W/out hype:weak film.
Added 10/22/2009
Acting was Okay, NOT even good. Samuel IS overrated:horrible actor. Story was weak and "offensive." Racist. Story stood motionless, did not evolve(she was whore from beginning 2 end, he stayed the same. What did we get from it? A push for interracialism(watch the directors commentary). Cant black ppl not live w/out whites? What drives blacks to NEED to be near whites? Be black and be proud--BUT PEACEFULLY.
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A little bit more than just sexy exploitation junk
Added 10/22/2009
I've got to admit, I got this for less than noble reasons, perhaps even prurient ones. Christina Ricci running around near-naked for the whole film? That's something I have to see...
OK, enough of the dirty old man act. EXCEPT, that's what the film is aiming at, isn't it? The poster -- the ads -- the first scene -- this is going to be an exploitation film, and an over the top one at that: nubile, waifish nymphomaniac Rae (Ricci) ends up bloodied and beaten, on farmer and ex-bluesman Lazarus' (Samuel L Jackson) doorstep, just at the moment when Jackson seems about ready to go 'round the bend.
So Lazarus, after nursing the physically sick Rae back to health over a couple of days does what any rural farmer in the south would do with a woman half his age and of another race -- he chains her to a radiator in some odd misguided effort to cleanse her of "evil spirits" or some such nonsense; it's never spelled out very explicitly just what Lazarus believes, or doesn't believe, he can do.
There's plenty of sleazy, trashy fun to be had here; our heroine does indeed run around in next to nothing for nearly the whole film, and Jackson's tortured musician Lazarus embodies a whole lot of fun southern black stereotypes -- and I do mean fun; this is certainly a film that tries to avoid racism at all costs. If anything, it's saying that sure, blacks and white are a little different -- they're just messed up in different ways, and we'd best try to understand that, because we're all in it together. They certainly are in director Craig Brewer's vision of the mid-south -- this small town has to be the best-integrated place in America.
But never mind all that. The film moves, the dialogue is mostly crisp, the acting (especially, and surprisingly, by Justin Timberlake as Ricci's rather confused boyfriend Ronnie) is solid. The biggest problem that it has I think, is that it doesn't know whether to continue down the sordid route, or attempt a little morality play and make nice at the end. Unfortunately it goes the latter route and ends up feeling too nicey-nice, but there was enough realistic local color and heart to the whole thing that I still found myself enjoying it.
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Where the hell were the Oscar nominations?!?
Added 10/3/2009
This is a movie that the Academy somehow overlooked. Not since "Saving Private Ryan" lost Best Picture to a sub-average "Shakespeare in Love" have I been so perplexed as to "what were they thinking?". Black Snake Moan is a cool, sexy movie with a lot of class. Samuel Jackson finally gets a movie worthy of his talent (best work since "Pulp Fiction" and "The Negotiator", and Christina Ricci is worthy of a best actress nod as well. The story is dark, the music is soulfull, and the movie was at the top of my "must own" list.
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The only movie I have ever had to walk out on. Pure garbage. Horrible plot, acting, and theme. It was offensive, just for the sake of being offensive.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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A movie just as strange as its title
Added 8/21/2009
I will spare you the long paragraph and just say what is great about this movie.
