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Monster's Ball 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Marc Forster
R, 111 min. (graphic sexuality, nudity, profanity, violence) |
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Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Peter Boyle, Heath Ledger, Sean Combs, Coronji Calhoun
Producer: Lee Daniels
Screenplay: Milo Addica, Will Rokos
Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Released: 12/28/01 (Limited) |
Rating:  (out of ) |
Monster's Ball is a moving story about two people who find relief in each other's arms. Their feelings of remorse, guilt, and
regret soon turn to inconsolable pain, a condition that, left to fester, will result in the unwillingness to continue their lives.
Though they do not arrive at their current state of moroseness in the same manner, they cannot move on with their lives without the
soothing companionship provided by their newfound relationship. The film, directed by Marc Foster, demands our
attention, because it doesn't wait for those who are expecting the clichéd norms of most other films with similar storylines.
By not insulting its audience, Monster's Ball achieves a greater sense of purpose, one that pushes the viewer to form
an opinion of what's really going on behind these characters' tragic exteriors.
The two characters, Hank (Billy Bob Thornton), a corrections officer in charge of the upcoming execution of cop-killer
Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs), and Leticia (Halle Berry), Lawrence's wife, are thrown together when separate
tragedies surrounding Lawrence's execution rock their already fragile personal lives. The supporting characters in their
lives are: for Hank, his racist father (Peter Boyle) and his unappreciated son (Heath Ledger); for Leticia, her overweight yet
loving son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun). These events form the crux of the film's story, where Hank and Leticia will fatefully
meet, thereby providing catharsis for their misery.
Although Hank is an abusive father and borderline racist himself, these traits were indoctrinated in him at an early age
by his callous and selfish father. It's ironic that he would find healing in the arms of a black woman, the very epitomy of
what he was taught to despise. Leticia is equally torn, undoubtedly ashamed and embittered by her husband's
mistakes, thereby causing her inability to properly raise her son. It's a clash of characters and their subsequent baggage
that holds the viewers interest until the film's wonderfully-filmed ambiguous conclusion.
The film's strength comes from its liberal use of ambiguousness, from its opening act, to its intense midsection, and finally
to its thought-provoking final scenes. The screenplay, intelligently written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos, asks more
questions than it tries to find answers for. Just when you think you have a handle on one question, another arises to take
its place. Importantly, this technique doesn't become tedious, instead it's the fuel by which Monster's Ball is driven.
Foster's unforced direction allows his actors plenty of breathing room to explore all areas of their character's lives. It's
a combination that propels the story forward in a fascinating way.
As with any good character study, the performances of its cast is crucial to its effectiveness. Here, both performances
are filled with acting of the highest caliber. Halle Berry has produced a stunning performance for Leticia, a soul-searching
endeavor that enlivens her character's realism. For an actress that has been known for lightweight fare such as
Swordfish or the unbearable BAPS, this is a coming-out party of sorts. With this effort, she has clearly opened the door for
many more quality roles to come her way in the near future. Billy Bob Thornton is equally adept, fashioning a performance,
which frankly has become par for the course for him, that matches Berry's on every level. Easily one of Hollywood's best
working actors, Thornton has made a career of combining great acting skill and intelligently-chosen film roles to instill
a "can't-miss" label to almost all his films.
Monster's Ball is the type of film that is not easily dismissed or forgotten. It gets under your skin, and the images and
powerful interplay between its main characters is so painfully believable that the viewer may actually wince at some
intense scenes. It's unfortunate that most of the buzz surrounding the film involves a graphic sex scene between
Thornton and Berry, because that's just one small part of a much larger puzzle - one that takes more than this film's
boundaries or time to finish. An intricate character study of loss and the comfort that another can provide, Monster's
Ball is appropriately affixed the label of "a can't-miss film."
© 2002 Jonathan Cornwell
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| Masterpiece - Classic; Movie perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See; One of the year's best films |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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