Monster's Ball (2001)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Marc Forster

Writers (WGA):

Milo Addica (written by) &
Will Rokos (written by)

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A lifetime of change can happen in a single moment.

Plot:

After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard reexamines his attitudes while falling in love with the African American wife of the last prisoner he executed.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Love | Racist | Prison Guard | Black Woman

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Billy Bob Thornton	...	Hank Grotowski
Halle Berry	...	Leticia Musgrove
Taylor Simpson	...	Lucille
Gabrielle Witcher	...	Betty
Heath Ledger	...	Sonny Grotowski
Amber Rules	...	Vera
Peter Boyle	...	Buck Grotowski
Charles Cowan Jr.	...	Willie Cooper
Taylor LaGrange	...	Darryl Cooper
Mos Def	...	Ryrus Cooper
Anthony Bean	...	Dappa Smith
Francine Segal	...	Georgia Ann Paynes
John McConnell	...	Harvey Shoonmaker
Marcus Lyle Brown	...	Phil Huggins
Milo Addica	...	Tommy Roulaine

Also Known As:

Le bal du monstre (Canada: French title)
El pasado nos condena (Colombia) (Venezuela) [es]
Monster's Ball (Austria) (Germany) [de]
À l'ombre de la haine (France) [fr]
A Última Ceia (Brazil) [pt]
Bal cudovista (Croatia) [hr]
Cambio de vida (Monster's Ball) (Argentina) [es]
Chocolate (Japan) [ja]
Czekajac na wyrok (Poland) [pl]
Kesisen yollar (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Monster's Ball (Finland) [fi]
Monster's Ball (Spain) [es]
Monster's Ball - Depois do Ódio (Portugal) [pt]
Monster's ball - L'ombra della vita (Italy) [it]
O horos ton teraton (Greece) [el]
Szörnyek keringöje (Hungary) [hu]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and violence.

Runtime:

111 min | USA:112 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Austria:16 (Steiermark) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (censored version) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Laplace, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Lee Daniels Entertainment

Trivia:

As part of his research for the film, director Marc Forster actually sat in an electric chair and was horrified to see the nail marks that the electrocuted prisoners had involuntarily scratched into the wood.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Right before Leticia runs out of the house after meeting Buck, there is a shot in which Buck is speaking but his lips are not moving.

Quotes:

Buck Grotowski: Who are you?
Leticia Musgrove: Um...
Buck Grotowski: You just walked in my house.
Leticia Musgrove: My bad. I thought...
Buck Grotowski: Hank? You lookin' for Hank?
Leticia Musgrove: Yes. Is he here?
Buck Grotowski: Who are you?
Leticia Musgrove: My name is Leticia Musgrove... and, uh... me and Hank is, uh... friends.
Buck Grotowski: Musgrove? Please, little darlin', have you got a cigarette?
Leticia Musgrove: Yeah, but it looks to me like you really don't need to be smoking.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-01-22)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Broken Up and Blue

White Man's Burden Redux

What are you repulsed by? Perhaps it's having sex with women of African origin inspite of the fact that you are a White male raised in a racist culture that dehmanises them. Add to this predicament, that you are a retired, widowed prison corrections officer who's only son kills himself because he feels he's failed you because he is not racist enough. Even worse, you become enligthtened enough to realise that .. you were ALWAYS wrong.

This is a brilliant story told from the rather selfish perspective of the White male. Mark Forster has directed a tour de force so intricate and psychologically honest that the story literally TELLS itself. Indeed, I'd bet this story organically spewed from souls of screenwirters Milo Addica & Will Rokos. They won't top this fete anytime soon. Such a gateway of insight only comes around once in a lifetime.

As a huge fan of David Mamet and Sam Shepard I am biased to appreciate a well balanced story, illustrated with terse dialogue, structured acting and effective filmic devices (i.e., the use of "white" paint", "black" coffee and "chocolate" ice cream in the film).

Any film student will also appreciate the poetic use of foreshadowing and irony in this film. This truly is SOLID filmaking that takes real chances with provocative subject matter.

The acting is superb more because of the Direction. To be certain: this is a Director's Film. Every aspect of Thorton's and Berry's performances is the result of very savvy Direction and attention to dramatic detail.

Kudos to Mr. Forster. I look forward his upcoming film "Neverland" with great anticipation.