Monster's Ball (2001)

Director:

Marc Forster

Writers (WGA):

Milo Addica (written by) &
Will Rokos (written by)

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A lifetime of change can happen in a single moment.

Plot:

After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard reexamines his attitudes while falling in love with the African American wife of the last prisoner he executed.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Prison | Racist | Black Woman | Prison Guard

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Billy Bob Thornton	...	Hank Grotowski
Halle Berry	...	Leticia Musgrove
Taylor Simpson	...	Lucille
Gabrielle Witcher	...	Betty
Heath Ledger	...	Sonny Grotowski
Amber Rules	...	Vera
Peter Boyle	...	Buck Grotowski
Charles Cowan Jr.	...	Willie Cooper
Taylor LaGrange	...	Darryl Cooper
Mos Def	...	Ryrus Cooper
Anthony Bean	...	Dappa Smith
Francine Segal	...	Georgia Ann Paynes
John McConnell	...	Harvey Shoonmaker
Marcus Lyle Brown	...	Phil Huggins
Milo Addica	...	Tommy Roulaine
Leah Loftin	...	Booter
Coronji Calhoun	...	Tyrell Musgrove
Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs	...	Lawrence Musgrove (as Sean Combs)
Larry Lee	...	Co #1
Troy Poret	...	Co #2
Paul Smith	...	Co #3
Marshall Cain	...	Correction Officer
Will Rokos	...	Warden Velesco
Anthony Michael Frederick	...	Billy
John Wilmot	...	Minister
Dennis Clements	...	Clements
Stephanie Claire	...	Nurse
James Haven	...	Hospital Guard
Ritchie Montgomery	...	Detective
Clara Hopkins Daniels	...	Maggie Cooper (as Clara Infinity Daniels)
Carol Sutton	...	Ms. Guillermo
Bernard Johnson	...	Deputy Jones
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeanette Kontomitras	...	Tyrell's School Teacher (uncredited)
Earl Maddox	...	Patron (uncredited)
T.J. Toups	...	Waffle House Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Marc Forster

Writing credits (WGA)
Milo Addica		(written by) &
Will Rokos		(written by)

Produced by
Milo Addica	....	co-producer
Michael Burns	....	executive producer
Lee Daniels	....	producer
Eric Kopeloff	....	co-producer
Eric Kopeloff	....	line producer
Michael Paseornek	....	executive producer
Will Rokos	....	co-producer
Mark Urman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Asche & Spencer		(as Asche and Spencer)

Cinematography by
Roberto Schaefer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Matt Chesse		(as Matt Chessé)

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Mark Bennett
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Monroe Kelly

Art Direction by
Leonard R. Spears		(as Leonard Spears)

Set Decoration by
Leonard R. Spears		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Frank L. Fleming		(as Frank Fleming)

Makeup Department
Brian Badie	....	hair stylist
Mary Burton	....	makeup artist: Ms. Berry
Carla Chao	....	assistant makeup artist
Sterfon Demings	....	hair stylist: Ms. Berry
Lynne K. Eagan	....	makeup artist: Mr. Thornton (as Lynne Eagan)
Allison Gordin	....	makeup artist
Joani Yarbrough	....	hair stylist: Mr. Thornton
Carol F. Doran	....	wig maker (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert Ortiz	....	unit production manager (as Rob Ortiz)
Carl Pedregal	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Batou Chandler	....	second second assistant director
Michael Lerman	....	first assistant director
James Roque	....	second assistant director (as James Roque Jr.)

Art Department
Peter Bankins	....	prop master
Michael Blum	....	props production assistant
Mary Frances Eglin	....	art department coordinator (as Mary Frances Elgin)
David Erwin	....	on-set dresser
Daniel Fox	....	set dresser
Holly Goline	....	assistant property master
Kristin Hensley	....	artwork: Lawrence Musgrove
Leo Lauricella	....	carpenter
Vince Le Blanc	....	leadman (as Vince Leblanc)
Genevieve Leyh	....	assistant scenic
Danny Nick	....	swing
John Patterson	....	carpenter
Eric William Pierson	....	set dresser (as Eric Pierson)
Stuart Rankine	....	props production assistant
Russell Slaughter	....	swing
Chuck Stringer	....	construction coordinator (as George 'Chuck' Stringer)
Steve Walters	....	charge scenic

