Rating: 
Summary: Good Story Turns Into Voyeurism
Review: An African-American man gets executed in the electric chair; this entrains a series of events that lead to a racist, desensitized prison guard quitting his job and falling in love with the
wife of the man at whose execution he assisted.So much could have been done with this story. A deeper look at capital punishment, a deeper look at race relations. Instead these subjects only get treated superficially at best. This is a feel-good story (not necessarily a bad thing) but compare the treatment of the subject of capital punishment in this movie with the one in "Dancer in the Dark" and you realize how anemic "Monster's Ball" is. Billy Bob Thornton puts in a solid performance, but I am sad to say that Halle Berry's performance was mixed, at times good, other times overacted and forced. I have to admit that her performance was just as good or better than the actresses who usually get the Oscar...but then again, the Academy often makes poor choices for these awards (no way Tom Hanks should ever get an Oscar). Naomi Watts of "Mulholland Drive" should have gotten the award but, as usual, the best films and actors dont get recognized at the Oscars. Awarding an Oscar to Halle Berry is just a cosmetic approach to the racism in Hollywood. The way to correct the problem is to give better roles to deserving minority actors and actresses. I am in no way a proponent of having sex and violence taken out of movies, however, this movie used the sex scenes gratuitously, obviously trying to appeal to voyeurs who get off on seeing a black female and a white male engaging in intercourse. What word best sums up the ending? Flat.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb Independent Film
Review: The success of this film provides even more evidence of the vibrancy and vitality of independent filmmakers in the face of the stultifying vapidity of current mainstream efforts. Made for a paltry 4 or 5 million dollars, the movie shines with rare performances and heart-wrenching emotional situations too often avoided in the more demographically correct films produced by Hollywood insiders. Seems like all the best work has most recently been done outside official movie-making channels. As with other recent independent films, the cast in this film is both star-studded and superb. From Peter Boyle to Billy Bob Thornton to Halle Berry, not a bad word can be uttered. All of their performances are outstanding, and the film develops into an incredible tour-de-force for Berry as she gives us a veritable busman's tour of a whole panoply of human passions and emotions, ranging from oozing and undulating sexuality on the one extreme to abject despondency on the other. This is a role virtually guaranteed to showcase her acting abilities, as it certainly did. Her raw talent to emote and take the camera hostage to her incredible acting powers is breathtaking to observe, and she shows us the stuff that won her the Oscar hands down. The subject matter makes this film more appropriate for more mature viewers, as it is a bit too real and too candid about more adult mattes to be bandied about with younger viewers. Moreover, its rather cynical and depressing look at the more serious side of life makes it a must see film, one that shows us the treasure we now have in actors like Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Halle is hot!
Review: Hey,
You get to see Halle Berry naked. What more could you want.
Rating:
Summary: ...wow...
Review: This movie was great. The performaces of Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry were awesome. This movie is so realistic in its portrayal of its subject matter that I couldn't believe my eyes. It deals with some pretty tough stuff. Death, hatred, and redemption all play major parts in this movie, especially redemption. This is about two people trying to cope with all the loss in their life, and turning to each others friendship. I will admit, I did not care for the sex scenes. I sat there and fowarded through three of them. They could have left all of that to our imagination. We didn't need to see all of THAT! All together, this was a strong, raw, and gritty film which needs to be seen. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay movie, great acting
Review: Okay the story behind this movie is actually not very good. Halle Berry plays the wife of an inmate on deathrow, when her husband is executed she turns and finds love in the arms of, ironically, a very racist white man played by Billy Bob Thornton. To add to the irony Hank (thornton) is the man who executed Leticia's (berry) husband. Although I have to admit the acting is incredible, Berry definatley deserved the award for best actress and I think Thornton could have won be his votes were split between this movie and The man who wasnt there, plus an mediocre performance in Bandits. There is very raw emotion plus a very raw love scene. This movie just makes you think.
Rating: 
Summary: Rent Something Else! Not worth the money
Review: While this movie does address real issues, and I'm sure that some of the things that happen to the characters in this movie could happen in real life, this movie is defiantely over rated. I don't see how the critics see this as a great film. If you ask me it was more about sex and abuse (in many forms) than it was anything else. If I could, I wouldn't even give this movie one star. It was more of a x-rated flick than it was a drama.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Over rated...
Review: Depressing, the acting may have been ok, but I wasn't impressed with Berry or Thornton, I've seen both of them in much better movies. Sorry I wasted my time watching this one...
