through a set of tragic and complex circumstances, begins to fall in love with the black wife of an inmate that he recently executed, of which she is totally unaware. Their anguished bond is the fact that they both have lost young sons. There is some blunt sexual content, however it's mainly queasy and uncomfortably painful rather than erotic. Still, this motion picture is not intended for children. This movie somehow captures the mood of yearning reconcillation between two devastated souls who discover they have absolutely nowhere else left to turn, except to each other. This is a startling "feel bad" movie that is able to say: tragedy will not be permitted to become the end of all hope. Rather it states: When you're at the end of your rope, letting go can be the best thing you can do. Ultimately consoling in a way that seeks to unlock a warm, rainy night in your heart where abandoned innocence is finally given a chance to be regained. Atmospheric and moody with a poetic and mystical resolution that leaves you with a mesmerizing shimmer of hope. In the final scene, Halle Berry unlocked something deep within herself. Her eyes spoke of a suffocated bleeding which magically suspended both time and space. "The title comes from a custom in medieval England where prisoners awaiting execution were called monsters. The night before their execution, their jailers would hold a feast known as a monster's ball as their final farewell." (Wikipedia)Read full review
Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry have never been better. This movie is so good and everything you would want in a good movie. These characters really move across the board with their acting. Storyline is very very good. Not what you expect at all. You must see this movie!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Set in modern Mississippi, MONSTER'S BALL subtly examines the impact of personal loss and the transforming power of human connection. The movie begins in the state penitentiary's death row, where father-and-son prison guards Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) and Sonny Grotowski (Heath Ledger) administer the execution of a black death-row inmate Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs), who leaves behind a wife, Leticia (Halle Berry), and son, Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun). When both Hank and Leticia's children subsequently die, the two grieving parents are accidentally thrust together, where they begin to find comfort and eventually a form of redemption. Employing a languid pace and minimalist dialogue, MONSTER'S BALL slowly moves forward on the strength of the cast's performances (including a supporting turn from Peter Boyle as Hank's ailing racist father, Buck) and Marc Forster's understated direction. The complex characters are allowed to develop gradually over the course of the entire movie, making the film a richly satisfying character study rather than a quick, plot-driven confection.Read full review
This movie has a little bit of what everyday people go through. Heath Ledger couldn't put up with his father.... Halle Berry had lots of responsibilities of her own....Father had to put his dad in assisted living....everyday events. Great Movie!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Sexually explicit and not recommended for youngsters. I think the cruelty exceeds the sensitivity level the politically correct generation could tolerate. Those of us who survived the civil rights movement of the 60's recall the beligerence and the actual hate-filled momentum via the lingo allowed in this script. I was sickened by the first 20 minutes of this film and gently restored by the unexpected love story that unfolds with each segment and sordid episode. Watching disfunction melt away to function and see some real peace come to two people's lives in the wake of devastation made waiting for the conclusion worthwhile. Bravo to the cast!
Quality product timely delivery engaging characters entertaining storyline beautiful scenery
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It's a great movie
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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