Movie Review: Monster's Ball

Monster's Ball

This small budget film does what even unlimited finances can't guarantee: it delivers, and it delivers big time.

Billy Bob Thornton and his son, played by Heath Ledger, are prison guards at a nearby penetentiary. The two are part of a crew assigned to the upcoming execution of a condemned man played by Sean Combs (yes, the man otherwise known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy). Halle Berry is Combs' wife, a beaten down woman doing her best to raise her son by Combs with the limited resources of a greasy spoon waitress.

As the story unfolds, we're plunged into the darkness and poverty, bigotry and hopelessness of the rural south almost against our will. And as various characters endure even more loss, their undying courage and hope for love somehow takes what could be a truly disheartening experience and uplifts our own spirits with theirs, even through the tears and pain of these ordinary - yet somehow extraordinary - lives.

The surprises in this film come mostly from the performances by Heath Ledger and Sean Combs. Ledger, previously best known for more heroic roles, does a beautiful job of being the "good 'ol boy" with a conscience. Sean Combs shows he's capable of more than rap songs or record production. Billy Bob Thornton is, as we've come to expect, a credit to his profession. But the moments that will take your breath away belong to Halle Berry. She's told interviewers she had to fight to get the part, that producers thought she was too pretty for the role. Once you've seen Monster's Ball, you won't be able to imagine anyone else could have accomplished what she managed to bring to the movie. Her recent Oscar® is the most well deserved I've seen in some years.

Family Suitability: Monster's Ball is rated R, and it should be. This is a very adult movie, both in its theme as well as its presentation. I cannot recommend it for anyone under 18. But for those over 18, I cannot recommend it highly enough.