*** Official MONSTER'S BALL Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Patrick Sun]

I could go with that interpretation as well.

I was just aghast at how Hank basically had all the "material" power in the relationship, but somehow he got a change of heart that opened up to Leticia and it left me befuddled at the end. I don't know how I'd feel if I were Leticia, given Hank's generosity. Love works in mysterious ways, I guess.

 

[Eve T]

Okay, I saw this film last night. I'm a big Billy Bob Thorton fan but I wish they would have pre-warned me that I was going to have to look at his butt. EEEEEP!!!! Lot of nudity going on in this film and everytime someone got naked I was waiting for the porn music to start. Still a good movie with strong performances. And alas some very sad moments.The film gives you that glimmer of hope that even some of the hardest of hearts can change and that just because you grow up in a racist family doesn't mean you have to be a racist


Now if they could only add that funky porn music to the score........

 

[Billy Fogerty]

I saw Monster's Ball in NYC last week. Outstanding film. Also the theater had alot to do with it. It was the AMC 25 on 42nd st. Immense screens, great seats and state of the art, all the way.

I think Halle Berry is Acadamy Award material.....hands down. I really hope she wins. She was outstanding in this film.

 

[Howard Williams]

I finally saw "Monsters' Ball" last week. I do not heap the praises that most other seem to bestow on this film. Although the acting is top notch, there just wasn't that much going on. The entire relationship between these two people never would have taken place.

This movie seems to say that years of prejudice and hatred can be over come in an instant when a pretty face, a hot body and a little Jack Daniels are all put together. "Make me feel good...make me feel good". Who wrote that line? Once again Halle is directed to deliver another contestant in the worlds corniest line category. I could accept Billy Bobs charactor wanting to hump Halle Berry on a rainy night. Who wouldn't? I couldn't buy into the idea that he would love, honor respect and want to have a fulltme relationship with her. To be honest, I doubt if he would have actually even picked her up in the rain. From Berrys' charactor point of view, what could she possible see in Billy Bob? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!! Don't say financial support. I understand their desparation driving them into almost anyones arms looking for hope, but not each others.

One thing I did like was how Puffy Daddys' charactor was dealt with. We were unprejudiced by any facts of his case. I'm not sure but I don't think he made any references to him being guilty or innocent.

 

[Eve T]

I'm not sure but I don't think he made any references to him being guilty or innocent.

He did make a referance to his guilt in a way of sorts. His son Tyrell asked him why he couldn't see him anymore and he response was "I'm a bad man."His son then replies "Who says so?" His response: "I say so."

So it seemed to me that he was admitting he had done something wrong and had the courage to admit it to himself.

 

[Tino]

Wow. What a fantastic film Monsters Ball is! I agree with all the praises being bestowed upon this film. Michael has nailed it perfectly.
The emotions that I went through in this film were unexpected. I knew virtually nothing about the film and was surprised at every turn of events. I was completely mesmerized from beginning to end.
I thought Halle Berry's performance was the best of her career, however I thought at least two performances were better that were NOT recognized by the Academy..Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive and Tilda Swinton in The Deep End. Still it was an emotionally draining, heart wrenching performance from her and I have no problem with her nomination.
Billy Bob Thorton was equally good in his performance, but since it was somewhat low key, perhaps that's the reason it was overlooked. Three very diverse performances from Billy this year (Bandits, Man Who Wasn't There) convinces me that he WILL eventually win a Best Actor Oscar.
Both Heath Ledger and Peter Boyle turned in excellent performances, especially Heath. He has a long career ahead of him. The surprise was Puff Daddy! He was great in the small role he had. Go P Diddy. The young actor playing Berry's son was likewise excellent in what must have been a very difficult role for him. Kudos to the entire cast. Well Done.
I really didn't notice any of the "problems" with Halle's performance that Edwin did. Perhaps he will change his mind on a second viewing.
This film is similar in a few ways to In The Bedroom, but IMO, Monsters Ball should have been the one nominated for Best Picture. I thought it was better than ITB in almost every way.

 

[Mark Pfeiffer]

This movie seems to say that years of prejudice and hatred can be over come in an instant when a pretty face, a hot body and a little Jack Daniels are all put together.

To me, that's a facile description of the film. These are desperately lonely characters looking to connect with anyone. Although Leticia doesn't know of the common thread between them, don't you think Hank's actions might also come from feeling guilty in being involved in her husband's death? Don't you think that both of them having recently lost sons binds them in powerful ways? Race is never as big of a factor for Hank as it is for his father, and some of his actions conflict with others (nurturing of the death row prisoner vs. yelling at the neighbor boys).

