Don't get me wrong, by no means do I think Monster's Ball is a bad movie. But it is far too problematic to be considered great, and is, I feel, one of the more overrated movies of recent years. I do have to concede that there are some very good performances, particularly from Billy Bob Thornton and the late Heath Ledger. The late, great Peter Boyle is also excellent, as is young Coronji Calhoun. And Oscar winner Halle Berry does give the performance of her career, although based on other roles such as Catwoman and the Flinstones, that's a rather dubious statement. I certainly don't think her work in this film was Oscar-worthy. The cinematography is above average, as is the dialog, but the story frequently stretches believability. More than anything, I feel this film is a fairly manipulative tearjerker, with moments, MOMENTS of greatness. By far the most distracting thing in the movie is the highly graphic sex scene between Berry and Thornton (which is even more graphic in the unrated director's cut). Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing the beautiful Halle Berry in the buff, but I also felt it cheapened the movie as it is completely over the top and gratuitous. Many a couple in many a movie has had sex, and it can certainly be an important plot point, but it has never been necessary to be as graphic as this scene because we all know what happens when people have sex. The scene is near-porn with art-house pretensions, and makes the film feel like the whole thing was just an excuse to get Halle naked and (very realistically) simulating sex. It is my biggest problem with this movie. It is also a guilty pleasure to watch, with the end result being me questioning why I watch the film. Overall, I still recommend the movie, it has its moments, as I've said. I also think the director is a big ol' perv.
Review of Monster's Ball
