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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 25, 2006
Pros: Vivid story. Important themes. Great acting.
Cons: This was too much for a night home alone.
Summary: If you want a relaxing movie to unwind with after a week of hard work, you do not want to rent Monster’s Ball. Here I am with a free evening and the boys off camping, and I grab a film that made my chest hurt watching it, and I’m still ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 26, 2006
Pros: Billy Bobby Boy T, Halle StrawBerry, Old bald man
Cons: It is too long, it could do with being 5-7 minutes shorter.
Summary: Get out a mat, a sleeping bag and a cup of coco and prepare to settle down to what can only be described as an epic thriller. It's set in a small little country town in South USA, you know all dusty and all that jibe. Billy Bobby T plays a rather ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 16, 2004
Pros: Believe it or not but Sean P. Combs. My review will be funny, but true.
Cons: Senseless nudity, graphic sex scenes,child abuse, advertised Jack Daniels
Summary: I like Halle Berry and i think she is one of the most beautiful women on the planet, but that was no excuse for her to act in this movie. I give her much respect for acting in roles that no one else wants. She built her respect up, but i should of ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 25, 2003
Pros: Everything Except Halle Berry's Character Portrayal
Cons: Good lord, I forgot about the following: The son's pointless existence in this film.
Summary: Let it be said that I LOATHE Halle Berry in every way. I loathe her as an actress, a model, and as a person whose vacant shallow gaze can send me running and screaming - goose bumps crawling along my flesh. If she were just another dumb god awful actress ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 13, 2003
Pros: Halle Berry is pretty
Cons: The movie is not
Summary: Sometimes it seems like a movie loses itself in its stars. I’m not even talking about the mega-budg ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 16, 2003
Pros: Powerful subject matter; great lead performances by Thornton and Berry.
Cons: Film often feels like it owes too much to plots of other better films
Summary: MONSTER'S BALL is an expression Georgia State corrections officer Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) and his colleagues use to refer to the evening of solemn revelry before a prisoner is condemned to execution. A more perfect title could not be suited ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 1, 2003
Pros: Halle Barry sex scene, good acting
Cons: Plot isn't very interesting, Puff Daddy
Summary: Any heterosexual male will want to see this movie. Do we want to see it because it explores the realm of racism and shows a problem that needs to be resolved in American society? Hell no. We want to see it because Halle Barry gets naked during a ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 20, 2003
Pros: Monster's Ball begins with the tragic death of an inmate and his family. Good.
Cons: Some sexual scenes could have been deleted and results improved.
Summary: Monster's Ball is a small town story in the shadow of a penitentiary and the officers who worked in carrying out the orders of the court. The story evolves around two families, one a father, son, and grandson and their interaction with each other. ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 12, 2003
Pros: Difficult to find any ...
Cons: Way too much sexual content, poorly developed plot
Summary: When I rented the movie Monster's Ball, I had heard little about the film except that Hallie Berry had won her Best Actress Oscar for her role in it. Too bad she wasted her acting abilities on such a piece of trash. The opening scene was a porn-style ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 17, 2002
Pros: Powerful drama, Excellent Acting, Good soundtrack.
Cons: Chance meeting defies belief.
Difficult dialogue for us non Americans.
Summary: Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is a prison guard working on death row. Hank lives at home with his racist father, Buck (Peter Boyle) and his son, Sonny (Heath Ledger). Hank seems to support his father's racism but Sonny does not.
Sonny ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 15, 2002
Pros: Not many
Cons: Maybe I'm an idiot but Halle Berry is terrible in this piece of trash.
Summary: With all the hype this movie received mostly because of Halle Berry’s absolutely embarrassing Oscar win, you’d think there might be some substance to “Monster’s Ball”. Sadly, there is not. This is an ugly, ugly, movie with some ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 9, 2002
Pros: Halle Barry Naked
Cons: Billy naked and boring, undeveloped, unbelievable, unrealistic plot
Summary: what was all the hype for? this movie was pretty lame..