Sound Department
Jimmy 'Coach' Armstrong	....	boom operator
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rick Ashe)
Weldon Brown	....	adr mixer
Zane D. Bruce	....	foley artist (as Zane Bruce)
Patrick Cabral	....	foley editor (as Pat Cabral)
Joe Earle	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisle Engle	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Haupt	....	additional sound mixer
Trevor Jolly	....	adr editor
Trevor Jolly	....	dialogue editor
Michael Kamper	....	sound designer
Diane Lucas	....	adr recordist
Jennifer L. Mann	....	foley editor (as Jennifer Mann)
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound designer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Hugh Murphy	....	digital assistant
Jeff Pullman	....	sound mixer
Steve Ralsten	....	additional sound (as Steve Ralston)
Brian Ruberg	....	foley mixer
David Ruth	....	adr editor
David Ruth	....	dialogue editor
Joseph T. Sabella	....	foley artist (as Joseph Sabella)
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Patrick Stoltz	....	additional sound (as Pat Stoltz)
Kim Waugh	....	additional sound
Drew Webster	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gayle Wesley	....	additional sound
Eric Lamb	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Carrie Lisonbee	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Michael McNerney	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Angie Stanghetti	....	additional adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Brian Bankston	....	special effects production assistant
Edward Bankston	....	special effects assistant
David K. Nami	....	special effects coordinator (as David Nami)
William A. Nami	....	special effects assistant
Glen Palmisano	....	special effects production assistant

Visual Effects by
Colleen Duffy	....	visual effects producer: SOL designfx
M.B. Emigh	....	main title design: SOL designfx (as MB Emigh)
Michael Hatcher	....	digital artist: SOL designfx
Jeff Heusser	....	digital compositing supervisor: SOL designfx
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Jim Gorman	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Reid Paul	....	digital effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Harry Harris III	....	stunt coordinator (as Harry Harris)
Danny Cosmo Higginbottom	....	utility stunts (as Danny Cosmo)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Bates	....	electrician
Paul Beard	....	company grip
Jeanne-Louise Bulliard	....	publicity photographer (as Jeanne Louise Bulliard)
Rufus Burnam	....	thanks: The Camera House (as Rufus Burnham)
Buddy Carr	....	dolly grip
Gilly Charbonnet	....	key grip
Christopher Ekstrom	....	company grip (as Christopher Eckstrom)
Sean Finnegan	....	electrician (as Sean Funnegan)
Matthew Gaumer	....	second assistant camera (as Matt Gaumer)
Jason Goodowens	....	company grip
Jerry M. Jacob	....	Steadicam operator
Francis James	....	director of photography: second unit
Vic Keatley	....	best boy electric (as Victor Keatly)
Paul T. LeBlanc	....	24 frame video operator (as Paul T. Leblanc)
Ian Lynch	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mike McLaughlin	....	gaffer
P.K. Munson	....	first assistant camera (as Peter Kerr 'P.K.' Munson)
Mike 'Chewie' Pappas	....	electrician (as Chewie Pappas)
Michael L. Smith	....	electrician (as Mike Smith)
Joe Uddo	....	camera production assistant
Lynda Vincent	....	film loader
Ralph Watson	....	Steadicam operator
Don W. Wegner	....	best boy grip (as Don Wegner)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Chance	....	costume supervisor
Dana Embree	....	additional set costumer
Caroline Eselin	....	set costumer
Meagan McLaughlin	....	wardrobe production assistant
Severin Serafini	....	costume stylist
Giselle Spence	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
John Homesley	....	assistant editor
Meagan James	....	first assistant editor
Richard Jordan	....	executive in charge of post-production
Larry Manke	....	telecine colorist (as Larry P. Manke)
Frank Moshier	....	post-production coordinator
Harry Muller	....	color timer

Music Department
Asche & Spencer	....	song producer: "I'm Your Man" (as Asche and Spencer)
Bob DeMaa	....	music mixer
Joel C. High	....	music supervisor
Stephanie Lynn Urcheck	....	music coordinator
Dean Menta	....	score engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Butch Chaney	....	driver (as W. 'Butch' Chaney)
Nelson B. Conino	....	driver
Richard A. Davis	....	transportation co-coordinator (as Rick Davis)
Jerry Everett	....	transportation captain
Davis Hawn	....	driver: van
Davis Hawn	....	picture car wrangler
Win Hershy	....	driver: Location Catering Service
Jerry Jackson	....	transportation coordinator
Jeremy Jaklevick	....	driver
Duke Kuhn	....	driver (as Bill 'Duke' Kuhn)
Dennis Monk	....	driver
David J. Prestenback	....	picture car production assistant
Al Sens	....	driver
Robbie Stubblefield	....	picture car production assistant

