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"Monster's Ball" is a hauntingly compelling look at prejudice and racism. The film delves into one family's dark, depressing, inherited history of hatred for anyone not of the same race. Brutal and riveting, "Monster's Ball" treads where films seldom dare to venture - and does so without making its central characters into stereotypical one-dimensional creatures.

Peter Boyle, Billy Bob Thornton, and Heath Ledger play three generations of a family of prison guards, all devoted in varying degrees to their profession, and in decreasing degrees, to their racist beliefs. Peter Boyle is Buck Grotowski, father to Hank (Thornton) and grandfather to Sonny (Ledger). Growing up in the Deep South, with minimal education and minimal racial tolerance, Buck instills hardness and an unforgiving outlook toward life in his son. Hank in turn passes the same attitude down to Sonny. Much to Hank and Buck's disdain, Sonny's able to rise above his racist upbringing and express compassion toward his family and neighbors. Hank views Sonny as weak, and his dislike for his own son takes a tragic turn.

The film centers around Hank's work on death row where he prepares and participates in the electrocutions of inmates. "Monster's Ball" follows Hank as he assists with inmate Musgrove's (Sean Combs) execution only to fall in love with the prisoner's widowed wife (Halle Berry). Hank must battle against his father's racism, his own guilty conscience, and his emotional detachment from life as his attraction for Leticia Musgrove worms its way into his home and his heart.

With the well-deserved buzz circulating about Halle Berry's prospects for an Academy Award nomination, the rock-solid, gripping performances by Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, and Peter Boyle have been pushed to the background. However, Berry's performance would not be as incredibly solid as it indeed is, without Thornton's skill at prompting the best from his co-stars. The consummate professional, Thornton transforms into his characters and evokes seemingly true emotional responses from whoever he appears opposite.

"Monster's Ball" is an intense, emotionally-wrenching film. The script, the settings, and the performances make "Monster's Ball" one of the year's best films.

Overall Grade: A

"Monster's Ball" is rated R for language and sexuality.

Director: Marc Forster
Executive Producers: Mark Urman, Miachel Burns, and Michael Paseornek
Producer: Lee Daniels
Screenplay: Milo Addica and Will Rokos
Director of Photography: Roberto Schaefer
Film Editor: Matt Chesse
Production Designer: Monroe Kelly
Costume Designer: Frank Fleming
Casting: Kerry Barden
Art Director: Leonard Spears

Hank Grotowski - Billy Bob Thornton
Leticia Musgrove - Halle Berry
Buck Grotowski - Peter Boyle
Sonny Grotowski - Heath Ledger
Lawrence Musgrove - Sean Combs
Ryrus Cooper - Mos Def
Tyrell Musgrove - Coronji Calhoun


Photo © 2001 Lions Gate Films - All Rights Reserved.