Monster’s Ball (***)
review by Ken Gumbs

Monster’s Ball is a drama following two struggling families in present day Georgia. The first family consists of three
generations of racist prison workers; Hank (Billy Bob Thorton), Hank’s father Buck (Peter Boyle), and Hank’s son
Sonny (Heath Ledger).

The second family in the film, an African-American family, is torn while they must face the pending execution of the father, played by Sean “P-Diddy” Comes. Laticia (Halle Barry) is on the emotional edge while she tries to deal with her imprisoned husband and her overweight son.

On a late night ride, Hank finds Laticia after her son has just been wounded by a passing car. At the hospital Latica’s son dies and so does the first part of the film. But don’t worry you’ll be happy to see the stereotypical southern rural racially
charged drama end, and some story begin. Unfortunately you had to sit through the first part to get to the second part.

Overall, I did enjoy watching this film, but the film was far from perfect. The camera is often placed in front of object or
through windows, giving the film a strange voyeuristic feeling. This feeling seems appropriate during the first half of the movie, but a voyeuristic love story is at times off-putting. One may begin to feel uncomfortable.

The story is certainly powerful, at times too powerful. The concept itself is quite radical; a racist prison guard falls in love
with the African American wife of one of his executed prisoners. Now if that sounds a little pretentious for a story line to you, your probably right. The 180 degree turn Hank takes upon having sex with Laticia is not only unbelievable but almost
laughable. Credit great acting and good dialogue to keep the audience believing that this story is not only possible but actually pretty good.

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