Rating: 
Summary: Worst movie I have ever seen
Review: The main problem I have with this film is that there is no point. It starts out with Heath Ledger having a runin with a prostitute and it never gets any better than that. I watched the Oscars when Halle won and I thought that I would give this movie a try. I rented it and brought it home to watch with my parents. I am 21 years old and I was embarrassed at the unneccesary nudity and pointlessness of this movie. Save yourselves some time and do not rent/watch/buy this movie. Halle definately did not desreve an Oscar for this terrible film.
Rating: 
Summary: Riveting!!
Review: I heard allot about the performance of Halle Berry and she certainly deserved the Oscar for it. But, Billy Bob should have been given Oscar consideration for his performance as I was deeply moved by his potrayal of the corrections officer who goes through an emotional renewal. The movie transition was slow, but I understood the meaning of what Direcor Marc Forster wanted to give his audience. Overall, a riveting movie experience!
Rating:
Summary: A Monster's Ball Indeed
Review: First let me say that contrary to popular belief that America, at least in the movie world, is becoming more enlightened with their views of interracial romance and race relations, let me say it is quite the opposite. Just because more movies are showing miscegenation does not automatically translate into being consciously aware of race relations in this country.The underlying message in Monster's Ball shows that interracial relations DO NOT work. How convenient to make these two characters lose everything precious to them, I'm referring to the children both Berry's and Thornton's characters lost. It would be too sticky, too challenging for these characters not to be such tragic victims and still find their way to each other. As for Berry winning the Oscar, that was a joke, and I agree with the reviewer in pondering how America views Black people. It's no surprise that both Berry and Washington received Oscars for playing degenerates. I know most people will not agree with my review, but the truth is never easy to hear.
Rating:
Summary: Bitter Drama At Its Most Intense
Review: There has been considerable negative criticism of this film, and I think it arises from the simple fact that it is not in the least what most viewers expect it to be. Although it sports two well-known stars and expensive production values, Marc Forster's MONSTER'S BALL is essentially an art film that is unlikely to appeal to the mainstream audiences that rushed to see in the wake of Halle Berry's historic Oscar win. The story is Southern Gothic to the max, playing with grotesque plot devices worthy of Flannery O'Connor and twisted characters that might have stepped out of a Tennessee Williams play. Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is a correctional officer with the Georgia prison system, where he works with a team that executes prisoners condemned to the electric chair. During the course of his duties, he participates in the execution of Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs)--an execution that, in the most unexpected way imaginable, leads to the violent death of his son (Heath Ledger.) He subsequently becomes acquainted with Lawrence's widow Leticia (Halle Berry), and when she too loses her only son (Coronji Calhoun) to violent death the two embark on a passionate affair fueled by their grief and bitterness. The film plays with a number of ideas and issues, chief among them racism, but at core it is about the emotional sterility and shallow lives of its characters, and none of them are greatly likable. This is particularly true of the two leads, who are abusive, frustrated, and bitter--until their unexpected affair forces them to evolve in new directions. Even so, their motives remain problematic, and the conclusion of the film offers little in the way of closure. While the plot relies on several improbable coincidences, director Forster and his actors make the most of it, and the result is a film that is truly painful in its intensity. While Halle Berry's performance has been justly celebrated, it is equaled by Billy Bob Thornton--and the supporting cast is equally remarkable. The cinematography and music is at once understated and extremely memorable, and the film as a whole has a desperate darkness that few others in recent memory have equaled. This is not a film that a great many people will like, for it creates a brooding quality that is deliberately left unresolved. But it is a haunting film, one that lingers in the mind long after the final credits have rolled. While the DVD is expertly crafted, I found the bonus features--which include various audio tracks, outtakes, and a short on the making of the soundtrack--fairly trivial. Recommended to viewers who appreciate bitter drama at its most intense. --GFT ([Amazon.com] Reviewer)--
Rating:
Summary: Someone won an Oscar for this?
Review: Boring, boring, boring, boring. The two best characters died in the first 20 minutes!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was highly disappointed by this movie. I rented it because people recommended it to me, but I was not impressed with the movie itself. The PREMISE of the movie is good... (Wife of a convicted murderer falls in love with prison guard from the prison where her husband was put to death.) There were a few scenes that were not needed however: (1) execusion scene is quite graphic, (2) The father killing his son -- seemed to have no purpose in the film except to add extra and unnecessary family violence, (3) the intimacy between Hally Barry's and Billy Bob Thorton's character could have been really loving and sensual, EXCEPT that Hally Berry's character is really drunk... which is legally rape, but the film makes no mention of that (which is interesting since Billy Bob's character is a prison guard). Instead the film passes off the scene as loving intimacy.
Rating:
Summary: very very raw
Review: Good acting and writing about two people who come together from two different worlds. It's a unique story although it's extremely deep and vivid and real, it's definately something to see.
Rating: 
Summary: Much more than you expect...
Review: Even if you are not a Halle Berry fan, you will be after this movie. It is a shocking and sometimes disturbing view of society and all it's barriers. This one is first rate all the way. You can also see why Halle truly deserved that special little statue.
Rating:
Summary: NOT Worth your money!
Review: I usually enjoy movies after i buy them... this one i viewed only once. There was no real plot that i could follow... it seemed to just jump around and it seems to be all about sex and racism... i was shocked at some of the things that were said... it was a waist of my money!! and i can't seem to get rid of it cause everyone else must think so also... look to see how many used copies are for sale!!
Rating:
Summary: Some ideals never change
Review: When I saw the Monster's Ball at the movie theatre for the first time a year ago shock was the first thing that came to my mind. The screenplay was very well written, but the [traditional roles] left me thinking how could Halle Berry play such of a role. Then I thought again if she didn't play the role then someonelese would, which still left me even more depressed and disappointed. Halle Berry played every negative ...typical role that black women had to play in American cinematography since the beginning of time which have been mammy, maid and [women of the night]. Ms. Berry played the role of mammy by being an ignorant mother who basically did not know how raise her son, but disciplined through beatings so severe and savage like that they were abusive. Next Ms. Berry, played a maid by working in a restaurant serving whites mostly and where she meets the male protagonist played by Billy Bob Thornton. Finally, how Ms. Berry plays the most appalling role of all that of a [woman of the night]. I couldn't believe how Berry's character begged for ... relations with Mr. Thornton it disgusted me. I would like to say that most of mainstream America found this film to be a great, so great that Halle Berry won an Oscar. I would like to know, is this how America views black people here in this country as mammies, maids, [women of the night], coons, toms and bucks? just waiting to be saved by that white knight. My language might be strong and offense, but so was this film which was completly degrading to blacks here in America.
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