Why is it so hard to believe that Hank wouldn't want to continue a relationship with Leticia? We're led to believe he hasn't had intimate contact with women, prostitutes aside, for a long time. Now he has one who pays attention to him and, yes, desires him. Why wouldn't she be attracted to him? He helped her in an enormous time of need, and one senses that she has not been attended to with concern. Most likely she has been used (consider the guy who fires her from the job) for a long time. Now here comes Hank, who helps her when she needs it.

As for the sex scene, it isn't supposed to be erotic (although, I suppose, a beautiful, well-known actress getting naked undercuts that to a degree) or comfortable. It is intended to be fueled by the emptiness and animalistic needs that have gone unfulfilled so long for both of them. (The sex scene, which has been trumpeted in the press more than enough, suffers from expectations of what it should be like. Eyes Wide Shut had the same problem, where viewers thought they were going to be getting the next closest thing to porn with stars.)

 

[Edwin Pereyra]

In Ebert's review, he has this to say about the sex scenes:

Their (Hank and Letitica) intimate scenes are ordinary and simple, a contrast to Hank's cold mercenary arrangement with a local hooker. The film's only flaw is the way Marc Forster allows his camera to linger on Berry's half-clothed beauty; this story is not about sex appeal, and if the camera sees her that way, we are pretty sure that Hank doesn't. What he sees, what she sees, is defined not by desire but by need.

~Edwin

 

[Michael Reuben]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW.

Race is never as big of a factor for Hank as it is for his father

This is a critical point, and it comes up repeatedly. It's there in the altercation between Hank and the black guard on his crew. "This isn't you," the guard says. "This is me," Hank says, and you can see on Thornton's face that Hank's wondering just who the hell he really is. It's there in the contrast between the scene where Hank orders the neighbor kids off the property after his father complains, and the one where he goes to their father and hires him to work on his car (a beautiful scene that is almost a textbook example of how acting involves saying one thing while meaning another). And it's there when Hank puts his father in a home, in effect doing everything he can to rid himself of all that vile baggage -- the racism, the resentment against women, all of it.

Hank doesn't change because of "a pretty face, a hot body and a little Jack Daniels". He changes because he realizes that he has no choice. It's either that or spend the rest of his life as a zombie staggering through the night ordering chocolate ice cream in an empty diner.

M.

 

[Howard Williams]

I can appreciate "Monster's Ball" on several levels. The relationship between Hank and his father, Hank and his son, Hank and his coworkers, Hanks struggles with himself but the main thing, the relationship between Hank & Leticia just didn't jive with me.

Although Leticia doesn't know of the common thread between them, don't you think Hank's actions might also come from feeling guilty in being involved in her husband's death?

No, I don't. Hank had nothing to feel guilty about. I saw nothing that hinted that Hank had any guilt or remorse concerning his role in Puffs execution.

I hate to say it but Halle is actually to beautiful for this part.

 

[Michael Reuben]

Leticia had no reason to be lonely. I'm sure any other man especially any other Black Man in that town or any town would have loved to be with her. She was hard working, kind, needy, a decent woman/mother and absolutly beautiful. No reason to beleive she was damaged goods or not a wonderful person that anyone would want to be with.

I must have seen a different movie.

M.

 

[Mark Pfeiffer]

I hate to say it but Halle is actually to beautiful for this part.

I don't agree with the statement, but I can see how this is coloring your view of the film. You're seeing Halle Berry. That's not who the characters in the film see.

What seems to be the problem is that she isn't the catch you think she is. Yes, she's hard working, kind, and needy, but she's also very poor. (Plus, I expect that having a husband who was just executed tarnishes her to some extent too.) Remember that her boss at the barbeque joint essentially tossed her aside, a situation I think we can assume has been repeated several times prior. While at heart she's a good person, don't forget how she takes out her anger on her son. She isn't quite the angel you've made her to be.

As for Hank, don't you think he feels at least indirectly responsible for the suffering her husband went through? (I'm referring to the incident when his son gets sick as they're walking him to the chamber. Hank explodes with anger.) Even if he doesn't have any guilt, I would have to believe some emotions would be mixed up in all that, that he couldn't merely divorce himself from it.

The point of the film is that these damaged people can find peace together. Apparently you don't see Leticia that way, which is why we're butting heads on the film.

 

[Robert Crawford]

So why would she get into a relationship with Hank, who has only related to women as prostitutes, is a true racist (until he meets her), a product of his enviroment? Because he's all of a sudden developing a kind heart?!?! I don't see how stumbling across a needy Black Woman initiates changing 50 years of racial contempt.

Howard,

I don't believe Hank was a true racist! Up to the time of his son's death, he lived his whole life to please his father by being like his father. It wasn't until his son's death that he realized he was more like his son, mother, and wife than his hateful father. In actuality, the death of his son caused Hank to be born again as the man he truly was, deep within himself.

