Customer Reviews

Monster's Ball

5 star:		(141)
4 star:		(69)
3 star:		(41)
2 star:		(54)
1 star:		(89)

 

 

Billy Bob Thornton already has a fine movie to his credit for the 2001 film season, THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE. He stars in MONSTER'S BALL, a film that may possibly vie with IN THE BEDROOM for multiple Oscars.

Here, Thornton plays Hank Grotowski, a senior corrections officer at a prison ostensibly placed in Georgia. Hank supervises a team of officers, which includes his son Sonny (Heath Ledger), and which is assigned to carry out the electric chair execution of a black convict. (Incidentally, a "monster's ball" is defined as the party thrown for a prison guard before he attends at his first execution.) Living with Hank at home is his aging, physically debilitated and venomously racist father, Buck (Peter Boyle), formerly a prison guard also.

The wife of the man to be executed is Leticia, played by Halle Berry. She's gamely trying to pay the rent and keep the car running by working as a waitress, and is raising an overweight son whom she sharply disciplines in an attempt to get him to stop eating everything in sight. (Leticia is convinced that fat, black men don't have a chance in America.)

Both Hank and Leticia are leading separate lives of quiet - and sometimes not so quiet - desperation, each being psychologically and emotionally dragged under by circumstances and taxing personal relationships. Then, in a series of traumatic events over a short period of time, each is cut free of burdens and left, through serendipitous accident, with only each other.

MONSTER'S BALL contains several volatile scenes of emotions on the rawest of edges, and which will keep the viewer riveted. Thornton and Berry both give exemplary performances as two people in unlikely company coming to grip with personal demons. As fair warning to the sensitive, the film incorporates episodes of intense sexuality.

Thornton has become one of my favorite actors, and this is the first time I've seen Berry in any role. I liked this movie very much, and would be hard pressed to choose between it and IN THE BEDROOM for this year's Best Picture Academy Award.

When I first heard the basic plot of MONSTER'S BALL, I was very intrigued, but skeptical. Watching the movie, I dreaded throughout that the filmmaker's were going to play things out in an obvious and predictable way. How refreshing it was to discover that they didn't.

Instead, I saw a tight, economical script with an amazing performance by Halle Berry. Undoubtedly, people will nit-pick about Berry's work in the film, but beat by beat, her Leticia was one of the most physically and emotionally challenging roles of the year. For the most part, she was up to the task and clearly demonstrated that she's a serious actress. One can debate whether or not she deserved an Oscar for her work, but she definitely gave an Oscar calibre performance.

Billy Bob Thornton was also deserving of an Academy Award nomination (although he didn't receive one) for his complex role as Hank. He played it honestly and fearlessly.

Also of note was Mos Def's performance in the film. It was finely shaded and understated. He's definitely an actor to watch.

However, despite these and other fine performanes in the film (Peter Boyle is another example), what really impressed me about this film was its script. All too often, writers seem compelled to explain every detail about a character, so that the audience "gets it." Fortunately, with MONSTER'S BALL, the writers assume that the audience has some level of intelligence.

In this film, one gets more with just a look on a character's face than would be accomplished in ten pages of expositional dialog. The screenplay deservedly was nominated for both an Oscar as well as an Independent Spirit Award.

Another thing that was refreshing about this film was that it didn't shy away from its controversial subject matter. It deals with issues of class, race, sexuality and relationships with an honesty that most filmmakers shy away from today. This of course will not sit well with the easily offended or those that refuse to believe that racism still exists in America. Given the casting of Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in the key roles, some may not accept that the characters they played could get together romantically. Like it or not, relationships like this can and do exist and will continue to do so. If you get anything out of the film, it should be that relationships in general are spontaneous, unpredictable and often defy logic.

Overall, MONSTER'S BALL is a challenging film that is often difficult to watch (and not always for the obvious reasons). If you're looking for a film that forces one to confront what we fear in ourselves, this one is it.

I have no quibbles whatsoever about this film, it's characters, acting, content, realism or any of the other silly little comments that everyone else is making. I'm a man, from the South so there's a little bit of Hank in me. I'm also a diagnosed manic depressive, so I understand Letitia's emotional hurt and explosive outbursts (sexual or otherwise) I'm also Black, so understanding and having sympathy for the Black characters and relating to it's racial issues was no stretch for me, I just want to know who is the Blonde Goddess playing the detached hooker in the hotel? When Hank tells her after an attempted tryst to "just keep that money" her reply of "I'm gon' to" just cracked me up! Don't make this movie more than it is people, it's a brilliant character study that reveals not only what can, but often DOES happen in real life when unusual circumstances bring people together. P. S. Halle Berry is volcanic, she deserved that Oscar.

"Monster's Ball" is about two people who are united through circumstance and tragedy. Billy Bob Thornton plays Hank, a prison guard who has an adult son (an impressive Heath Ledger) and takes care of his boorish, redneck father. Halle Berry is Leticia, a woman whose husband (a very good Sean Combs) is on death row, can't seem to hold down a job, and vents her frustrations on her obese young son. Neither Hank nor Leticia is a very good parent, and they come from two entirely different backgrounds. But on one rainy evening, they cross paths with each other, and from there a relationship begins. However, what Leticia doesn't know is that Hank was one of the people who assisted her husband's execution. And, as with almost all interracial relationships, tension rises between them, and Hank is forced to confront his racist demons.

