
Monster's Ball
2001, Drama, 1h 51m
142 Reviews 50,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Somber and thought provoking, Monster's Ball has great performances all around. Read critic reviews
You might also like

Wonderland

Malena

The Quiet American

The History Boys

Affliction
Where to watch
Monster's Ball Photos
Movie Info
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.
Cast & Crew
Halle Berry
Leticia Musgrove
Leticia Musgrove
Billy Bob Thornton
Hank Grotowski
Hank Grotowski
Heath Ledger
Sonny Grotowski
Sonny Grotowski
Peter Boyle
Buck Grotowski
Buck Grotowski
Diddy
Lawrence Musgrove
Lawrence Musgrove
Yasiin Bey
Ryrus Cooper
Ryrus Cooper
Critic Reviews for Monster's Ball
Audience Reviews for Monster's Ball
-
Mar 13, 2021'Monster's Ball' refusal to frame with a generic moral compass is precisely why it will endure. The script takes zero easy outs; it is focused on decisions people would realistically make in a world where racism and a lifetime of baggage aren't absolved within 100 minutes - and the honesty is refreshing. It's not clear where it will lead, but the ambivalence works well in favor of capturing people as the creatures of need that they are, when endless hardship strips your soul down to the most basic longing for affection. Decidedly not a feel-good film, because it's better than that: it's a hell of a thinker about how two common people will mine their own versions of solace amongst misery. This dose of realism will sober you up and stick with you well after the credits roll. *Mild Spoilers* 'Monster's Ball' is not a Hollywood white man's redemption story. If anything, it silently draws attention to the fallacy of Hank's self-orchestrated atonement. It's also an unflinching statement about what a particular woman continues to sacrifice even after she's sacrificed everything. Hank is at peace burying the past. Yes, he's a racist bastard, but he (not the film itself) has decided that while he can't stifle what was passed onto him, he does finally care about something in his life - taking care of Leticia. Leticia is initially devastated to learn that her new lover is her husband's executioner, but she has lost so much in her life - husband, son, house, job, car - that she decides that she's okay with burying her rage for - at long last - some semblance of stability and devotion. There's much truth to dissect from 'Monster's Ball' that an emotional manipulative film simply can't give you.Marisol M Super Reviewer
-
Jun 02, 2017Not for everyone, this work requires thought and involvement, leaving those desirous of spoon-feeding disappointed. Excellent performances highlight this serious film that questions our propensity to simplify, to label things, situations, and especially people (including ourselves) in order to 'quickly understand' problems. Eye-opening and unforgettable.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
-
Sep 30, 2014A little slow but a good movie about loss and grief. Halle Berry deserved that Oscar.Max G Super Reviewer
-
Dec 31, 2013Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton go to disturbing places within a disturbing existence with race issues and suffering thrown in for good measure. Their uncomfortable love making is as messy as the situation that they find themselves in.John B Super Reviewer
Verified