BERRY’S BALL. Review on Monster's Ball Movie

A 2001 interesting puzzler, starring – Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Peter Boyle, Sean Combs, and more.

<Instant Plot> It is obvious from the beginning that loss and loneliness will play an important role in this film.

Two lonely souls in need of a way to escape pain and loneliness, are revealed in the life of Leticia Musgrove (played by Halle Berry), an out-of-work mother with no hope, no prosperity, a husband facing the death penalty, and an overweight son with an uncontrollable eating habit. On the other hand, Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is a racist corrections officer, who is, without doubt, good at his job. He lives with his son (played by Heath Ledger), who is the opposite of Hank and his dad (played by Peter Boyle), an overly racist man who hates everyone (including himself).

Hank has been assigned the task of supervising the execution of Leticia’s husband, Lawrence Musgrove (played by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs), a cop killer. Lawrence’s son thinks highly of his father, even behind prison walls, but, on the other hand, Leticia despises her husband for leaving her penniless, with no job, a broke down car, and an overweight son, whom she abuses physically and mentally.

<Enters Double Tragedy> Both Leticia and Hank experience unexpected, sudden losses when Leticia’s husband is executed, her son is struck by a car, and Hank’s son commits suicide in front of him and his dad.

What I like most about this movie is the inevitable plot of bringing two people together who would, under different circumstances, probably look at each other with nothing more than racial hatred. This movie focuses more on the needs of two people who interact in a ‘by chance’ kind of meeting.

<The Love Scene> Hank and Leticia, both feeling helpless and lost, find a moment of solace in each other. Dealing with heart-wrenching emotions, they choose to put “color” aside. The two of them loses site of ‘black, white’ issues, and for a moment, they live LIFE, and for that passionate, entwined moment… they live again.

There is much to be said about a quiet movie ending. A viewer might blurt out…”What the…this can not be the end!” Or, a quiet ending with no closure (other than the imagination of the viewer), may leave unanswered questions. Whatever the thoughts of the viewer, there is one thing certain about the ending of this movie. The faraway stares of both Hank and Leticia are of wonder, deceit, hope, and uncertainty.