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"Here's a Little
Ditty I Wrote About Why
I Chained You Up..." |
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Directed by Craig Brewer
- Written by Craig
Brewer
Starring Samuel L.
Jackson, Christina
Ricci, John Cothran Jr.,
Justin Timberlake
S. Epatha Merkerson,
Brandon Raines, Michael
Raymond-James
Distributed by Paramount -
2007 - 116m - Rated R |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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There are films that rattle your soul. It doesn't happen often
because, let's face it, Hollywood lost its courage years ago and
churns out mostly methodical, generic and sugar-coated crap these
days that forsakes soul-rattling for big box-office. |
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You see, soul-rattling
films like "Black Snake Moan" don't happen often. When they do, they
are mostly produced by small indie filmmakers and released solely in
arthouse theatres or in limited release.
When Craig Brewer's Oscar-winning film "Hustle and Flow" burst onto
the scene, virtually every fan of independent films knew that we had
a unique, innovative and gutsy new voice on the cinematic scene.
While one could argue that turning a pimp into a sympathetic
character could be a tad misogynistic, it was hard to argue that,
behind the Oscar-nominated performance of Terrence Howard and the
technical prowess of writer/director Brewer, "Hustle & Flow" was a
flawed, yet hypnotizing film displaying Brewer's great promise as a
filmmaker.
While "Black Snake Moan" is unlikely to set box-office records
anytime soon, it firmly cements Craig Brewer as an innovative and
gutsy almost to the point of psychosis filmmaker with a gift for
storytelling, character development, visual imagery and the sort of
blues that can rattle one's soul and make us do things that
reasonable men just won't do.
"Black Snake Moan" is part Negro spiritual, part parable and part
exploitation flick all wrapped up in a package that is sexy and
sweet, tender and tragic all in one.
"Black Snake Moan" is the first great film of 2007.
"Black Snake Moan" isn't a film for everyone. In fact, I'm not sure
I can say this clearly enough...some of you, in fact many of you,
will be offended, dismayed or otherwise turned off by "Black Snake
Moan" and Brewer's absolute comfort with sex, nudity, obscene
language, violence and even his insistence on placing God in the
center of it all. Rape and or sexual abuse survivors should
definitely not see "Black Snake Moan" alone as it contains a
heartbreakingly authentic look at how sexual abuse can devastate a
young woman and, perhaps, the most realistic approach to flashbacks
captured onscreen. Because Brewer's visual imagery is stylistic,
these themes often appear even more enhanced.
The film centers on two individuals who seem to be living on the
same street in different worlds.
Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), a Southern, God-fearing bluesman who
gave up all his dreams for the love of a woman only to have the
woman run off with his brother.
Rae (Christina Ricci), on the other hand, is seemingly a
nymphomaniac struggling to deal with boyfriend's (Justin Timberlake)
going off to war and this out of control "itch" she gets to have sex
at the most inopportune and dangerous times. When Rae, seemingly
rescued from such an encounter by her boyfriend's friend, is
brutally beaten and raped and dumped on the side of the road, a
journey of resurrection, faith, healing and, perhaps, hope begins
for both she and Lazarus.
Marketing a film such as "Black Snake Moan" has to be quite the
challenge, however, the advertising (including the 70's exploitation
flick style poster) seems largely geared towards promoting the
film's ever-present quirkiness while ignoring its even deeper sense
of humanity. In particular, the magnificent chemistry and innocence
between Lazarus and Rae only adds to the heartbreak and hurt one
feels for Rae.
The marketing has also taken great pains to flaunt the fact that Rae
is, in fact, kept chained to a radiator while half-naked for much of
the film. Seen alone, this undoubtedly makes one wonder if Brewer's
misogyny has again gotten the best of him. While it is an awkward
plot device, these scenes are actually played with great
intentionality and purpose. Brewer wisely inserts key lines into the
film's script that both explain this act as one meant and acted out
lovingly, while recognizing that there must come a point where the
playing field is leveled out.
As Lazarus, Samuel L. Jackson is nothing short of perfection. I've
often thought that the perfect performance not only makes you forget
the actor, but makes it impossible to see any other actor in the
role. Such is true for Jackson's performance as a man who lives
deeply within the blues even while being resurrected from them. Few
actors are capable of simultaneous bravado and
vulnerability...Jackson has the role of his career and, quite
literally, captivates the screen with a focused, intimate
performance that is nothing short of brilliant.
Ricci, who is well known to have lobbied intensely for this role,
also offers the best performance of her career in a performance that
raw and heartfelt that I find myself nearing tears again even as I
write this review. Ricci accomplishes the near impossible task of
making you forget she is only half-dressed throughout much of the
film. In fact, she redefines naked on her own terms.
The film, in many ways, reminds me of another controversial Ricci
performance that attracted only modest box-office and received
nearly as much hatred as it did praise..."Pumpkin," a film in which
Ricci plays a beautiful sorority girl who finds herself falling for
a disabled man. In "Black Snake Moan," virtually everyone is
disabled by something and, in the end, it's impossible to gauge
whether there is hope or not.
"Black Snake Moan" also features tremendous supporting performances,
including the best preacher since Robert Duvall's "The Apostle" from
John Cothran, Jr., and the wildly contrasting sweetness of Angela
(S. Epatha Merkerson), a pharmacist who seems to have her eye on
Lazarus. Even Timberlake, as Rae's equally screwed up boyfriend who
ends up getting booted out of the National Guard due to anxiety
attacks, offers a remarkably deep and inspired performance after a
slow start.
Watch for a performance from Kim Richards as Rae's abusive mother.
You may recognize Richards as the young girl from the old "Witch
Mountain" films. While her acting career has been a bit sporadic as
of late, Richards does a nice job in a very small role.
Brewer's direction has grown since his first film, particularly in
the areas of pacing, characterization and avoiding the temptation to
forego substance for style. Likewise, Brewer's script, while simple,
feels more complete and balanced than "Hustle & Flow" while also
making every character as interesting as the central character.
For the incredible blues music alone, it would be easy to recommend
"Black Snake Moan." Jackson, who handles several tunes himself, is a
sight to behold and the tunes fit nicely in the context of the
story. However, "Black Snake Moan" is infinitely more than its
music, its exploitation or any of its parts. "Black Snake Moan" is a
multi-layered, difficult to peg and impossible to ignore film that
will rattle your heart, mind, body and soul.
Like it or not, "Black Snake Moan" is the first great film of 2007. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
Despite fine
performances and an intriguing opening act,
"Black Snake Moan" fails to entertain or teach
or shed anything of value from its morality
tale. It works fine as a
"one-time-watch"... but I can't imagine that has
legs. the second half of the film rather
fizzles as if the filmmakers were making it up
as they went along, with no idea how it would
finish. It is not a bad film... and
Christina Ricci displays enormous courage and
range... but this is far from achieving any form
of greatness.
Jacob Hall's
Comment
n/a
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