Rating: 
Summary: Pride And Prejudice
Review: I had avoided seing director Marc Forster Monster's Ball until recently. My reasoning had to do with the fact that I am not a big fan of star Billy Bob Thornton, and no matter the buzz about Berry and the film, I just had to gear myself I guess. In the end, I am glad I finally saw this very good film. Death row prison gaurd Hank Grotowski (Thornton) starts having a romantic affair with the wife (Berry) of an inmate under his charge. Actor Peter Boyle plays Buck Grotowski, while Heath Ledger plays Sonny Grotowski, family related to Hank. The film is pretty much a relationship drama. It focuses on fathers and their sons, a woman who wants a better life and better love, and different levels of respect from folks. While I still don't think Thornton is all that great, on the whole, the cast of "Ball" is good. The direction is crisp and at times things can get intense. The movie will not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those inclined, it's worth a look. Monster's Ball on DVD comes in two "flavors": A director's cut version or a standard version with extras. I own the latter and think the extras are pretty solid. There are two audio commentary tracks Each one has Forster and (a) director of photography Roberto Schaefer (b) Thornton/Berry Each track offers unique insights to the film. The deleted scenes are probably part of the director's cut version DVD, were in my opinion wisely cut from the movie. Lastly, the 2 featurettes on the film's music, and the filming were ok, but I would have preferred a more in depth featurette, edited together as one whole. Monster's Ball, is good, but may not be for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: A very real and troubled world, and yet love prevails.
Review: Starring Billy Bob Thornton as Hank and Halle Berry as Leticia, this is the story is about a racist corrections officer who falls in love with the African-American widow of a man in whose execution he participated. Including the condemned man, played by Puffy Combs, three people die, and the shock of their deaths catapult the characters into a situation where chance and desperate need bring these two people together. The film is hard to watch, especially because of the unflinching racism, words hurled in anger and rage which I, in my protected New York lifestyle, have never heard spoken aloud. And yet, none of these very flawed human beings come across as stereotypes. Billy Bob Thornton is one of the finest actors in the film world today, and his performance is nothing short of outstanding. We hate him for his racist beliefs and yet we see a gradual humanity creep in, as he respects the last wishes of the condemned man and is infuriated by his own son, also a corrections officer, who shows weakness during the execution. Peter Boyle is cast as Hank's father, his racism becoming stronger as he is aging and his health failing. Throughout, he's unrepentant and represents the old and cruel way of the South. Heath Ledger is cast as Sonny, Hank's son, a young man who is being pushed too hard to accept his father's lifestyle. And Halle Berry, is not only pretty, but has the ability to show complex emotion with just her eyes. Every scene she's in is real and poignant, especially the scenes she has with her overweight son, Tyrell, played by Coronji Calhoun who is excellent in his first film role. Together, the actors create a real and troubled world and I must say that this is one of the best casting jobs I have ever seen. Directed by a young Swiss director, Mark Forster, the original screenplay was written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. With less talented people, there could have been too much melodrama, but the story is told with dignity and restraint in spite of its outrageous theme. Every line of dialogue rings true. And the cinematography of the working-class Georgia town puts the viewer right there. Wonderful in every way. It rates my highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Halle Berry: the world's greatest actress of all time
Review: I love Halle Berry, and she is, without a shred of doubt, the greatest actress that ever lived. This is a huge movie set in the rural south and it won her an Oscar! Don't listen to any of these retarded one-star reviews. They're just jealous of Halle and her amazing beauty and talent. See his movie and buy it now!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Acting - Simple Plot
