Black Snake Moan (2006)

A God-fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.

Director:

Craig Brewer

Writer:

Craig Brewer

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Lazarus
Christina Ricci	...	Rae
Justin Timberlake	...	Ronnie
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Angela
John Cothran Jr.	...	Reverend R. L. (as John Cothran)
David Banner	...	Tehronne
Michael Raymond-James	...	Gill
Adriane Lenox	...	Rose Woods
Kim Richards	...	Sandy
Neimus K. Williams	...	Lincoln
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Deke Woods
Ruby Wilson	...	Mayella
Claude Phillips	...	Bojo
Amy Lavere	...	Jesse
Clare Grant	...	Kell

Storyline

In rural Mississippi, Lazarus, a former blues musician who survives by truck farming, finds a young girl nearly beaten to death near his home. She's the white-trash town tramp, molded by a life of sexual abuse at the hands of her father and verbal abuse from her mother, who seems to delight in reminding Rae of her mistake in not aborting her. Lazarus, who is also facing personal crisis at the dissolution of his marriage, nurses Rae back to health, providing her with gentle, fatherly advice as well as an education in blues music. Rae's boyfriend, Ronnie, goaded by the man who nearly beat Rae to death, misunderstands the relationship between Lazarus and Rae, and vows to kill him. Lazarus, exhibiting a street-smart understanding of violence and its motives, calls Ronnie's bluff, senses that he is as troubled as Rae, and becomes a guiding force in the young couple's resurrection.

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Plot Keywords:

abuse | sexual abuse | farming | love | blues music | 

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Taglines:

Everything is hotter down south.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, language, some violence and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Paramount [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

A lánc

Filming Locations:

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,143,199 (USA) (2 March 2007)

Gross:

$9,396,487 (USA) (18 May 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Classics, New Deal Productions, Southern Cross the Dog Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Samuel L. Jackson learned to play the guitar for this film, while completing production of Snakes on a Plane. This film was the other of two films released the same year that Jackson starred in with the word "snake" in the title.

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Goofs

When Ronnie and Gill go back to Ronnie's house and everything is just as it was left some days ago, the lava lamp on the table has clearly not been on for very long.

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Quotes

Rae: I think... I think we're fucked up. I know I am. But that don't mean what I feel ain't real, that I can't love somebody. And I know what I done is real real bad, but um...
[pause]
Rae: So if you want to quit on me I understand. But please don't.

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Connections

Spoofed in Dance Flick (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Alice Mae"
Written by R.L. Burnside and Kenny Brown
Performed by Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Brown and Cedric Burnside

User Reviews

Craig Brewer convinces us that he is for real and Samuel L. makes sweet music

Just saw this fantastic film at the Sundance premier and cannot sing its praises enough. Last time I saw Craig Brewer he was singing Ike and Tina to the audience and turning Sundance upside down with his breakout film Hustle and Flow. This time around he fulfills on his big Sundance payday with another unique vision thats going to get everyone talking about Samuel L Jackson, and if you thought Christina Ricci was just that girl in the Addams Family movies then think again. Ricci plays Rae a complete mess of a women who without her beloved Ronnie, played by the getting better all the time Justin Timberlake, has an uncontrollable need for all things sexual. When Ronnie leaves for the a tour with the Army, Rae's demons send her tumbling down a bumpy road that leaves her used and abused left for dead on the side of the road. Along comes old blues-man Lazarus played by the great Samuel L Jackon, Lazarus himself has a few demons lurking around in his head as well, notably his ex-wife who done wrong by him. Lazarus gets to think about this young women and after some soul searching he takes it upon himself to cure her evil ways with some love, some lessons and a 40 lb. chain. I don't want to reveal too much so I'll just say there's some dark moments, some very funny moments and whole lot of great acting. This movie isn't by any means Hustle & Flow 2, however Craig Brewer does tie the two films together with his hope for redemption and change for the better for even the most unlikely of people. Audiences will find a movie worth watching here and worth thinking about well after it ends.