The longer version, not seen in theaters, of this film, stars Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry and Heath Ledger. Special features include commentary, cast and crew interviews, more.
Set in modern Mississippi, MONSTER'S BALL subtly examines the impact of personal loss and the transforming power of human connection. The movie begins in the state penitentiary's death row, where father-and-son prison guards Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) and Sonny Grotowski (Heath Ledger) administer the execution of a black death-row inmate Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs), who leaves behind a wife, Leticia (Halle Berry), and son, Tyrell (Coronji Calhoun). When both Hank and Leticia's children subsequently die, the two grieving parents are accidentally thrust together, where they begin to find comfort and eventually a form of redemption.
Employing a languid pace and minimalist dialogue, MONSTER'S BALL slowly moves forward on the strength of the cast's performances (including a supporting turn from Peter Boyle as Hank's ailing racist father, Buck) and Marc Forster's understated direction. The complex characters are allowed to develop gradually over the course of the entire movie, making the film a richly satisfying character study rather than a quick, plot-driven confection.
Theatrical Release: DECEMBER 26, 2001 (NY/LA)
Monster's Ball Reviews:
"...Thornton displays a remarkable gift for understatement....Thornton brings a gentleness to the part that acts as a much-need balm on the wounds we see all around..."
-- Leslie Felperin, Sight and Sound
"...Written with the complexity of great fiction, avoiding obligatory scenes, cutting straight to the heart....The best film of 2001..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"...The characters and the bond that develops between them are too complex for words....Their economy and the eloquence of Mr. Foster's unshowily beautiful images give MONSTER'S BALL the density and strangeness of real life..."
-- A. O. Scott, New York Times
"...MONSTER'S BALL proves that Halle Berry had a spectacular performance inside her waiting to be unleashed and that Billy Bob Thornton still had a third one left in his stunning 2001 stockpile..."
-- Mike Clark, USA Today
"...An interesting tale: well-told, sad and funny and ultimately uplifting..."-- Bridget Byrne, Box Office
"...The actors make it unique and unforgettable....You can't take your eyes off them..."
-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"...Burning with a quiet intensity, MONSTER'S BALL is bolstered by a poetic, intelligent sensibility..."
-- Robert Koehler, Variety
"...[Thornton] gives the best performance of his career in MONSTER'S BALL....This is a fearless, brutally honest performance, etched with shadings and remarkable subtlety..."
-- Stephen Farber, Movieline's Hollywood Life
monsters ball a very hearfelt and realistic movie from beginning to end. One to watch again. Submitted by a reviewer (jacksonville,ar,usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Great movie!!! Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry are at their best in this amazing film. The entire cast shines with every moment. Well-worth watching. Submitted by Blake (Brandon,MS) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! DID ANYONE SEE THE SAME MOVIE I DID!!! BOY WHEN THEY FIX AN OSCAR AWARDS THEY PUT THE BEST RATINGS UP DON'T THEY? I WAS APPALLED AND DISTURBED AT THIS MOVIE. THOUGH IT WAS AN ORDINARY STORY AND THE ACTORS WERE OKAY IN IT I WAS SO SURPRISED THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED AS OSCAR MATERIAL. THE BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE WAS BILLY BOB'S AND YES IT HAD SOME REALLY EARTHSHAKING AND SOME IN YOUR FACE,VULGAR AND SURPRISING MOMENTS LIKE HEATH LEDGER SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE CHEST IN FRONT OF HIS FATHER AND YES THE SEX SCENES. THE BIGGEST SUPRISE OF ALL WAS THE VULGARITY OF HALLE BERRY THAT WAS CELEBRATED AND GLORIFIED BY THE OSCARS. HALLE BERRY IS A PRETTY WOMAN IN HER OWN RIGHT AND THIS IS A SIDE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SEE. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE "GETS THERE FREAK ON" AS ONE PERSON WROTE HERE DOESN'T MEAN THAT HALLE DID A OSCAR CALIBER ACTING JOB!!!THIS WAS ONE CLICK SHY OF A PORNO FILM. ANGELA BASSET AND VIVICIA FOX CAN CAN ACT CIRCLES AROUND BERRY AND THE OSCARS ARE ABOUT CLASS AND TALENT. I PERSONALY SUMMED IT UP AS SOME POLITICALY MOTIVATED DECISION TO GIVE HER THE AWARD SO THEY COULD HAVE A "BLACK SWEEP" OF THE OSCARS. SINCE BEING GIVEN THIS OSCAR SHE HAS LET IT GO STRAIGHT TO HER HEAD BECAUSE THE CURRENT SWIRL IS THAT SHE HAS OPTED OUT OF X-MEN 3 BECAUSE SHE WANTED THIS 3RD PART TO BE ABOUT HER AND STORM BUT SINGER WOULDN'T DO THAT SO NOW SINGER IS OUT AS DIRECTOR. BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A OKAY MOVIE THAT'S NO WAY OSCAR CALIBER. I WAS JUST LIKE ALL THE GUYS IN AMERICA A HALLE BERRY FAN AND STILL AM ONE BUT NOW SHE'S JUST ORDINARY NOW. FOR WHOEVER OUT THERE WHO SAW THIS MOVIE THAT IS A FAN OF HERS AND DIDN'T LIKE IT I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD HOPE THAT SHE TAKES ON A REALLY CHALLENGING ROLL THAT REQUIRES REAL TALENT TO DO AND MAYBE AFTER A FEW YEARS SHE CAN GAIN BACK THAT RESPECT FROM THAT FAN BASE BECAUSE I AND OTHERS KNOW THAT SHE IS BETTER THAN THIS. Submitted by MICHAEL (FOUR OAKS,NC,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
a guys dream come true!! hey for all those halley berry loving guys out there (like me) just buy it for the uncut part where halley gets her freak on. Submitted by sycs09 (lexington ky) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Wasn't very good Why did Halle Berry get an Oscar for this movie? The plot and characters was good but the sex scene just came out of nowhere. The only reason they gave Halle an Oscar for this is because she had sex with a white man in a movie. If Halle's character was white everybody would say it was mediocre. Movie was bad but they had great actors in it. If Halle's performance was so good that she won an oscar, why didn't Billy Bob Thornton win one? Just goes to show that Hollywood is fake and phony. Submitted by Lord Qwest AKA Malik (Grand Rapids, MI) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
Region 1 Keep Case Extended Theatrical Version Letterbox - 1.85 Widescreen - 2.35 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Additional Release Material: Cast & Crew Interviews Audio Commentary: Marc Forster - Director, Milo Addica, Will Rokos - Screenwriters Featurette: Sundance Channel's ANATOMY OF A SCENE Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Access
monsters ball
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! DID ANYONE SEE THE SAME MOVIE I DID!!!
Wasn't very good
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