Monster's Ball

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Monster's Ball

R,

2001,

1h 47m,

Drama/

Romance

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Watchlist

Watchlist

85%

137 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

137 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a Black woman and wife of a man sentenced to death. The affair begins just after Hank oversees the capital punishment of Leticia's husband.

Critics Consensus

Somber and thought provoking, Monster's Ball has great performances all around.

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Karl Quinn

The Age (Australia)

Nov 12, 2018

3/5

Leticia and Hank come together in their grief, and when they do - when, in particular, they seek some kind of punishment and absolution in sex - it makes for one of the most intense, moving and real moments you're ever likely to witness on film.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 26, 2010

3/5

This brutal movie is for adults only.

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Caroline Westbrook

Empire Magazine

Mar 2, 2003

4/5

Forster's poised direction, as well as powerful turns from Billy Bob Thornton and the Oscar-winning Halle Berry, make this compelling viewing.

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Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

3/5

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Jul 14, 2007

4/4

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Dec 25, 2006

B

Though marred by script that telegraphs its messages, this drama still manages to tell a compelling love story betweenn a redneck guard and a black widow, well played by Billy Bob Thronton and particularly Halle Berre, who should get Oscar nomination

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Draco P

Jul 10, 2018

Truly a somber story of unseen connective commonness that exercises an individual's own buried depth to be voluntarily dug up by another with willingness in empathetic access, and the demonstrating chemistry, both in and out, between Thornton and Berry was splendidly performed, particularly the latter with her deserved win. (B+) (Full review TBD)

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Leia S

Feb 5, 2018

Berry performance was spectacular!

Rey R

Jan 27, 2018

Halle Berry did definitely deserve the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in this movie... what an emotional and thought - provoking storyline.

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Poe R

Dec 9, 2017

Watched it after reading reviews. Couldn't really come around to it What was called 'thought provoking' I found more as multiple attempts at being shocking to the stereotypical prejudices of typical globalized public. I couldn't find any depth here. Acting is rather flawless with really pretty actress Halle Berry giving the whole movie some life. Otherwise..hmm.. meh..

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Harry S

Nov 26, 2017

I remember the acting being great, a graphic sex scene, and the manipulation of a vulnerable grieving mother/widow. The dramatic irony nearly drove me crazy and I spent the film's entirety just WAITING for the sh*t to hit the fan.

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Leia W

Oct 3, 2017

This movie is awful. Hally Berry - who can't act - won an Oscar for getting carpet burns while having sex with a racist Billy Bob Thornton of all people. And it should be pointed out that in the same year for the same movie she won a razzie award for worst actress. "Make me feel gooood". I like it better when Roger from American Dad does it.

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Marc Forster

Director

Halle Berry

Leticia Musgrove

Billy Bob Thornton

Hank Grotowski

Heath Ledger

Sonny Grotowski

Peter Boyle

Buck Grotowski

Diddy

Lawrence Musgrove

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - You Ain't Lost No Weight

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Quit the Team

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Make Me Feel Good

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Can I Touch You?

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Always Loved You

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Hank Just Like His Daddy

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - That's My Baby

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Death Row Goodbye

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Takes a Human Being to See a Human Being

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Synopsis

Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a Black woman and wife of a man sentenced to death. The affair begins just after Hank oversees the capital punishment of Leticia's husband.

Director: Marc Forster
Producer: Lee Daniels
Screenwriter: Milo Addica, Will Rokos
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Lee Daniels Entertainment, Lions Gate Films
Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.3M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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