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Monster's Ball Customer Reviews (49 - 51 of 85 Reviews)

Just 1 Oscar.....?
Having seen both this film (on DVD) and "A Beautiful Mind" (in the theatre), I'm perplexed at the disparity of honors that were given out on Oscar night. Halle Berry absolutely deserved her Oscar for her portrayal of Leticia Musgrove, the Death Row widow who enters into an unlikely relationship with Hank Grotowski, played by Billy Bob Thornton. This was not a "political" choice, i.e. because she happens to be black. Her character was a black woman, okay? I can't even remember the other actresses who were up for the Best Actress Award. Anyway, the Academy got that one right. But in truth, this film should have won Best Picture, Best Director (for Mark Forster) and probably best supporting actor, for Heath Ledger, even though his character dies early on in the film. But the subject matter of this film (black man is executed, widow falls in love with a white man) just wasn't "appropriate" enough to give it the high visibility of those other awards. Better give them to a superficial, "unreal" concoction that is "A Beautiful Mind", a feel-good movie if there ever was one. Don't get me wrong, I though Russell Crowe did an outstanding job in that film; but, "Monster's Ball" is about the hard truthes of life, death and love in an unequal society, told with unflinching realism. Sean Combs did an outstanding job (for a non-actor) as the condemned man, Leticia's husband, and his scenes leading up to the execution are some of the most powerful ones in the film. As a native southerner, I actually thought that the racism was toned way down, and that is my only real criticism of the movie. Oh yes, and the commentary by the director and the principal actors on the DVD was a nice touch. Believe me folks, they wuz robbed.

Well Made, But Disturbing
Is "Monster's Ball" a good movie?. Yes. Is it overly watchable?. Well, that's up to you. It is a tough, disturbing film that will no doubt be disliked by many. Look at the poor reviews for that. It is not the kind of movie that you can watch again, or even have an easy, good time watching it for the first time. It is not an enjoyable, entertaining experience. It is not supposed to be. Some people just don't get that. Billy Bob Thornton stars as Hank, a corrections officer down south. He has a strained relationship with his son Sonny(Heath Ledger), and a crothety old father(Wonderfully done by Peter Boyle). When we meet Hank, he is getting ready to put to death a man(Sean Combs AKA P.Diddy). We soon learn that Hank and his father are racist people. The elder one being even nastier. In comes Leticia Musgrove(Hallee Berry), the widow of the just executed man. She has a son and is struggling to make ends meet. Thru an accident that happens, she winds up meeting Hank. Before long, her and Hank strike up an unlikely friendship. ...Hank begins having a change of heart(which is a little far fetched that it happened so quickly and easily). This new union is likely to have trouble in it's future, and it does, in the form of Hank's father. The movie is directed very well. It gets the mood and the town right. It feels bleak and depressing, like the lives of our characters. Then there are the actors. Billy Bob is always good. Always real. He is one of the best we got working today. He makes interesting choices. He always makes them believeable. Hank is no exception. Wonderfully played. Hallee is a woman who won the Oscar and was deserving of it. There have been some not so nice comments about that. Whatever. She did a remarkable job. She made Leticia a human being. When she was down on her luck and depressed, we felt it. We saw it. It was real. She was great. Her winning the Oscar just being about politics is a bunch of bull. ... Now, I can say that she is a wonderful, competent actress. Peter Boyle is very effective. Never before have you seen Peter Boyle like this. This will make you look at him on "Everybody Loves Raymond" very differently. Extremely good. Heath Ledger has a rather small role, but he does the best with what he's got. Too bad he didn't have more. Sean Combs is not P. Diddy here. He does a good, respectful job here. He has a shot at a film career if he wants one. The sex scene is graphic and raw. It's off-putting. It's the most real and raw sex scene I've ever seen(and there haven't been many)this side of an X rating. It didn't alter my opinion on Hallee one bit. When you've lost everything and your in a dead zone, who knows what you would do. You know?. This movie is based on a tough subject matter. It's not for everyone and it isn't easy to watch. It shouldn't be judged by your thoughts on Hallee, the Oscar win, or the plot of the movie. It's a well written, directed, and acted movie, and it deserves to be seen as such. The only problem I had with this movie was the ending. I am not quite sure what happened there. It could've been better. So, in the end, it's a powerful film with powerful performances, but not for everyone. Great performances.

Gripping, Thought-Provoking, and Extremely Intense
Monster's Ball is gritty and real. I have never gotten so close to characters in a movie before. Heath Ledger, Billy Bob Thornton, and Halle Berry brought simple, everyday people to a very personal level.
My favorite things about this film have to be the intriguing camera angles, the articulate accents of the cast, and the movie's decor. I enjoyed the angles and movements. I loved Ledger's husky southern accent, and I thought I could literally smell and taste the different sets-the diner, Berry's dirty apartment, and Thornton's tidy, musky home.
The movie has many obvious metaphors that drove me crazy. I don't say this in a bad way. I noticed that glass windows, white walls, and paint all run in themes throughout the film.
The director does a fabulous job of portraying a southern, racist family that begins a metamorphis from chance encounters.
Every event leads to another. Every person is linked by fate.
I was disturbed but awed by the powerful performances given by every cast member. It is extrememly obvious from the beginning that Halle Berry is indeed deserving of her Academy Award.
I enjoyed Monster's Ball very much. I'm not certain I would purchase this film. Monster's Ball is genuinely Oscar worthy, but a bit too intense for frequent entertainment(for me). I definitely don't mind the small ping of wonder I have in the pit of my stomach after having watched this movie, so I would highly recommend this film to all.

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