In the end, I wonder why Lions Gate didn’t include all of the extras that were on the first DVD edition.
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(Note: Dean Winkelspecht wrote the primary review, which was originally used for a review of the "theatrical version" DVD. Yuan-da Eddie Feng wrote the Video, Audio, Extras, and Entertainment Value sections of the review.)
With every Billy Bob Thornton film I witness, I become more and more convinced that he is one of my favorite actors of all time. I have said it before, and I´ll say it again--he is a true chameleon of cinema. Thornton is the kind of actor who becomes the character and brings such life and realism to every role that he tackles that it is impossible for one to ignore his talent and not enjoy every performance he delivers. His presence alone was reason enough to spark my interest in director Marc Forster´s critically acclaimed "Monster´s Ball". Even though Halle Berry´s horrendous Academy Awards acceptance speech nearly placed her in the same lowly category in which I place Julia Roberts, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to review this title on DVD.
"Monster´s Ball" is simply one hell of a good film. The direction, storytelling, and acting are all first-rate. Halle Berry did a tremendous job and deserves her Oscar. Thornton is his usual self and brings life to yet another colorful character, adding Hank Grotowksi to a memorable list that includes Karl Childers ("Sling Blade"), Richard Jemmons ("Primary Colors"), Jacob Mitchell ("A Simple Plan"), Russell Bell ("Pushing Tin"), Darrell the Mechanic ("U-Turn"), and Ed Crane ("The Man Who Wasn´t There").
"Monster´s Ball" is about Hank Grotowski and Leticia Musgrove (Berry). Hank is the head guard at a local prison and the man in charge of handling prisoners´ last rites and their final evenings before execution--the Monster´s Ball. His boy, Sonny (Heath Ledger), is one of the guards under his command. Hank and Sonny are assigned to sit with Lawrence Musgrove (Sean "Puffy" Combs) during his last evening. This proves to be too much for Sonny and turns father against son, leading to Sonny´s death. Meanwhile, Leticia is financially strapped and must find a way to raise her grossly overweight son Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun) by herself. A second fatal blow is delivered to Leticia when a car strikes Tyrell. This leaves the racist Hank and the vulnerable Leticia to help mend each other´s wounds.
The character development of Hank and Leticia ranks among the best in cinematic history. The opening of the film shows Hank firing a shotgun into the air to ward off two young colored boys. His father (Peter Boyle) pushes him to hate blacks. Hank is an angry man who is driven and expects perfection from his son. As the film progresses, Hank´s feelings for Leticia place him in opposition to his own father, and he purges his racist views from his mind. Leticia finds solace when she opens herself to Hank and allows herself to be vulnerable. The story thrives on the strength of its characters, and Thornton and Berry bring them to life with a great deal of accomplishment.
The story told in "Monster´s Ball" is not something that is easily digested. It shows both the ugly side of humanity and its warm and caring tendencies with stark realism. Suicide, capital punishment, graphic sex, racial hatred, and numerous other social hotbeds are topics of discussion in "Monster´s Ball". The infamous sex scene is rather raw in its pain and desperation and far removed from the usual Hollywood-esque depictions of aggressive over-athleticism or tender lovemaking. The filmmakers "tell it like it is"--this is a powerful tale that does not sugarcoat its contents.
I highly recommend "Monster´s Ball". I say this not just because of my appreciation for and enjoyment of Billy Bob Thornton´s acting. I also do not say this just because of a certain female actress baring more than her soul. I say this because "Monster´s Ball" is a powerful story that is accompanied by splendid acting and inspired filmmaking. This is a film that offers a mature story about racism, love, death, and redemption.
Video:
"Monster´s Ball" takes place in a small town. The setting has been seen many times elsewhere, but this (low-budget!) film is quite pleasing to the eyes, and the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer of the movie brings the beauty of the cinematography nicely to DVD. When the camera isn´t focused on the principle cast, it meanders through the country-side, offering a decent representation of rural America. "Monster´s Ball" proves that you do not need $100 million to produce a great-looking movie. The clean transfer does have some film grain, but the coloring, contrast, black levels, and detail are all wonderful. Small-town America and Halle Berry´s curves have been nicely preserved in the digital world.
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[release]10746[/release]