Halle's acting was unbelievable?
I am thinking this might have been an OK concept, but after all the editing it was just a choppy, over acted, trying to make a point by thrusting you into ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 18, 2002
Pros: Music, "corrections" burning, and believe it or not, P-Diddy's performance.
Cons: A little bit of unbelievable cruelty
Summary: Monster's Ball. WOW. What in the world do you say about a movie like this? Well, I have found that a lot of times, the harder it is to talk about a movie, the more I like it. I mean, just look at American Beauty. I love American ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Sep 5, 2002
Pros: well cast, written, and shot
Cons: introduction of some characters that are not well developed
Summary: One of the most remarkable films of the year, not to mention the past few years. When Monster’s Ball first hit theaters, its splash was limited to smaller, independent movie goers. But it finally caught the attention of the Academy and the American ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 29, 2002
Pros: Amazing work of cinematic art
Cons: unnecessary sex scenes
Summary: Monster’s Ball is an emotional roller coaster of film that throws the viewer in an overwhelmingly disturbed yet beautiful dramatic reality. The cast featuring the Oscar winning actress Halle Berry, and the acting expertise of Billy Bob Thornton prove ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 19, 2002
Pros: incredible acting, interesting plot
Cons: emotionally draining and confusing at times
Summary: Upon hearing all the hype about Monster’s Ball, I was very interested to see what it was about. It is one of those movies you just have to see because it is difficult to explain. It is hard to put this movie in a box and label it as a drama, love story, ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 13, 2002
Pros: Acting is amazing, plot is interesting.
Cons: Gritty, with a few unwatchable love scenes.
Summary: Believe the hype, Monster's Ball is good, and well...depressing. It is one of those movies like Schindler's List, where it is painful to watch, yet so moving it has to be seen. Make sure you are in the right kind of mood to watch this film. There are ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 10, 2002
Pros: Depicts the tragedy of racism and capital punishment. Sensual--emotional
Cons: Very intense violent scenes and sexually explicit scenes.
Summary: Monster's Ball is a highly dramatic film about two families whose lives become entwined around execution, hatred, and death.
THE CAST
Billy Bob Thornton--Hank Grotowski
Halle Berry--Leticia Musgrove
Heath ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 6, 2002
Pros: the most honest display of human interaction and relationships
Cons: it ended
Summary: I think that Monster’s Ball is a movie that you have to prepare yourself to see. It’s not something to just pop in when you’re bored. It will draw out every single emotion that you have and ride it like a roller coaster. You will feel sympathy, ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 29, 2002
Pros: Incredible acting. Subtle when appropriate. Dramatic when appropriate. Great script and camera work.
Cons: Maybe a little too ambiguous.
Summary: This is going to be a messy. Honestly, I do not know how I should begin my review for Monster’s Ball. How about I throw around some names? Billy Bob Thornton; Sean “P. Diddy” Combs; Heath Ledger. And then there’s Halle Barry, someone ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 26, 2002
Pros: Amazing performance by Halle Berry
Cons: NONE
Summary: I rented this movie, after watching the academy awards. Not really believing that I would be as enthralled with Halle Berry as the academy had been. I was so wrong. She so deserved to win that award. This movie is one of the best movies I have ever ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 2, 2002
Pros: None that I can tell.
Cons: Dragged out, irrational, bad acting.
Summary: Halle Berry's Best Actress win sparked my interest in this film. The scene playing in the background of Berry crying and screaming over the death of her son lead me to believe her Oscar was well-deserved. I know now that the clip was the only time in ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 23, 2002
Pros: Heh. Heh.
Cons: Disjointed, blurry, nonsensical, way too long.
Summary: ... and we failed. Miserably. Maybe some people wouldn't connect it with the other movie. However, it begins with a nasty electrocution and a long walk down a very green hallway. Plus a young guy who just can't get the hang of how to strap on the ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 23, 2002
Pros: Very good acting by all the actors. Very intense sexual scenes.
