Monster's Ball (2001) (Signature Series - Extended Non-Theatrical Version)

Monster's Ball

By roger  Jun 29, 2002 | 4 out of 6 found this Monster's Ball (2001) review helpful

This is not a story for the immature or unsophisticated. A stark drama that harkens back to a time when U.S. films placed substance over thrills (like the best foreign films today), this is a film that laced with the subtlety, ambiguity, and poetics... of the best American masterpieces. Rather than vying for a tightly resolved plot, the writers wisely reach for a stylized realism that matches real life by raising many of the questions we face in times of deep spiritual and moral crisis rather than offer empty answers and pat resolutions. The loose ends and the superb acting--from the leads down to the walk-ons--make this film resonate with emotion and leave any thoughtful person as disturbed as a classic Greek tragedy--but with a a very modern and American twist: we see how people make big compromises in their lives to find some semblance of peace and companionship rather than take what they've been taught and believe in to extremes. It also shows us how the tragedies in our lives take us to new levels of awareness, even if we feel lonely and confused at the outset. All this will leave those who are looking for traditional Hollywood forms of storytelling, with clear-cut morals and a resolute, swelling ending, to feel insecure and unhappy. For them, I offer a Spielberg film so they can feel warm and fuzzy at the end. For those of you who want innovation, reality, and thought-provocation, I say Monster's Ball is a film that tackles human issues head on without blinking or blushing at any of life's features--the gut wrenching and the healing. But beware viewer, this is art, not entertainment. Read more Less