"Black Snake Moan" slithers into your head and the characters curl around your heart in a film that combines fantastic acting and a powerful story of caring. Writer and director Craig Brewer delivers the tale of Rae (Christina Ricci), a neurotic nymphomaniac and Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), a retired bluesman turned farmer who is unlucky enough to feel inclined to tame her.
After Rae's boyfriend (played by Justin Timberlake, whose terrible acting doesn't ruin the film because he's in very little of it) gets shipped off to military training, she just can't help but begin having sex with other men. After a night of wild partying that ends badly, Rae is dumped half-naked by the side of the road - bruised, beaten and ill. Lazarus finds her and decides what she needs is some old-fashioned patience, rest and understanding.
Believing divine intervention led her to his path, Lazarus is determined to save Rae from herself - even once that means chaining her to the radiator to keep her from running off to get her much-needed fix. Lazarus confronts his own demons, as he was just left by his wife. He also tries to teach Rae how to respect herself. The chemistry between Jackson and Ricci is amazing. It's clear Lazarus wants to save Rae from her lust-driven ways just as much as she doesn't believe she'll ever be able to harness her urges. Ricci is sexy, dirty and primal in this film - and yet her character remains sympathetic.
The movie also focuses on racial issues. Lazarus is concerned about reporting the situation because of racial implications. "I've been toe to toe with the law just for being black and nearby," he says - capturing the look and sound of the Deep South. Lazarus becomes inclined to dig out his old guitar in an attempt to soothe the beast within Rae. Jackson belts out soulful blues like he's been doing it all his life. The song "Black Snake Moan," set against a nighttime thunderstorm, is nothing less than chilling.
With the exception of Timberlake's character, all of the characters seem very real and are easy to feel for. S. Epatha Merkerson plays a kind-hearted pharmacist with an eye on Lazarus and John Cothran Jr. is terrific as the Reverend. "Black Snake Moan" is filled with profanity and overt (sometimes violent) sex scenes. This is not a movie for children and young teens - who probably wouldn't really get it anyway, so they aren't missing anything - but carries more positive message than offensiveness for mature viewers.
Originally published in The Chronicle in March 2007 as Jade Lee Culberson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment