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:

Christina Ricci, Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Lazarus
Christina Ricci	...	Rae
Justin Timberlake	...	Ronnie
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Angela
John Cothran	...	Reverend R.L.
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 Tennessee, 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:

nymphomaniac | sex scene | unfaithful girlfriend | musician | blues music | 

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Taglines:

Everything is hotter down south.

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shipped to theaters as "Bible School Mission".

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Goofs

To break her fever, Lazarus puts Rae in a bathtub, and fills it with ice. This is not safe, as it could cause hypothermia: having body temperature which is dangerously low. He should have put her in a regular bath, and just let the tub slowly cool down to room temperature. That would be enough to bring down her fever, safely.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Son House: Ain't but one kind of blues. And that consisted between male and female that's in love. In love, just like I sung one of them songs a while ago and I put a verse in there saying that love hide all fault and make you do things you don't wanna do. Love sometimes will leave you feeling sad and blue. I'm talking about the blues! I ain't talking about monkey junk. And it consisted between male and female. And that means two people, supposed to be in love, when one or the other deceives ...

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Connections

Referenced in Continue?: The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES) (2013)

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Soundtracks

This Little Light Of Mine
Written by Harry Dixon Loes
Arranged by Alvin Youngblood Hart
Performed by Christina Ricci and Alvin Youngblood Hart

User Reviews

Not What You Expect Going In...Pleasantly Surprised Walkng Out

Me and my roommate got free tickets for a Pre Screening I guess you would call it in Atlanta, GA at Atlantic Station. Walking in I was expecting something controversial, provocative, unnecessarily overdone, etc.. But the film is much more than that. It's a story of two people helping each other. It's not overdone, and the film is done in a careful balance as to not make you cringe or say its unnecessary.

It's put together really well and doesn't take itself too seriously. Thats the beauty of it. If it tried to take itself seriously, it would have failed miserably, but instead it carries itself through humor (some unintentional) and some surprisingly good acting by Ricci. Although Timberlake fails miserably in his role, the movie is good enough for you to put that on the side.

I would definitely recommend this movie, if not for any other reason than the fact it is something different to experience.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Snake Moan

Filming Locations:

Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,143,199, 4 March 2007

Gross USA:

$9,396,870

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,907,485

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:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1