Monster's Ball
Actor(s):
Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Taylor Simpson, Gabrielle Witcher, Heath Ledger
Director(s):
Marc Forster
Label: Lions Gate
Publisher(s):
Lions Gate
Studio: Lions Gate
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
Binding: DVD
Brand: Lions Gate
MPN: LGED71025D
Format(s): Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
Rating: R (Restricted)
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $8.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 06/26/2007 Run time: 112 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
The unflinching realism and searing performances of Monster's Ball are stunning in all the connotations of the word. Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) and Leticia (Halle Berry) inhabit stark, queasy realities of the contemporary South, he as a death row corrections officer and she as the soon-to-be widow of an inmate (Sean Combs) whose execution Hank helps conduct. In the aftermath of the execution, both lose their children to tragic deaths and they form an unlikely bond. In the hands of lesser participants, the fateful plot might strain credibility and seem tailored to allow for liberal sermonizing about the obvious wrongs of our legal justice system, but director Marc Forster and cinematographer Roberto Schaefer balance the contentious nature of the film's issues--the death penalty, racism both overt and subtle, interracial couples--with a flawless attention to character and visual detail that completely convinces. The moral ambiguity of both central characters is given full voice as our sympathy is drawn out reluctantly at first but all the more resolutely in the end. Thornton draws from seemingly limitless resources to deliver yet another outstanding performance, but it is Halle Berry who is a revelation as she sustains throughout the complex tenor of brutality witnessed and raw courage defined. --Fionn Meade
Customer Reviews
Monster's Ball
Monster's Ball is a film that is very negative. It begins with a death row execution, and explores family tragedies and racism. A death row widow with a tendency to verbally abuse her child and a death row prison guard who likewise drives his own son to suicide are the primary characters. The film shows how the lives of these two interact until they become unlikely lovers.
This is a graphic, brutal movie and definately is not for everyone. It really doesn't have a happy ending. rather, the movie ends with the two reunited after a serious of problematic events. It is well acted by several prominent Hollywood names (Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger, etc.) who all give quality performances.
Monsters Ball
I had never seen this movie. It was on Tv so decided to watch. Big mistake. I did not watch the entire movie. Plot seemed ok, not spectacular. When the explicit sex scenes started I could not believe my eyes! This is when I changed the channels. This movie is porn..nothing more-nothing less. If you decide to watch it--be prepared for graphic sex and nudity...I am not even sure how it got passed my ratings limit. If there ever was a valid plot to this movie..it was lost. And the acting was awful...a useless piece of garbage.
Awsome movie.
Great movie, well done. One of Billy Bob Thornton's best performances. Hallie Berry, well... Hallie is just drop dead beautiful! Great movie, well done. The DVD recording is high quality and a good buy.
3.5 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
An intense look at the lives of two characters, Monster's Ball is raw and brutal but possessed of great truth; though the movie is certainly not for everyone, it features two intense and nuanced performances along with a conclusion that goes so counter to expectations (yet fits so well) that it deserves mention.
Monster's Ball - Take One
It was OK. There were racial slurs against blacks in it and abuse, mental and physical in this movie. Halle Berry played a strong but abusive mother, who treated her kid like he was an evil step child half the time. Billy Bob Thorton lived an empty life and was the cause of his son's death.
With the guilt of that, and Halle's son dying, they both created a comfort space for each other. They talked, related a bit and had sex (it was Halle's idea).
The story drags on in parts though because you see Billy driving his car to certain destinations and it takes forever. Towards the end I was wishing that the movie would end. It did.
3.2 stars.
end note: Is this the kind of movie you can watch more than once? Not in my opinion, no.
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