Once again, this is another example of why Hollywood continues to make watered-down, formula-driven movies instead of quality motion pictures. According to Yahoo, “Monster’s Ball” was 17th in the nation in gross box office revenue, way behind such classics as “Dragonfly”, “Crossroads” and “Super Troopers”. So for everyone (me included) who complains about the quality of movies today, your answer is that it doesn’t pay to make unique, artistic films in today’s market. As long as there is more money to be made in typical movies (“Collateral Damage” for example), that’s where the vast majority of studios focus their efforts.
So, if you’re lucky enough to have an “independent” theatre in your area, you may be able to see a quality movie like “Monster’s Ball”. The characters in this movie were so real that I literally was stunned. Bill Bob Thorton may be my new favorite actor. And the story delves deeply into issues that go beyond the expected southern stereotypes, including capital punishment, racism, and dysfunctional families. You will be surprised.
Speaking of that, some very unexpected things happen during the movie, which is great! If you’re like me, you hate predictability. Life’s unpredictable, and for a movie to be believable, certain aspects of the movie should be as well. And the sex! There was a lot more sex in this movie than I expected, maybe more than was necessary. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Despite the heavy issues, in the end, fear, and hate is overcome, and love prevails. This is a great drama, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants something more than guns, car chases, and digital effects. |