Cons: Very slow going early in the movie. Ending a bit non-eventful.
Summary: This movie dealt with a lot of issues. The movie offers a bit more than just sex, although if you want sex this is a good choice. Dealt with everyday life issues; racism, sex, eviction, death, financial issues, obesity, and much more.
Good screen ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 18, 2002
Pros: Excellent cast of actors and their fine subtle performances.
Cons: A bit slow and the first 30 minutes is wasted.
Summary: Monster’s Ball is an actors paradise. Material where acting is not just what you say, but also what you are thinking – and how you are capable of exploring, expressing, and entertaining those thoughts to a camera and ultimately your audience. ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 13, 2002
Pros: Halle Berry And Billy Bob Thornton.
Cons: There is two tragedies.
Summary: Last night was my first time watching this on video. The current cost of renting this is $4.08. I rented this from a Blockbuster Video Store just up the street from where I live.
Here are the names of the cast:
Halle Berry: ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 8, 2002
Pros: Excellent Deep South drama by director Forster along with Oscar-winning work by Berry...
Cons: May be too intense for certain audiences...
Summary: Probably the biggest sensation at Negro Night at the Oscars Y2K2 was Halle Berry upsetting Nicole Kidman for the Best Actress Award. Many felt it was a coattail sweep following Poitier and Denzel's big scores, and I was one of the many who made it a ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jun 3, 2002
Pros: Outstanding acting, Thought provoking plot.
Cons: Controversial subject matter may not be for everyone.
Summary: Monster's Ball is by far one of the best movies of the year. Both Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton give astounding performances. Berry plays a woman who's husband is executed on death row. She meets Thornton after a tragic accident, not knowing that ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 4, 2002
Pros: The questions it leaves unanswered
Cons: Sometimes it feels a little slow
Summary: Halle Berry’s performance in “Monster’s Ball” did more than open the door for actors of color to receive Oscars. Her raw and intense portrayal of a woman who loses everything takes audiences into the psychological prisons human beings lock themselves in ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 10, 2002
Pros: Not only is there a good plot, you get to see boobs
Cons: the drawn out begining sequence of Hank sleeping
Summary: Halle Berry clearly deserved her best actress Oscar for her role in Monster's Ball.
What seemed to be a completely unhyped film should turn out to be very well attended and rented thanks to her recognition.
Monster's Ball tells the ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 25, 2002
Pros: provocative
Cons: drags at times
Summary: If you are like me, you will enjoy (but not rave) about this movie. I still haven't developed my full opinion. Yet I feel compelled to share my thoughts - or lack thereof. Monster's Ball is completely different and thought provoking. Heavy on the nudity ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 24, 2002
Pros: The acting and the story...everything
Cons: I would have liked to see the end played out a bit more.
Summary: The last movie in my husband and my movie marathon yesterday was Monster’s Ball. It was the best of the four and the only one not nominated for best picture. Some of my introduction is repetitive but I think it is important.
I ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 24, 2002
Pros: Good acting, Berry, Thornton, Ledger, Calhoun
Cons: X rated sexual scenes, some holes in plot, racist language
Summary: My husband REALLY enjoys seeing all the movies nominated for Oscars this time of year. This is usually the time of year we see the most movies, and this year would prove to be no exception. Unfortunately, this was only playing at one movie theatre, ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 10, 2002
Pros: acting all around, directing has a very languid almost dreamy pace, the soundtrack.
Cons: No story until the very end. Bye bye three and four star rating.
