Monster's Ball
A hard-hitting Southern drama tempered by a story of powerful, life-changing love. Hank (Academy Award® Winner - Billy Bob Thornton) is an embittered prison guard working on Death Row who begins an unlikely, but emotionally charged affair with Leticia (Academy Award® Winner Halle Berry), the wife of a man under his watch on The Row.
Member Reviews
Powerfully affecting, with superb performances that add complexity, depth and feeling to this drama - moviemonger
A solid drama which deals with the effect of familial racist attitudes and one's grieving process after the passing of a loved one, this film features a career-topping performance by Halle Berry (who knew that she could act this well?), alongside another strong showing by Billy Bob Thornton, and various secondary characters. Somber, slow-moving and ultimately somewhat simplistic in plot, this film kept me engaged throughout because of its ability to develop its characters into full-blown dimension. With very little dialogue and "action" scenes per se, this movie felt more like a play in certain areas, with much reliance on the characters' movements, looks and body language. Berry was especially effective in displaying her character's full arc from a frantic, chain-smoking, boozing mom to a melancholic, vulnerable woman, searching for something to make her feel good. Overall, this movie features some great directing, awesome performances, a consistently important message and a heartfelt relationship, which springs a little bit of light over most of the film's overall darker mood. It definitely resonates to a core deeper than your typical film, and if you're looking for a movie that will provide for some powerful emotions, check this one out. And yes, once again, let me stress the surprisingly pointed performance by Halle Berry. And yeah, she gets buck naked in this movie. Uncompromising drama, it seems dour on the surface, but is an unsentimental, yet achingly eloquent, affirming story of transformation and hope.Just watch it already and don't wait like I did! - travelkitty
Incredible exploration of human drama, which encompasses real life situations - no BS in this film. I wondered why Barry got an Oscar for this and now...I get it.
The music in this film is as much as a character as the characters themselves. Amazing! Just amazing!
There are awkward moments in this movie, but the beauty is that they are not dumb moments, they are true moments. Those awkward silences in life when you dont know what to do or say.
This is the type of film than can easily be made into a high level discourse.
I can see this being used by a professor in a film studies course at a University setting. There is so much here to dissect and think about.
You WILL remember this movie.Redemption - Elliott1
A superb film, with brilliant performances by Berry and Thornton, that flutters about the uglinesses of modern America - the hateful racism, the loveless family, the cruelty of the prison system, and the spectre of poverty. Thornton invariably produces a magnificent rendition of a character, but I had no idea until tonight of Berry's parallel genius. A great, if desperately sad, film.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Powerfully affecting, with superb performances that add complexity, depth and feeling to this drama - moviemonger
A solid drama which deals with the effect of familial racist attitudes and one's grieving process after the passing of a loved one, this film features a career-topping performance by Halle Berry (who knew that she could act this well?), alongside another strong ...Just watch it already and don't wait like I did! - travelkitty
Incredible exploration of human drama, which encompasses real life situations - no BS in this film. I wondered why Barry got an Oscar for this and now...I get it.
The music in this film is as much as a character as the characters themselves. Amazing! ...Redemption - Elliott1
A superb film, with brilliant performances by Berry and Thornton, that flutters about the uglinesses of modern America - the hateful racism, the loveless family, the cruelty of the prison system, and the spectre of poverty. Thornton invariably produces a ...