This movie seems typical of Academy Award winners -- really, pretty good, but not nearly as good as they seemed at award time. Perhaps this film gave hope to all the aging white men of Hollywood by demonstrating that if a man changes his vile racist ways, and is really really sorry, he can end up having hot sofa and floor sex with Halle Berry. The problem is that this film really demonstrates the miserable racism and sexism of Hollywood. Because what does Halle Berry get, after seeing family members die in rather extreme ways? A troubled love affair with Billy Bob Thorton.
Seriously, this film begs to be treated seriously as an examination of race and capital punishment, and as a character study (with a really hot sex scene). It succeeds best as a character study, as the acting of Billy Bob Thorton and Heath Ledger is excellent. Halle Berry's acting isn't Oscar caliber -- but that is as much a fault of the way the role is written, as any flaw in her performance. Thornton is giving the unenviable task of playing a racist, tightly wound and angry man, who finds redemption in his grief following his son's suicide. The redemption is really hard to buy -- you can't find any reason this particular character would do a 180. But it is well-acted. Heath ledger, playing the son, does a ton with his small role.
The plot is full of holes -- some probably deliberate. (If we knew why Halle's husband was being executed, we might be less sympathetic towards him and Halle, which would destroy the mood the movie attempts to establish in its first hour.) But there are moments of brilliance, too. This may be the first movie to get someone to cheer for sending a declining old gentleman to the nursing home. And, despite the downbeat nature of the plot, there is a sly wit at work in some of the scenes and in the screenplay.
Don't think so? Take the movie's title. Then think about the movie's characters. And recall what this movie's most famous scene is.
As I said -- a sly wit at work.
Seriously, this film begs to be treated seriously as an examination of race and capital punishment, and as a character study (with a really hot sex scene). It succeeds best as a character study, as the acting of Billy Bob Thorton and Heath Ledger is excellent. Halle Berry's acting isn't Oscar caliber -- but that is as much a fault of the way the role is written, as any flaw in her performance. Thornton is giving the unenviable task of playing a racist, tightly wound and angry man, who finds redemption in his grief following his son's suicide. The redemption is really hard to buy -- you can't find any reason this particular character would do a 180. But it is well-acted. Heath ledger, playing the son, does a ton with his small role.
The plot is full of holes -- some probably deliberate. (If we knew why Halle's husband was being executed, we might be less sympathetic towards him and Halle, which would destroy the mood the movie attempts to establish in its first hour.) But there are moments of brilliance, too. This may be the first movie to get someone to cheer for sending a declining old gentleman to the nursing home. And, despite the downbeat nature of the plot, there is a sly wit at work in some of the scenes and in the screenplay.
Don't think so? Take the movie's title. Then think about the movie's characters. And recall what this movie's most famous scene is.
As I said -- a sly wit at work.