Review: This cleverly simple, but well balanced plot is well known by now and if you don't know it, it doesn't matter much, as the acting carries this film. Billy Bob Thorton again plays a southern hick (a Corrections Officer), a character he does so well at. His father (Peter Boyle) also plays a great bigot (something he began in 1970's "Joe"). Billy Bob's son played by Heath Ledger, again plays his typical character role as a hick with a conscience. Now, it is Ms. Halle Berry that breaks rank and shows her best in a shockingly well-acted part as a single mother waitress. I saw "X-Men" and didn't expect anything out of Berry, but she went for broke and plays such a convincing character, I was happy she won that Oscar! Again, it's a simple plot, but not one without merit, as it explores some serious issues of racism, bigotry, inter-racial relationships, child abuse, obesity, murder, suicide - and does it with a deft and staight forward tone. Quite a load for a 'small' film. It's not a happy picture and at times can be terribly depressing. But, the script also keeps it afloat with realistic dialogue, taken well advantage of by the cast. One note of dismay: Only in America can two characters make love in a film where the woman is completely naked and the man still has his underwear on! What is up with that?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent performances in a throught provoking film
Review: Monster's Ball is one of those rare movies which come along and envelops the viewer. The cast alone which includes Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Boyle, Heath Ledger and Halle Berry are cause enough to see the movie but the plot and outcome are further reason to see this fine film and applaud all associated with this movie. While the subject matter at times is rather grim and one may close their eyes for certain scenes, one leaves the theater feeling that this was time well spent. Billy Bob Thornton plays the son of a law enforcement officer and the father of a young man, also a law enforcement officer. He comes from a long line of bigoted men which is evident when two young black brothers want to hang out with Thornton's 20 something son. In addition to Thornton not liking blacks he doesn't seem to like his son too much either. Central to the movies plot is the execution of a black man. As Thornton and the other correction officers including his son prepare this man and then witness the execution, the viewer is likely to think this might be the end of Thornton's involvement with the executed man. But the execution has serious reprecussions on Thorntons life as a tragedy befalls him and he then meets the executed mans widow. And as they begin a rather unusual relationship you as the viewer are held mesmerized by the events unfolding on the screen. There are parts of this movie which are truly painful to watch
and at times the viewer may find themselves overwhelmingly uncomfortable. But these feelings only further heighten the movies effect as one feels as though they are witnessing real life instead of a story. The performances are wonderful and one leaves the theater with a great deal to think about for some time. Even the title is a good choice as monster's ball was the term used in England for the party which was held the night before an execution. Do see this movie!
Rating: 
Summary: One difficult movie to watch
Review: I rented this movie after the Academy Awards because I was curious to see Hally Berry's performance. Needless to say, the content of this movie was so difficult to watch, I had to turn it off. That's not to say that the acting was bad, but overall the story was dreadful. One of the worst parts of this movie was when Hally Berry's character catches her son eating and stuffing the food wrappers in the cushions of the couch, and then screams at him because of his weight and drags him to the bathroom where she forces him onto the scale, all the while telling him how fat he is. That is a horrible way to treat anyone, especially a child, and it was after that scene that I turned it off. I would not recommend this movie to anyone, for any reason.
Rating:
Summary: HORRIBLE stuff!
Review: Honestly, there aren't enough to words to describe how bad Monster's Ball is, and how undeserving of an Oscar that hack Halle Berry was. Terrible acting, half-hearted plot, a white knight rushing in to save the po' nigra woman - and let's not get started on how a born-and-bred racist can change in about 48 hours, all because he had sex with a black woman. PLEASE! There was a black woman who deserved an Oscar nod for her riveting role in a movie that year, all right - her name was Nona Gaye, and she was magnificent in "Ali." But why award a black woman playing a strong, dignified role when we can give it to someone engaging in raw sex (and UNNEEDED raw sex) at that? Hey, is it possible to give this movie zero stars?
Rating:
Summary: Tragic but well acted.
Review: This film is dramatic, tragic, and all out depressing. But the acting is what steals the show. Halle Barry deserved the Oscar, and the film will be remembered. Not the best. If you are in the mood for happiness, skip this film.
Rating:
Summary: Halle Barry deserved the acadamy award!
Review: WOW! Where does one begin writing about such a powerful movie?
Billy Bob Thornton plays the unfeeling, unemotional, robot of a man...(He plays him superbly) He comes from a generation of robotic sleeze balls.
How apt that he is one of the gaurds at the prison who executes Halle Barry's husband (Puffy.)
Halle plays her role (No makeup, still stunning) as a sort of welfare, desparate, pathetic soul...probably also from a generation of dysfunction.
Billy and Halle meet somehow---both filling a hole in one another. Somehow it works. Somehow they become better people because of it.