Summary: I borrowed the title from Carson McCullers (author of "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter) who used it to describe novels and stories whose prose was lovely, characters well defined but whose stories either lacked narrative rhythm, best described as an innate ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 9, 2002
Pros: Halle Berry's portrayal of southern skank
Cons: Everything else
Summary: I knew I was in trouble from the opening credits. They show Billy Bob asleep with some insinuation of traveling scenes on a split screen - of course the movie has nothing to do with traveling, or sleeping. The music is moody and aimless - get used to it. ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 6, 2002
Pros: Intelligent, touching film
Cons: None to speak of
Summary: Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is a death row colonel of the guards whose job it is to usher his condemned charges into the next world with as little fuss and unpleasantness as possible. He appears to be good at his job, he seems to be respected by ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 5, 2002
Pros: Great cast and acting
Cons: None
Summary: The film "Monster's Ball" is a hard-hitting drama that stays with you long after the end credits roll. It's the story of two people, who seem to have nothing in common, finding solace in one another in their greatest moment of need. Hank (Billy Bob ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 3, 2002
Pros: Marvelous acting, great portrayal of the poison of racism
Cons: Plot is a bit unbelieveable
Summary: One of the best movies of the season -- stellar acting by Thornton, Berry, and Boyle. The movie tackles three tough subjects in a short time and does justice to each: racism, the death penalty, and machismo. Three generations of "tough" men share a house ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 2, 2002
Pros: Beautiful pace, acting, strong topics, strong messages
Cons: Some aspects of the characters and story left unexplained.
Summary: I walked out of the theater after seeing Monsters Ball with a wierd felling, but also a feeling of faith in the powers of the universe. We may not always know exactly what we're missing but we always seem to somehow find what we need. So many films we ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 28, 2002
Pros: Halle Berry naked
Cons: Puff Daddy talks
Summary: Not just a pretty face, Halle shows she can do some acting. They tried, but they just couldn't quite make her ugly in this movie. Tim Burton complained about having the same problem with Johnny Depp.
So emotionally raw in places, you'll ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 24, 2002
Pros: Thornton, Berry, Boyle, Ledger, script
Cons: Some story elements needed a bit more explanation
Summary: The main characters in “Monster’s Ball” experience an epiphany. Both learn from the circumstances in their lives that hatred merely breeds even more hatred, and that this feeling can leave them all alone in the world. Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 23, 2002
Pros: a couple of decent moments, a Bob Dylan song
Cons: the plot, the acting, the lack of dramatic release
Summary: A Night on the Town
And so the utterly sexy Joydrop and I went on a date last night. We had spent the day buying a nice new washer. We also made an interesting and fun trip to Priscillas, where we were able to peruse various "toys" for ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 18, 2002
Pros: Mind-blowing performances, gripping plot
Cons: Leaves some things unanswered, ending is a bit sudden
Summary: I had to move this review because the link that came up for me when I did a search was for DVD and VHS. I posted my previous review there not realizing this.
I had to go out of my way to see Monster’s Ball, a film I had been ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 16, 2002
Pros: Performances and screenplay.
Cons: I'm not sure.
Summary: "Monster's Ball" is the story of two people, initially strangers, who fall into each other's arms because they need each other. Both of whom, Hank and Leticia, have experienced both death and loss in their lives. And it is with these equally tragic past ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 16, 2002
Pros: Outstanding performances by Halle Barry, & Bill Bob Thornton.
Cons: Well, nothing as far as I am concerned.
Summary: The movie had ended, the credits were rolling and the lights have come up, and yet we sit (my spouse and I), unmoving searching for a meaning from the images we just saw cascade across the screen. And we were not alone; across the crowed theater people ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 15, 2002
Pros: beautifully acted, shocking, realistic, satisfying.
Cons: Peter Boyle--from comedian to bigot! Good job at it, but very odd!
Summary: Oh man, what a great movie. I was just in shock after seeing this. If you’ve seen it I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Who would have thought? A week ago I would have told you hands down that Sissy Spacek would win for best actress at the Oscars. ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 14, 2002
Pros: Good acting, serious issues, high profile cast
Cons: slow pace
Summary: The movie starts off excruciatingly slow. Fortunately, it picks up since it is not possible to go any slower. The plot of the movie is one big dose of all the social taboos rolled up into one pill. It is a slow-moving movie with a heavy, serious ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 12, 2002
Pros: Acting, Emotionally raw, Doesn’t pull punches.