Other crew
Stephen Apostolina	....	adr loop group (as Steve Apostolima)
Susie Blanchard	....	set medic
Cheech Bradford	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance
Tessa Brophy	....	assistant production coordinator
Sam Chwat	....	speech & dialect coach
Joseph Coble	....	craft service (as Joseph L. Coble)
Lisa Cortes	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels
Chris Cowart	....	third man
Wendy Cutler	....	adr loop group
G. 'Opey' Davis	....	set production assistant
Albert T. Dickerson III	....	completion bond: The Motion Picture Bond Company (as Al Dickerson)
Jake Donohoe	....	post-production accountant: Lions Gate
Ryan Eustis	....	office production assistant
Eddie Frierson	....	adr loop group
Donald Fullilove	....	adr loop group (as Don Fullilove)
Elisa Gabrielli	....	adr loop group (as Elisa Gabrella)
Caleb Guillote	....	payroll clerk
Kristin Hensley	....	unit production assistant
Bill Hershey	....	chef: Location Catering Service (as Billy Hershey)
Win Hershy	....	chef: Location Catering Service
Alissa M. Kantrow	....	production coordinator (as Alissa Miller Kantrow)
Daniel Katz	....	assistant: Mr. Urman
Brian M. Kingman	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance (as Brian Kingman)
Rosemary Lara	....	assistant: Mr. Paseornek
Nikki Lawder	....	business and legal affairs assistant: Lions Gate
Donna Lynn Leavy	....	adr loop group (as Donna Lyn Levy)
Betty Lee	....	production controller: Lions Gate
Danny Lee	....	business and legal affairs assistant: Lions Gate
Wayne Levin	....	executive vice president of business affairs: Lions Gate
Kelly Lofstrom	....	business and legal affairs assistant: Lions Gate
Daniel MacArthur	....	production assistant: Lions Gate
Mike Mahone	....	production intern
Laurie May	....	business and legal affairs: Lions Gate
Laurie May	....	senior vice president: Lions Gate
David Ross McCarty	....	location manager
Jessica Seifert McCarty	....	location assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr loop group leader (as Caitlin McKeena)
Robert M. Melnik	....	vice president of business affairs: Lions Gate (as Robert Melnik)
Curtis A. Miller	....	manager of production: Lions Gate
Mark Miller	....	first assistant accountant
Paul Pape	....	adr loop group
Jeff Joon Park	....	business and legal affairs assistant: Lions Gate
Tonia Pound	....	set production assistant
Leonard Reynolds	....	key set production assistant
Terence Rosemore	....	set production assistant
Kristin Scott	....	assistant: Mr. Thornton (as Kirstin Scott)
M. Gerard Sellers	....	location scout (as Gerard Sellers)
Sherman Shelton Jr.	....	set production assistant (as Sherman Shelton)
Donna Sloan	....	vice president of production: Lions Gate
Barry Steadman	....	set production assistant
Cynthia Tanner	....	office production assistant
Michael Taylor	....	script supervisor
Arnold F. Turner	....	adr loop group (as Arnold Turner)
Marco Umana	....	assistant location manager
Marco Umana	....	security officer
Sharon Vise	....	production accountant
Charlyn Ware	....	manager of business and legal affairs: Lions Gate
Wise Wolf	....	set production assistant (as Wise Wolfe)
Beverly Wood	....	lab consultant (as The Amazing Beverly Wood)
Steve Zeigler	....	assistant chef: Location Catering Service
Charlie French	....	medic (uncredited)
E. Michael Hewett	....	location scout: North Carolina (uncredited)
Ted Kantrow	....	caterer (uncredited)
Gary J. Sims	....	payroll services (uncredited)
Paul Uddo	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeremy Walker	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Peter Afterman	....	thanks
Steve Alexander	....	thanks
Stuart Baird	....	thanks
Carol Sue Baker	....	thanks
Chris Barrios	....	thanks: operator, City of Kernner
Ralph Beaumont Jr.	....	thanks: maintenance, City of Kernner
Owen Bly	....	thanks
Michael Borne	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Les Boudreaux	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Robert Bourgeois	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Burl Cain	....	thanks: warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, GA
Guymon Casady	....	thanks
Renée Chabria	....	thanks
Sheriff Donald Chaffin	....	thanks: Henry County, GA
Gillian Harwood Chesse	....	thanks
Louis J. Congemi	....	thanks: mayor, City of Kernner
Bob Del Montegue	....	thanks
Jeffery P. Dupuis	....	thanks
Cassian Elwes	....	thanks
Todd Feldman	....	thanks
John Fogelman	....	thanks
Cathy Fontenot	....	thanks: Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, GA
Dominic Griffin	....	thanks (as Dominick Griffin)
Mike Guillot	....	thanks: fire captain, City of Kernner
Drew Hammond	....	thanks
Todd Harris	....	thanks
Paulette Hawkins	....	thanks
Mack Hill	....	thanks
M. Hopeloff	....	thanks
R. Hopeloff	....	thanks
Phil Huggins	....	thanks
Randy Jurgensen	....	thanks
Denise Kay	....	thanks
Scott Lambert	....	thanks
Eunice Lee	....	thanks
Linda Lichter	....	thanks
Pamela Lillis	....	thanks
Tom Lopinski	....	thanks
Gary Louris	....	thanks
Blake Luminais	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Dennis Marchelle	....	thanks
Dorothy Massi	....	thanks
Kristine Moore	....	thanks
Larry Musgrove	....	thanks
J. David Nonaka	....	thanks
Jill Olson	....	thanks
Jonathan Palmer	....	thanks
Dino Paredes	....	thanks
June Perkins	....	thanks
Poland Perkins	....	thanks
Melanie Ramsayer	....	thanks
Iggy Rosales	....	thanks: operator, City of Kernner
Leora Rosenberg	....	thanks
Jeff Rosen	....	thanks
Sara Jane Sargent	....	thanks
Phil Seifert	....	thanks
Rebecca Shetler	....	thanks: secretary, City of Kernner
Pam Springs	....	thanks
Harley Toberman	....	thanks
Nicole Trutanic	....	thanks
Darrel Vannoy	....	thanks: assistant warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, GA
Chip Wale	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Stacy Wallen	....	thanks (as Stacey Wallen-McCarthy)
Patrick Whalen	....	thanks
Brian Young	....	thanks: Laplace volunteer fire department
Michael Zito	....	thanks: fire chief, City of Kernner

