Monster’s Ball (guest)

MOVIE: Monster’s Ball

GUEST: Mike H.

NUTSHELL: A death row prison guard with an ultra-racist father and a troubled son falls for the widow of a prisoner he’s just executed.

GOOD THINGS: Halle Berry. Halle Berry. Halle Berry. Did I mention Halle Berry? Billy Bob Thornton. Lean, insightful script. An informed parable for the current state of race relations in the South. A sex scene that brilliantly informs the relationship of these two lonely, troubled people.

BAD THINGS: What bad things?

FEATURES: A subtle performance by Billy Bob Thornton worthy of Academy consideration (Will Smith in Ali? Pulleeeze). An Academy Award-winning performance by Halle Berry. Say what you will about her speech, this girl earned her award.

UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENTS: Racist Buck’s (Peter Boyle’s) one and only encounter with Leticia (Halle Berry). The writer and director WANTED us to be uncomfortable, and they succeeded beautifully.

NOTABLE: Halle Berry’s climactic scene, alone in Billy Bob’s house while he’s off buying ice cream. This movie belongs on your shelf at home next to American Beauty, the Sweet Hereafter, the Ice Storm, Dancer in the Dark, and Requiem for a Dream.

BEST PART: Buck’s come-uppance.

BEST LINE: Black nurse: “You must love your father.” Billy Bob: “No, I don’t.”

CROWNS: 5 out of 5