Rating:
Summary: Good Acting but a far-feched plot
Review: More or less a depressing overview on racism. Here's a quick rundown of the story. Billy Bob and Baby Billy Bob are guards on death row. Baby Billy Bob, being a rookie, gets his chance to strap in a prisoner to "old sparky." His first fry is P. Diddy who is married to Halle with a son. Baby Billy Bob gets attached to Puffy and makes Puffer a hard last walk by showing a little caring and throwing a little vomit. Billy Bob confronts his son about ruining Puffy's last few moments. First off, I don't know why Billy Bob gave a hoot about Puff's peace in the first place because of his display of prejudice against blacks shown in the film early on. Billy Bob confronts his son and later his son retaliates and shows us how much his father hates him. Probably because Big Billy Bob Sr. has the same opinion on weakness. (Good performance by Peter Boyle as the sickly cold hearted grandfather)So anyway, realizing the hatred on him through his father's eyes, the kid shoots himself. Now, one hour in the film, the story starts. Halle's son gets hit by a car and Billy Bob takes care of the situation because now he's coming out of his racist ways and becomes a father figure for about 5 minutes. Now Halle's son dies. One son commits suicide the other son dies by a hit and run and sure a whole lotta death circulating between Billy Bob and Halle, but hey, who wants ice cream and sex? Yes, they hit it off, and rather soon considering the obvious, with an overdrawn sex scene which was basically the only segment that was granted any hype during it's theatrical run. Now granted the performances made up for the holy plot but the total sum of coincidence in this movie has about the same chance as Peter Boyle's hair growing back. It does have some editing flaws-watch out for Peter Boyle's magic cigarette trick and ventriloquist act.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful movie but not realistic
Review: I saw this movie after hearing very strong, very mixed reactions to it in the (non-white) media, and among my friends. After seeing the academy awards, I wanted to see it for myself. I came away feeling this this was a very powerful, gritty, realistically visceral movie, with stellar performances from both Thornton and Berry. But was it realistic? Was it truly about racism, poverty, inter-racial relationships, love and lust and renewal? Well, it was about these things in the same way "The Dear Hunter" was about the Vietnam War, meaning not at all. These things were in the fabric of the story, but I came away feeling that this story was really much smaller. It was about destruction, despair, connection, and hope for the future. This was a dark, grim movie, which ultimately left you feeling uplifted, if you were prepared to look beyond its flaws. If Thornton and Berry could find love and connection, maybe there's hope for the rest of us after all. Thinking about this, I added one star to my (low) rating for this film. This was a good film, and it worked on many levels. But it was just too easy to portray Halle Berry, as a woman of color, as needing sex to "feel good". This is just not real, and it doesn't ring true, and it's far too common in film that the woman of color becomes the foil for the white man's desire. This could have been a much richer, more subtle, more equitable film. But in the end it was a small story. Well done, with flaws, with powerful performances, but still a small story.
Rating:
Summary: It Takes A Lot to Laugh But Not A Train to Cry
Review: As I watched this film, I thought, "I've been in more than a few neighborhoods like this. Is this what goes on out of earshot of outsiders?" Well, yes and no. This film represents a rare work of moviemaking in my opinion. It isn't afraid to dwell in the gray areas of life where right and wrong aren't always clearly demarcated. If you like films that stimulate your mind to consider what is possible if not probable, then this film is for you. I'd have to say after two viewings that it is one of the best films I've ever seen. Disregard the reviewers who ridicule the film for its supposed lack of believability. This film requires audiences to transcend their own preconceptions, not suspend their disbelief. Messages abound that are both subtle and raw--a difficult balancing act which succeeds here because of superb camera work, excellent editing and visionary directing. As for the acting, this film has no weak links. I suppose I'll never regard Peter Doyle in quite the same way again when I watch Everybody Loves Raymond. In this film, he shows his true range and convinced me that he was an intractable bigot. Racial tension lacking? Apparently a few reviewers forgot the scene of Leticia's unexpected encounter with Buck. The tension in that scene is palpable. As for Berry, she demonstrates that her range of acting repertoire has yet to be fully tapped. Those critics who have focused on her lovemaking and sensuality have overlooked a lot of this film, perhaps to satisfy their preconceived and patronizing notions about her. The same can be said for Thornton. It's amazing, by the way, how he can play a nutcase, demonstrative auto mechanic in U-Turn and an intelligent but emotionally damaged prison officer in this film.
Occasionally, a liberal mindset creeps into this film, but the director doesn't preach, as many reviewers have noted. For example, Lawrence Musgrave is seemingly contrite and reflective in the last moments of his life, almost making us believe he is rehabilitated. But by his own admission he is a bad man, and one which he doesn't want his son to emulate. Those who are against the death penalty would do well to remember that we don't ever find out the nature of his crime nor would it have been any easier on his family if he lived (after all, Leticia has been visiting him for eleven years--nearly as long as their son has been alive--and she has grown tired of the pilgrimage). How can it be any better for her son to know that Daddy will never receive parole?
The ending makes it clear that many problems still need to be worked out between the main characters. It is by no means a done deal and Leticia's troubled glances at the tombstones and Hank's face should have been enough to make that clear. For every racist, however, that can't forget or tolerate them, we have to believe there are many others in the community who can forgive and forget (e.g. witness the black mechanic next door). So despite its mood of sorrow, disappointment, and cyclic abuse,this film succeeds in offering a hopeful way out. If you take this film on its own terms, discarding your preconceptions at the door and leaving yourself open to the power of personal redemption, this film can be not only provocative but cathartic.
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