Production Companies

• Lee Daniels Entertainment
• Lions Gate Films

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (2002) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tobis StudioCanal (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2003) (Romania) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• E Stars Films (2004) (China) (TV)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2001) (Romania) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2002) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Sol Design FX (title design)
• Sol Design FX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by (as AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance)
• Air Core 1 Generic  thanks
• American Heart Association  thanks (as American Heart Association)
• Axium/Avalon Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Axium/Avalon)
• Bacardi  thanks
• Blockbuster Video  thanks
• Blue Bunny Ice Cream  thanks
• Bolle Sunglasses  thanks
• Braun Coffeemaker  thanks
• Camera House, The  thanks
• Carhart  thanks
• Casio Electronics  thanks (as Casio)
• Cat Footware  thanks
• Cherry Marketing Institute  thanks
• Club Magazine  thanks
• Coastal Grip  grip and electrical equipment provided by
• Coca-Cola Company, The  thanks (as Coca-Cola)
• Coleman Coolers  thanks
• Crew Cuts  thanks
• Daily Herald  thanks
• Dewar's  thanks
• Dickies  thanks
• Diet Coke  thanks
• Entertainment Post  video dailies
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Executive Cutting)
• Fix-A-Flat  thanks
• Francis Ford Coppola's House  thanks
• Frito-Lay  thanks (as Frito Lay)
• Gumout/Outlaw  thanks
• Hatco  thanks
• Hunt's Ketchup  thanks
• Jack Daniels  thanks
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity (as Jeremy Walker & Associates)
• Juiceman  thanks
• Katoo  thanks
• Keslow Cameras  thanks: Arriflex cameras (as Keslow Camera)
• Lagniappe's Craft Service  craft service
• Location Catering Service  catering
• Maker's Mark  thanks
• Miller Brewing Company  thanks (as Miller Brewing)
• Molly McButter  thanks
• Moon Pies  thanks
• Motion Picture Bond Company, The  completion bond provided by (as The Motion Picture Bond Company)
• Motorola  thanks
• Mrs. Dash Seasonings  thanks
• Nabisco  thanks
• New York Speech Improvement Services  speech and dialect coaching
• Paskal Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Pennzoil Product Company  thanks (as Penzoil)
• PrismSound  Dream ADA-8 for audio a/d conversion (as Prism Sound ADA-8)
• Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)  thanks (as Proctor & Gamble)
• Quaker Oats  thanks (as Quaker Oatmeal)
• Raybanre/Max  thanks
• Rejuvenique  thanks
• Serengeti  thanks
• Soundelux  sound post-production (as Soundelux Editorial)
• Sports Illustrated  thanks
• The Coffee Beanery  thanks
• Title House Digital  opticals
• Todd Studios  sound post-production
• WildTurkey  thanks

