Monster's Ball (2001): Dir: Marc Forster / Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger, Peter Boyle, Sean Combs: Powerful film about racism and redemption. Title regards lifestyle and attitudes of three generations of racial prison guards. Billy Bob Thornton portrays such a guard whose father was an even bigger racist. His son befriends a black inmate on death row and he wretches at the execution. Thornton assaults him in a washroom leading to a shocking sequence where he takes his own life. Halle Berry plays the widow of the inmate whose son is struck by a car. Thornton assists her and is soon drawn in attraction. It isn't known why Thornton helps her but judging from the amount of sex it was probably lust. Unsatisfactory conclusion aided by Marc Foster's directing and top notch acting. Thornton wrestles with his past and upbringing. Berry is flawless as a waitress who is harsh to her overweight son. Heath Ledger plays his son who shows compassion towards those whom he was raised to hate. This puts him in conflict with his family. Peter Boyle is icy as Thornton's crippled and hateful father whose nature is perhaps the darkest element of the film. Sean Combs is effectively in a brief role as a criminal who is executed early on. The film focuses on hopes that society will veer away from the immoral celebration of racism. Score: 8 / 10

Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is the prison guard in charge of the executions. His son Sonny Grotowski (Heath Ledger) works with him but vomits while escorting Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs) on his final walk. Hank is angry and confronts Sonny. Sonny kills himself. Hank decides to leave the prison and ends up dating Leticia Musgrove (Halle Berry) who is the wife of the executed Lawrence. He has to deal with conflicted feelings especially those handed down by his racist father Buck Grotowski (Peter Boyle).This movie is filled with great performances. Even Sean Combs delivers a workable performance. Ledger has a short and tough role. Halle Berry has one scene that is shockingly haunting. Her berating her chubby son is unforgettable. All of it is held together by Billy Bob.

I think that an important aspect of this story is the fact that two ordinary characters, Hank and Leticia, who went through dramatic and tragic life experiences, and who live in a place where racism get apart persons of different ethnicities, are capable of developing a true love between them. Hank is a guy who worked all his life as a prison guard. His son who was also a prison guard is murdered. Leticia is a woman who works as a waiter in a café. Her husband was executed in the prison where Hank worked and her beloved son dies in consequence of having being hit by a car. They live in a place where racism is alive and where Hank's father is an example of this nasty culture. I would say that this film is much stronger and human than "Un Homme Et Une Femme" of Claude Lelouch. So much stronger, that there was no need of a musical sound track like that beautiful song of Francis Lai. In time, I don't know if the sex scenes were really necessary, or if they could have been filmed in a different way, less explicit.

Iv just finished watching this film and it left me SO disappointed as I had really high expectations.First off Halle Berry is brilliant in the movie and you really buy into her character and her emotions and heart-break, she's effortless in what appears to be her comfort zone. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant in the movie also, I've not seen him in a lot of movies but based on this I have become a fan, he's very convincing and again effortless. My problem with this movie is that it failed to be compelling and the story seemed rushed. The movie is very dreary and depressing, it plods along, the story lacks any real depth, there's no outstanding part in the film that makes you sit up and take notice. They infamous sex scene made the film no better and felt un-justified especially the long length of time it was on, a talented actress like Halle Berry lowering herself to do something like that made me cringe in all honesty. They could have made it shorter or cut away after they started they initial moves. The oral sex scene again felt totally un-necessary and just took away from the drama and emotion in the film.I found myself relieved when it ended after a very weak ending that left me wondering why I wasted my time watching the movie, damn high expectations! Did Halle deserve an Oscar, I personally don't think so, she was very good but not outstanding she was in her comfort zone and didn't really push herself to an Oscar worthy performance. She played the role by numbers nothing more, nothing less a thousand other actresses could have played the part, it wasn't a stretch for her in anyway in my opinion.