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 | |
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Neimus K. Williams | ... | Lincoln |
Leonard L. Thomas | ... | Deke Woods | |
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Ruby Wilson | ... | Mayella |
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Claude Phillips | ... | Bojo |
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Amy Lavere | ... | Jesse |
Clare Grant | ... | Kell |
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. Written by Joe Jurca
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.