Monster's Ball

Rating:
Summary: Busting a Nut
Review: This film is frustrating in that nothing happens for a long time, then the guy picks up a gun and shoots himself. Trying to figure out who we're supposed to like is like busting a nut. It's a very talky, very arty film. Peter Boyle is convincing as the biggoted father that gets dumped at the nursing home. Billy Bob Thornton is very interesting, particularly when he's painting his walls white. The highlight of the movie is seeing how much better his house looks after he's redecorated it. It almost doesn't look like the same house. I particularly liked how Billy Bob washes up the blood from his recliner and then from the back seat of his car. With the length and attention to detail, these clips could be used in housekeeping training films on proper cleaning techniques. The best scene in the movie is one that was cut where Thornton does his lines as the character from Sling Blade. It was also interesting to see him trying to crack up other members of the cast in the deleted scenes. Halle Berry is very emotional. Yes, she does have her husband executed, but that's not all that emotional until she sees his artwork later on. She gets pretty worked up when her son gets hit by a car. Later, she gets really steamed while tanked on her sofa with Billy Bob. While I couldn't exactly identify why she was feeling what she was, or even exactly what it was that she was feeling, she certainly felt a lot. Her performance is the reason to sit through this otherwise pretentious, slow-paced, self-obsessed piece of cinema. Heath Ledger should be noted for looking particularly bloated after his other two films. It's nice to see that even hunks can gain weight. This movie is a great curiosity piece to see why the Academy voted an Oscar. Or you could just rent Moulin Rouge and enjoy your evening.

Rating:
Summary: Me Likes!!!!!
Review: I love this movie......well not really. The movie is a tad bit on the boring side but I only watched the movie for the scene where Halle Berry add Mr. Thorton get it on. It was a nice graphic sex scene but it was all worthwhile. Skip to chapter 16 titled "make me feel good". I know it made me feel good.

Rating:
Summary: Now this is acting!
Review: Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Barry have both given the performances of their careers here. I can see why Halle won that Oscar, which is the only reason I really wanted to see this dark, depressing, stark movie. This is not for the faint of heart, and if you are just looking for light entertainment, look elsewhere. We are talking deep here.
"Monster's Ball" is a look into two people lives, Hank & Leticia, and how their characters connect through the whole movie -- Her husband is executed on death row, and Hank is one of the corrections officers that assist in the execution. Sean "Puffy" Combs plays the husband, and he is quite impressive. The film also shows how they end up after so much tragedy is bestowed upon both of them. They both lose their sons, but in some sense, I didn't see them really grieving for their loss which is one part of their character that truly bonds them. They are both extremely complex, angry characters, and you want to have sympathy for them, but it isn't easy. As the film moves on, you start to feel for these characters. We get to know them on a personal level.
That aside, the performances by these two well crafted actors is just awe inspiring. It is a film worth watching just for the acting.
This is an amazingly well crafted piece of work, the acting, cinematography, excellent screenplay, and realism of it is all just brilliant. Even if it is very depressing it is also extremely engrossing, I made myself stay up way past my bedtime to watch the entire movie. It was one of the most moving pieces of cinema I've ever witnessed.
For dvd buyers, this is worth buying just to see Thornton's character "Karl" from "Sling Blade" play "Hank".
There are about four deleted scenes, and a trailer, and a little piece on how the movie was scored. That was pretty interesting.
One of the best of 2001

Rating:
Summary: He Gone...He Gone....
Review: Really - who writes this stuff? I respect Halle Berry but she didnt deserve an oscar for her performance, if anything Thornton's performance was superior given the meager characterization he had to work with. The movie never rises beyond its tour bus view of a multi racial and backwards south with characters seemingly drawn from the foreign born directors brief pit stop at a Tuscaloosa Wal-Mart and we are constantly reminded by the heavy handed directing of the emotional devastation that is supposed to be going on. Oh and lets hope we dont see Puffy in another film for a long, long time.

Rating:
Summary: AN INSTANT CLASSIC........
Review: an absolute beauty of a film........the performances by all are wonderful, but halle berry is a true revelation! for once, a best actress award was actually underrated..she is magnificent! no less awesome is billy bob thornton in a role so deep and compelling.....it will leave you astounded and breathless! wonderful.....do not miss it..savor it over and over it gets better with each viewing!

Rating:
Summary: Beyond Words
Review: Monsters ball left me emotionaly drained. The performance by each actor were so real and vivid I was taken in immediately. Billy Bob and Halle Berry were terrific. The great achievment of the movie is the direction of Marc Foster. Some films reach the status of works of art and some do not. Monster ball has reached this status. Each scene is so well structured that you become uncomfortable. At times I felt as though I was spying on these people. Marc Forster allows you to become personnal with the characters and you feel their pain. I loved this film. With such actors a movie already has a level applied but they went way beyond anything you can imagine.

Rating:
Summary: Buyers Beware...Shame on Lion's Gate Films
Review: While there is no debating the greatness of the film itself, as a collector of dvd, i am very, very disappointed at the blatant lies on the back of the box.As stated on the back, where the special features are listed, we should have been treated to, in addition to a no doubtedly wonderful film, Over 1 hour of Behind the Scenes Footage, Two audio commentaries, Never-before-seen deleted scenes and outtakes and IFC's Anatomy of a Scene.Buyers Beware....This is what you are actually going to get...The 2 stated commentaries, 4 deleted scenes averaging 1 minute a piece, an 8 minute scoring the film featurette and a behind the scenes piece(Hardly IFC's Anatomy of a Scene)totalling a little more than 4 minutes.That's it....well....there are a few unrelated trailers. We're not even close to "Over One Hour Of Behind-The-Scenes Footage" I would have bought the DVD on the merits of the film itself but why such a blatant lie??...and that's what it is, not mincing words. Again....buyers beware....and....Shame on you Lion's Gate Films!!!

Rating:
Summary: Blooper
Review: I thought it was an incredible film, but did anyone else notice that it was the Georgia State Correctional system and the corrections officers had State of Louisiana patches?

Rating:
Summary: Why?
Review: If packaging and price are an indicator, Monster's Ball is not worthy of your time or money. It's the same story, a poor black man executed in the Deep South and we are supposed to feel for him and his family. Anyone could have written this story. Monster's Ball is not The Green Mile. Why did Halle Berry win an Oscar for her performance? She's worthy of an Oscar for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, not Monster's Ball. There had to have been another reason because her acting wasn't the reason. Maybe it was because of her sex scene with Billy Bob? Or maybe the Academy felt it was her turn. Lion's Gate known for 'B at best' movies, didn't spend a cent to include a program insert. I guess it was to keep the price down, or maybe they agree Monster's Ball wasn't worth the cost. Cost, cheap but not cheap enough. Thank goodness Bill Bob Thornton kept us interested. This film is rated R for sex and judicial violence. Not recommended for young audiences. Pass on it and get the Green Mile.

Rating:
Summary: Good Chemistry so-so Film
Review: finally saw this film to see what all the Hype was all about.The Characters for Me didn't really show enough overall feeling for me.Halle Berry while I Acknowledge Her Role I don't see what all the Hype was all about.The Intimacy Aspect seems to be the only thing that makes it as Big of a Deal to me overall.but the film takes on so many things without doing any one any justice to me.alot of things thrown around without any solutions.Halle&Billy Bob have Better Chemistry than a Film.