Cons: For some, the same as the Pros.
Summary: I don’t always like to start my reviews by describing the plot, but I don’t mind doing that here because the plot isn’t really what the movie is about. Billy Bob Thornton is the head of a squad of guards assigned execution duty at a prison. His father ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 12, 2002
Pros: The movie had potential but lost its momentum
Cons: There is no credibility for the alleged growth and change of the characters
Summary: I like movies. In fact, I love movies. I will watch anything once. I need to raise my standards.
First, I hate Hollywood for releasing a movie long enough to be considered for the Oscar and then sucking back in to build the suspense. I ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 11, 2002
Pros: Some of the best acting you will ever see, realistic storytelling, unique direction
Cons: Nothing
Summary: Monster's Ball has all the qualities of a perfect film. It has a captivating script, heartfelt performances, unique direction, and emotional value. But what truly captivates you in this film is the two lead characters. They develop a ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 11, 2002
Pros: Halle Berry
Cons: Violence and Story
Summary: I really am at a loss for all the hype of this movie. The story is pretty much a story of dysfunction in both race and family. The anger of the characters is enough to make you angry at yourself for going to this film.
The people I saw the ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 11, 2002
Pros: Rings with symbolism. Great acting by Berry and Thornton
Cons: Kind of long-winded.
Summary: According to the Atlanta Journal Constitiution, Monster's Ball was filmed in just 21 days last May (2001) in the Louisiana State Prison in Angola and in the small town of LaPlace, just west of New Orleans even though the storyline takes place in Georgia. ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 9, 2002
Pros: Memorable performances by Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry; Beautiful photography
Cons: The story lacks depth.
Summary: You've probably heard the hype about Monster's Ball, particularly about the sex scene featuring Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry. You've probably heard about Berry's nudity in the scene, which goes far beyond her first nude scene in Swordfish. But you ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 4, 2002
Pros: Acting, photography, editing and a story of the consequences of the Death Penalty and Racism.
Cons: The contrivance of the plot requires we show some forbearance.
Summary: MONSTER'S BALL is a film almost designed to enrage (or enlighten) two large groups of the American public. It invites them and us, in a Southern State [Georgia, but shot at Angola in Louisiana], to a party which traditionally precedes an electrocution, ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 3, 2002
Pros: Acting is tops. Script is realistic. Great direction. Best adult movie of the year.
Cons: None
Summary: You will never see desperate need so passionately, poignantly and lovingly portrayed on the screen as in Monster’s Ball, the best adult movie in 2001-02. Halle Berry is at her best , sans makeup, and bares all emotionally and physically. Her Letitia is ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 2, 2002
Pros: Thornton and Berry are outstanding, fine supporting performances.
Cons: At times, awkward visual style.
Summary: Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is not a happy man. He lives with his father, Buck (Peter Boyle), an incapacitated old man with cancer, and his son, Sonny (Heath Ledger) in the family home in rural Georgia. Hank and Sonny have followed in Buck’s ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 2, 2002
Pros: Spectacular performances, particularly that of Halle Berry.
Cons: Overshoots in terms of ambition.
Summary: Despite having a healthy decade-long career that's had more than its share of well-played unglamorous roles (Jungle Fever and Losing Isaiah come to mind) and one very glamorous role that earned her much acclaim, including no less than a ... read more
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Rated Show by the Epinions community Feb 12, 2004
Pros: None
Cons: Lots of nudity & Horrible plot
Summary: My husband and I rented this movie. The rating was R and in the description of why the rating did not say anything about nudity. If it was just a butt cheek then hey thats one thing but there was so much nudity in there we couldn't believe it!
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EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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A hard-hitting Southern drama tempered by a story of powerful, life-changing love. Hank (Academy Award Winner - Billy Bob Thornton) is an embittered p...
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Set in modern Mississippi, MONSTER'S BALL subtly examines the impact of personal loss and the transforming power of human connection. The movie begins...
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