This is a very upsetting movie, and the material deals with some very volatile issues. But it soars on the strength of the performances. The spotlight is clearly Halle's, who rightfully earned her Oscar. An actress known for her beauty, she de-glamed herself in this gritty performance, and she pulled it off without faking a single move. But props also has to go to Billy Bob Thornton, who gives a dynamite performance as well. Following "The Man Who Wasn't There," Thornton is on a roll, and is becoming one of the finest actors in the last ten years. And let's not forget rapper Mos Def, who makes a brief, but compelling appearance as Hank's neighbor. "Monster's Ball" may be a tough movie to sit through, but it's easily one of the best films of 2001 and warrants a purchase.

Marc Forster's "Monster's Ball" contains a host of horrific deeds and actions in its' first 40 minutes...so many in fact, I almost walked out of the theater: child abuse, attempted patricide, suicide, public execution, racial hatred to name several. I felt like yelling at the screen: ENOUGH ALREADY! But a morbid fascination with where this movie was going made me stay in my seat, mouth open...and I can honestly say that ultimately "Monster's Ball" proved to be worth my time and effort.
But,the big question here is: why show so much negativity? Does so much downbeat material make for an uplifting, or more importantly interesting movie experience? Does: "I'm so down...it looks like up to me" apply here? Why have your main character,Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) exhibit such self-loathing and hatred and thereby making him unpalatable as a hero? And ultimately does Hank's metamorphosis into a loving person make sense?
I don't have all the answers but I certainly do have impressions and can attest to the cumulative power of the images presented. Hanks's conversion from bigot to loving, caring human being and Leticia's (Halle Berry)lover doesn't make logical sense but we are rooting for "them" to work and so when it does we believe it. Hank and Leticia are two lost souls, at the end of their psychic ropes, whose only hope for survival is each other. And so they cling and they claw and they gravitate towards each other as only the desperate are wont to do. As Leticia says to Hank in as heartbreaking a way as possible, and after years of being tread upon and beaten down: "I need you to take care of me."
Much has been said of Halle Berry's performance and it is a wonder: frustrated, down-and-out, sexually repressed, needy, tired and worn out but always exhibiting the smallest kernel of hope. Billy Bob Thornton wakes up from his zombie-like performance in "The Man Who Wasn't There" and makes Hank a living breathing character...fantastically flawed yet seemingly capable of turning his life around.
"Monster's Ball" will be a hard watch for many people and it's flaws might be enough to turn people off but ultimately it is a profoundly even perversely powerful film...not for everyone but for the few who can appreciate the redemptive power of LOVE.

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!

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!!!

- The Setting -

In a quiet small town somewhere in Georgia: Scene 1: Introductions of the leading male and the leading female, both extremely different in every way save for a past connection that links their lives. Scene 2: an unlikely love affair develops between the two after a chance meeting.

- The Dancers -:

He is Billy Bob Thornton, as corrections officer Hank Grotowski. He lives with his racially intolerant father Buck (Peter Boyle), and his weak-in-character son Sonny (Heath Ledger), both of whom are also corrections officers - the family profession. Despite their close proximity with him, he is far apart from them in spirit. He despises his father for his backward racist mindsets and his son for not having the spine to do the family job, but he gets ugly only with the latter.

She is Halle Berry, as Leticia Musgrove, a recent widow after her convict husband (Sean "Puffy" Combs) is executed. In his departure, she is left to care for her 11-year-old son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun) while barely trying to make ends meet. Her life takes a turn for the worse in a series of hardships and tragedy, leaving her all alone. Incidentally, Hank is on duty for her husband's execution, to her unawareness.

- The Dance -

Very well done (considering how much I detest romance films). Both are brought together by personal tragedies, but drawn together for different reasons. Hank wants to escape his dysfunctional family trappings and start afresh, Leticia needs companionship to escape loneliness. Their characters are so well-captured in their profiles and their sufferings, while not forgetting the hurtles of racial bigotry that both must overcome, plus their responses towards the revelation of their dark connection to each other. Forster delves extensively into the characters' afflictions to illustrate that true love can blossom not only in spite of them but also because of them. The love scenes are extremely erotic.

- The Dancing -

Thorton defines dysfunction in the middle of the Grotowski family. As the embittered Hank, he shows detached piety towards Buck and harsh overbearance towards Sonny. Boyle lends support as the weak (in body) but strong (in spirit) Buck, with Ledger as the strong (in body) but weak (in spirit) Sonny. Both are convincing in their roles to reinforce Hank's dysfunction background. In an Oscar-caliber performance, Berry is excellent as the emotionally fragile widow. She vividly shows Leticia's need for security following her painful tribulations, her grief with after every one of them, and her efforts to come to terms upon knowing the past between Hank and her husband. As for Mr. Combs' acting turn, I could have sworn he was trying to rap his lines. Maybe it's just me. But he delivers a brief but good moment of anguish for his characters coming to grips with his impending fate.

- The Verdict -

A terrific love story, even without a tragic ending. Though the interracial spin is nothing new, it is given a melancholy perspective under Forster's direction, in grim realism without the typical happily-ever-after ending. And it has great characterizations and excellent performances by the cast. The open-ending finale leaves the unanswered question as to the fate of the lovers' relationship. Then again, such is true in relationships of today.

A fascinating, shocking and uplifting movie.It is about fathers and sons,racial bigotry,relationships and the power of forgiveness.Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic and Halle Berry has never been better; this is perhaps her best acting ever. An Oscar would be the perfect reward for her gutwrenching and spectacular performance.
Do yourself a favor and see this movie now.Be warned: the first half of the movie is extremely intense, unsettling, and chilling. It is unpredictable, like real life.You will ultimately be rewarded with a great movie once you get through the unnerving parts.

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!