"Christina Ricci a sex addict half naked in chains". Yes, this is what makes this film worth your time. Aside from the fact that Christina Ricci graces you with her amazing body and seductive ways for 115 minutes, Black Snake Moan actually has an interesting story. The movie itself is strange, and had the right actors for the parts. That is all except for Justin Timberlake, who has no business on any Cinema screen. He is a music performer, he should keep it that way. His parts almost de-rail the film as he doesn't look as if he belongs in the movie at all. With that said and out the way the rest of the movie is great. It's not A+ amazing, but Christina Ricci's character makes it all worth your while. Samuel L. Jackson plays another one of his oddball character rolls. This time he is a halfway crazy man (that's pretty good for a Samuel L. role) who wants to shed some light in the world. I'm not really sure what compelled him to out of no where decide to start helping Rae change her life. It seemed as though he was pretty off the wall and down on his own luck himself, then all of a sudden he is a religious warrior spreading good and cleansing the wicked. I think that transition is the only part of the movie that could have used more explaining. It made the things Samuel L. did seem akward because very little of the story was shed on what compelled him to save Rae, other than he found her on the road. With that aside it's hard to say anything bad about a plot that is focused around on a half naked Christina Ricci. Matter of fact suprisingly how easily this movie could of just been written off as ranchy, it never really crosses that line. It's actually about a caring man trying to help a young woman. Samuel L's character can only do but so much for Rae before he leaves it all up to her. Ironically in a movie that's so far from reality, it does have a sense of realism to it. **possible spoiler**Rae is never fully cured, but she now has the understanding of how she can ease and control her desires. That is the gift that Samuel L. gave to her. Overall Black Snake Moan was an interesting movie well worth checking out. It's not bad, it's not unbelievably amazing, it's just all out plain "good". and that makes it a 5 star film under my watch.
PS. I was going to take a star away for Justing Timberlake being in the film, but Christina Ricci's rebel girl outfit brought it back.
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A very hot, steamy video. Very good acting and a hot, humid atmosphere. Well worth watching. A keeper. The music is great, and Ricci and Jackson do a great acting job.
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A little bit more than just sexy exploitation junk
Added 10/22/2009
I've got to admit, I got this for less than noble reasons, perhaps even prurient ones. Christina Ricci running around near-naked for the whole film? That's something I have to see...
OK, enough of the dirty old man act. EXCEPT, that's what the film is aiming at, isn't it? The poster -- the ads -- the first scene -- this is going to be an exploitation film, and an over the top one at that: nubile, waifish nymphomaniac Rae (Ricci) ends up bloodied and beaten, on farmer and ex-bluesman Lazarus' (Samuel L Jackson) doorstep, just at the moment when Jackson seems about ready to go 'round the bend.
So Lazarus, after nursing the physically sick Rae back to health over a couple of days does what any rural farmer in the south would do with a woman half his age and of another race -- he chains her to a radiator in some odd misguided effort to cleanse her of "evil spirits" or some such nonsense; it's never spelled out very explicitly just what Lazarus believes, or doesn't believe, he can do.
There's plenty of sleazy, trashy fun to be had here; our heroine does indeed run around in next to nothing for nearly the whole film, and Jackson's tortured musician Lazarus embodies a whole lot of fun southern black stereotypes -- and I do mean fun; this is certainly a film that tries to avoid racism at all costs. If anything, it's saying that sure, blacks and white are a little different -- they're just messed up in different ways, and we'd best try to understand that, because we're all in it together. They certainly are in director Craig Brewer's vision of the mid-south -- this small town has to be the best-integrated place in America.
But never mind all that. The film moves, the dialogue is mostly crisp, the acting (especially, and surprisingly, by Justin Timberlake as Ricci's rather confused boyfriend Ronnie) is solid. The biggest problem that it has I think, is that it doesn't know whether to continue down the sordid route, or attempt a little morality play and make nice at the end. Unfortunately it goes the latter route and ends up feeling too nicey-nice, but there was enough realistic local color and heart to the whole thing that I still found myself enjoying it.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Where the hell were the Oscar nominations?!?
Added 10/3/2009
This is a movie that the Academy somehow overlooked. Not since "Saving Private Ryan" lost Best Picture to a sub-average "Shakespeare in Love" have I been so perplexed as to "what were they thinking?". Black Snake Moan is a cool, sexy movie with a lot of class. Samuel Jackson finally gets a movie worthy of his talent (best work since "Pulp Fiction" and "The Negotiator", and Christina Ricci is worthy of a best actress nod as well. The story is dark, the music is soulfull, and the movie was at the top of my "must own" list.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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