Crawdaddy

 

[ChrisMatson]

I have to agree with pretty much all of Michael Reuben's comments. I saw this film last night and it has been hard to stop thinking about it.
In the beginning of the movie, I don't think that Hank had strong feelings against minorities, but just that he was ignorant and trying to please his father. I thought that he showed some hesitation in going out to scare the neighbor's kids off of his property. He did make a conscious effort to change his behavior shortly after Sonny killed himself.

In my opinion, Monster's Ball should have been nominated for best picture. One of the most powerful films I have ever seen.

 

[Michael Reuben]

Since the disc is about to street, I'm bouncing this thread (and the official review thread) back to the top in case anyone wants to add to the discussion.

M.

 

[Paul_D]

I got to see Monster's Ball yesterday at the Screen on Baker Street. Wow. What a powerful film. I almost felt like running to the toilet and throwing up halfway through. I would have said that it had dethroned Affliction as the most depressing film I've ever seen until the ending, which I loved by the way. Halle Berry made is work. With the wrong actress, that ending could have been a joke. It could have seemed like a cop-out-spectacular, but instead it seemed like a genuinely-optimistic-uncharted highway they were both embarking down. I was so nervous when she walked into the house to give Hank the hat. I thought that a) Peter Boyle would shoot her. b)He'd tell her about her husband's jailer. c) He'd do something worse than he did (which was still pretty bad). I also thought she'd pawn the car Hank gave her. This film is an exercise in setting up a set of expectations and then dsahing them by showing a set of characters who you've judged as no good, and then showing that the cathartic process of loss and pain sensitizes you. It's a fascinating film, and I love the performances of both Halle Berry (a well deserved Oscar IMO) and Billy Bob Thornton. He's fast shaping up as one of my favourite actors. His performance in A Simple Plan is still one of my all-time favourites.
Regarding the sex-scene being uncut in Europe: I can see why. There are some lengthy shots which simply couldn't make it into an R-rated film. Basically, without descibing it too graphically, theres too much movement to
allow an R. When the Unrated Region 1 DVD comes out next year, I think you'll find the scene is about twice as long as it is in the edited cut.
Overall, this film will remain in my thoughts for a long-time to come. Haunting, powerful, moving, and surprisingly hopeful. I especially enjoyed how none of the characters were pidgeon-holed as they almost invariably are in Hollywood films. The grey area between good and bad is where all the characters live. It's refreshing and thought-provoking to see a film about racism that doesn't have the "character who is racist but it saved by a black person and thus sees the error of his ways". It's a complex film, and well worth the money to see it in a theater. Awesome stuff.

 

[Mike Broadman]

I saw this film on DVD this weekend. I liked it a lot.

Billy Bob Thorton is becoming one of my favorite actors, but I don't know why. He doesn't really do anything- but it works. One of my favorite moments in the film was right before the sex scene, where she is talking about how fat her son was. Billy Bob is comforting her and laughing with her. Then she brings up the idea of a "black man in America," and Billy Bob just looks so uncomfortable and awkward.

Halle Barry was good, but one thing bothered me- sometimes, I could not believe her as a Southern black woman. She tried to add that inflection in her speech (and the script had her using Southern slang), but it didn't work all the time. However, her portrayal of the emotions in the context of the scenes were spot-on.

Peter Boyle was really good- didn't you just want to kick him in the face? His scene with Halle Barry was cringe-inducingly wonderful.

What's with the rappers in this movie? Puffy as the husband (which I didn't like- not because it's Puffy, but I just didn't like his performance) and I'm pretty sure that the mechanic neighbor is a rapper or singer of some sort.

 

[Patrick Sun]

I have to wonder if my living in Georgia "colors" (pardon the pun) how I saw this film. I think it did, and thus my reaction to it wasn't as positive as others. I didn't find (to my eyes) that Halle disappeared into the role of Leticia (thus my misgivings for her performance).

 

[Michael Reuben]

I'm pretty sure that the mechanic neighbor is a rapper or singer of some sort.

Yes, that was Mos Def, who is quickly distinguishing himself as a fine actor. He's currently starring on Broadway with Jeffrey Wright in Topdog/Underdog; the role was originated off-Broadway by Don Cheadle, and Mos Def is getting even better reviews than Cheadle did. (I can't comment personally; I only saw Cheadle's interpretation.)

I think his work in Monster's Ball is the equal of any actor's in the film. Both Berry and Thornton speak highly of him on their commentary track.

M.

 

[Mark Pfeiffer]

I would ave said that it had dethroned Affliction as the most depressing film I've ever seen until the ending, which I loved by the way.

Take a look at Michael Winterbottom's Jude some time. That one will have you pulling out the razorblades at least halfway through. Good film but definitely among the most depressing I've seen.