Monster's Ball (2001)

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The movie is basically a f**k you to all the black people out there. It basically portrays a racist white man as a noble hearted gentleman who saves a black women from the rotting life she is stuck in.I don't mind the love story but it doesn't have a basis for it to form in the world,it all just happens because the women is vulnerable and ready to fall into the racist man's arms. I truly wanted to vomit after watching this propagandist bullshit.

Reviewed July 2010Monster's ball is a conventional sad movie which has those sad moments falling in place so conveniently. So as a story, it neither has freshness nor it is smart but has easy pacing. But all these can be overlooked because of terrific performances from the lead pair especially Halle Berry (Leticia Musgrove) and watching her act left me in awe. Sadness of loss was shown in the most hard hitting way though it is a bit melodramatic. The initial part of the movie about Leticia's husband (P. Diddy) last day in prison before he gets executed is so gritty and moving. Thornton and Ledger deliver their usual best. I could not think of anything that could make the movie better, but it still stands as an example for how an ordinary movie can be elevated by brilliant performances.

Monster's Ball (2001): Dir: Marc Forster / Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger, Peter Boyle, Sean Combs: Powerful film about racism and redemption. Title regards lifestyle and attitudes of three generations of racial prison guards. Billy Bob Thornton portrays such a guard whose father was an even bigger racist. His son befriends a black inmate on death row and he wretches at the execution. Thornton assaults him in a washroom leading to a shocking sequence where he takes his own life. Halle Berry plays the widow of the inmate whose son is struck by a car. Thornton assists her and is soon drawn in attraction. It isn't known why Thornton helps her but judging from the amount of sex it was probably lust. Unsatisfactory conclusion aided by Marc Foster's directing and top notch acting. Thornton wrestles with his past and upbringing. Berry is flawless as a waitress who is harsh to her overweight son. Heath Ledger plays his son who shows compassion towards those whom he was raised to hate. This puts him in conflict with his family. Peter Boyle is icy as Thornton's crippled and hateful father whose nature is perhaps the darkest element of the film. Sean Combs is effectively in a brief role as a criminal who is executed early on. The film focuses on hopes that society will veer away from the immoral celebration of racism. Score: 8 / 10

I thought this movie was incredible. Anyone going through a difficult time in their life can relate to this movie. One part of this movie touched me to the core, and I literally sobbed hysterically for half an hour during the movie. The acting in this movie is so raw, and powerful and just so true to real life. You actually will leave watching this movie with a sense of culture you didn't have before. Though not perfect the movie soars past any flaws, and truly rises above any movie I've seen in a while. Profound movie well worth watching again. Though definitely not for children, I think it's a movie i would want my kids to see when they get older. An amazing movie for sure, I truly loved this incredible piece of work with amazing actors.