There is a scene where Billy Bob Thorton is painting the inside of his house white...(symbolic for a new beginning)
There are scenes where the viewer will see hands reaching into a cage recovering a bird... (Another metaphor for freedom, change, letting go)
This is one of the best movies I have ever watched...
Halle is superb, deserving of the acadamy award.
Thornton is brilliant as her sleeze ball boyfriend turned human.
Looooooooove it!!!!
PS... beware, the scenes of Barry beating her son is very raw and disturbing, but the directer makes the viewer see that she too, has been in this abusive cycle for many years.
This is not a movie you will soon forget...the images will stay with you and make every emotion surface.
Rating:
Summary: I liked this better when it was called Jason's Lyric........
Review: How did Halle play the race card? Let's compare 2001's Monster's Ball to 1994's Jason's Lyric (unrated version). Once you see the similarities between these two films you'll understand how the race card played in the Oscar win in 2002. Both Monster's Ball and Jason's Lyric are set in the Deep South. Both stories are bleak.
Both Monster's Ball and Jason's Lyric have troubled primary characters dealing with the death of a loved one Hank Grotowski is dealing with the suicide of his son. Jason is dealing with murdering his own father.
Both male leads are emotionally abused by a family member. Hank is abused by his racist father. Jason is abused by his ne'r do well brother who has been released from prison.
Both Male leads work in low wage jobs. Hank is a prison guard. Jason is a clerk in a TV repair shop.
Both Male leads long for something better. Hank wants to get away from his father. Jason wants to get away from his surroundings.
Both Female leads work in a food service establishment. Leticia Musgrove works as a waitress in a diner. Lyric works as a server in a restauraunt.
Both lead characters come together as a result of troubling circumstances. Hank and Leticia come together as a result of her husband's execution and the death of her son. Jason and Lyric come together as a result of dealing with his brother's problems.
Both films have an obese character. In Monster's Ball it's Leticia's son. In Jason's Lyric the fat person is Lyric's best friend.
Both films feature graphic sex scenes. Monster's Ball features a group of graphic sex scenes between Leticia and Hank where Halle Berry gets nude with Billy Bob Thornton. In addition, there's a graphic sex featuring Heath Ledger and a prostitiute. In Jason's Lyric Jason and Lyric have sex out in a feild. In this graphic sex scene Jada Pinkett and Allen Payne both get nude. In additon, Jada and Allen have sex in the TV repair shop. Furthermore the fat girl and Treach get seminude in an alleyway during their sex scene.
Both films feature suicides. In Monster's Ball, Heath Ledger's character kills himself. In Jayson's Lyric Bokeem Woodbine's character kills himself.
In the end Hank kicks his father out and moves Leticia in. At the end of Jason's Lyric Jason and Lyric finally get on a bus and leave their bleak surroundings once and for all.
Both Monster's Ball and Jason's Lyric were made with low budgets. The only difference between these two films is that Jayson's Lyric had an ALL BLACK CAST and a BLACK DIRECTOR and Monster's Ball had a MIXED CAST WITH A FOREIGN DIRECTOR. The critics roasted Jason's Lyric; those same critics years later applauded Monster's Ball a film with the exact same plot as Jason's Lyric a film they bashed. Both Jada Pinkett and Halle Berry were given critical acclaim for their perfomances, but the Academy chose to give Halle Berry the Oscar nomination and the win.
Why? The only real difference between these films is the race of the male leads and their family. Billy Bob Thornton was white,and the actors who played his family were white. Allen Payne was black and the actors who played his family were black.
Both films were controversial due to a graphic sex scene. Jada Pinkett's "performance" in Jason's Lyric was just as "riveting" as Halle Berry's in Monster's Ball. However, Jada Pinkett wasn't lauded as a "trailblazer" she didn't get to go on Oprah and talk about how powerful a "love story"Jason's Lyric was, how great an actress she was, and most of all, she got no Oscar nomination. Worse, they were planning on rating Jayson's Lyric X if the sex scene wasn't cut down some. Why? Because Jason's Lyric was a black film made by a black director. Perhaps if Jada Pinkett would have had a graphic sex scene with a white man instead of a Black one she would have been the one holding the gold statue on Oscar night in 1994
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