Some movies you see and instantly forget. By the next day, you can
hardly remember what happens in it. Such is the definition of
so-called "brainless entertainment." No thought is required, you're
entertained for two hours, and then you're on your merry way.
Then there are the movies that stick in your gut, heart and mind. No matter what you do, you can't get them out of your head. Wherever you go you take it with you. It has a profound effect on you. Such is the magic of movies.
"Monster's Ball" falls under the latter category. It slowly and methodically gets under your skin. It manages to be dismal and uplifting at the same time, offering up the notion that love can find anyone and that it's all we need to survive.
The setting is rural Georgia. The Grotowski's are a family of officers for the Department of Corrections. There is Buck (Peter Boyle), who is homebound, old and dying. None of that stops him from being a cruel, heartless and racist man.
Buck's son Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) and Hank's son Sonny (Heath Ledger) both work on death row. They are preparing for the execution of a young black man named Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs).
As we watch them work together, we learn a lot about the relationship between Hank and Sonny, and about what kind of men they are. Hank is in danger of ending up just like Buck and treats Sonny the same way his father has always treated him. Nothing is ever nor will ever be good enough and he constantly berates him.
Sonny doesn't want to end up like Hank and Buck. He clearly despises his job and wants nothing to do with it, but lacks the courage to walk away from it for obvious reasons. His loneliness and internal anguish are heartbreaking.
{INSERT_RELATED}Enter Lawrence's wife Leticia (Halle Berry) and their son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun). She has grieved over her husband for eleven years and is worn out. Her life is quickly unraveling. Her husband is about to be executed, she loses her job, her car is in shambles and she's being evicted from her home.
By chance, Hank and Leticia cross paths. To give anything more away would be doing the viewer a disservice by removing some of the emotional impact the movie has. At times it is almost unbearably devastating and seemingly hopeless. But it doesn't stay that way.
"Monster's Ball" moves at a cautious, deliberate pace. It's often quiet and even silent, demanding the viewer pay careful attention to what's on screen and reflect on what is transpiring. But it's never boring.
The screenplay, by Milo Addica and Will Rokos, which they wrote in 1995, is sparse yet potent. Nothing is forced and the characters are allowed room to breathe and grow. It unfolds in such a way that the characters change right in front of you. Every moment is believable and it never compromises.
Director and Switzerland native Marc Forster does impressive work. His direction is relaxed and he doesn't resort to gimmicky tricks like slow motion or wild camera angles. He uses a lot of close ups, as if he wanted to make sure he captured these characters warts and all.
The cast is simply extraordinary. Ledger ("A Knight's Tale") deserves credit for getting away from his pretty boy image and taking a small role in a small, character-driven film. He does marvelous work here, displaying his inner torment to penetrating effect. Just as good are an understated Combs and fellow singer Mos Def, who plays Hank's neighbor.
But this is Thronton's and Berry's show, and boy do they shine. Hank and Leticia are extremely flawed people and initially unsympathetic. But that only makes them that much more human, and they grow on you. There is more than meets the eye. Both give phenomenal performances.
Undoubtedly much will be made of the sex scene. Yes, Berry does get naked. It's a raw and aggressive scene, but not the least bit gratuitous. It's exactly how you would expect their characters to behave and integral to the story.
"Monster's Ball" is one of the best films of the year, at the very least. It definitely requires more than one viewing, but not because of an overly complicated plot. Rather, to fully appreciate how subtle, beautiful and well-acted it is.
This is a serious movie for people who crave substance and depth. It is sad, shocking, powerful, moving, cautionary and hopeful. It's about how we deal with loss. It's about seeing yourself as you really are and deciding if that's who you want to be. It's about owning up to mistakes and regrets. And finally, taking a chance. It's a spectacular film.
"Monster's Ball" opens at Landmark's Oriental Theatre on Fri., Feb. 8. Click here for showtimes.