Also Known As:

Le bal du monstre (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and violence.

Runtime:

111 min | USA:112 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Austria:16 (Steiermark) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (censored version) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Laplace, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Lee Daniels Entertainment

Trivia:

Vanessa Williams was offered the role of Leticia, but turned it down because of the full frontal nudity.

Goofs:

Continuity: The blood stains on Leticia's shirt change between when she is first seen on the street and later when she is in the hospital.

Quotes:

Lawrence Musgrove: I'm a bad man.
Tyrell Musgrove: Who says?
Lawrence Musgrove: I do.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I'm Your Man

Excellent job of peeling away the layers of racism

Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is the middle generation of three generations of prison guards. His father Buck (Peter Boyle) is long retired and a near-invalid, using a walker and leaning on an iron lung. His son Sonny (Heath Ledger) is a novice guard. Hank and Sonny work together on Death Row and are among the guards responsible for the executions (Hank's in charge).

The first thing that strikes one about this particular group of men is the level of racism that's apparent in each one. Buck's the worst - he screams at young black kids who happen to wander onto "his" property (all three Grotowskis live together) and is liable to spout off some hateful rhetoric at any time. Hank's not a lot better, but his feelings seem tempered in contrast to Buck; he seems more weary than angry. And Sonny is actually friends with that same neighboring black family whose kids come over every now and then.

Thus the line of racism is significantly watered down as the generations progress. This is not to suggest that Sonny is an angel, or that Buck is the absolute devil. Sonny and Hank share the same hooker (though not at the same time); all three men drink, smoke, and cuss like sailors. In short, they're simply not nice folk.

While Hank and Sonny are transporting a prisoner to the electric chair, Sonny takes ill and can't continue. Because of this, the prisoner (who had bonded a little with the compassionate Sonny earlier) suffers a little during his execution. Enraged, Hank attacks his son in the locker room after the execution, and the other guards have to separate them.

That's one relationship being examined - that of Hank and Sonny. The other is the more important one, however. The widow of the executed prisoner, Leticia Musgrove (Halle Berry), is trying to make ends meet as a waitress. But her car constantly dies on her, and after being late to work repeatedly, she's fired - shortly after her husband is executed. She has one overeating kid to feed, too. She does get another job as a waitress, but has to ditch the car when it dies a final time. Walking home in the rain, her son (who has to come with her; can't leave him home to binge) his hit by a car. Hank happens to be passing by, and with some reluctance (remember, he is racist, if not as bad as his father), he stops to help.

There's a wonderful dichotomy between the relationship between Leticia and her son and that between Hank and his son. Milo Addica and Will Rokos, who wrote the screenplay, weave a very effective tale that manages to keep all of the characters interesting and relevant. What makes Hank act the way he does? What are Leticia's motivations? And it would be very easy for the actors to portray the characters as nothing more than stereotypes - Hank the nasty, racist white male, and Leticia the vulnerable, victimized African American woman. But both Thornton and Berry rise above their characters' limitations - Hank's not the devil he might think he is, and Leticia isn't the angel that a lesser actress might make her out to be.

It's also worth mentioning that each of the two leads has something shocking and powerful happen to them near the beginning of the film, before they really meet. These two events have a huge impact on the characters - you might call the events "life-altering". The events allow us to see actual change in the character. Not sudden change, which can be jarring and unrealistic, but gradual, authentic, eminently believable change.

The performances by the leads are nothing short of sensational. Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress for her work here. Yes, you read right - Halle Berry. She of The Flintstones, Swordfish, and being married to David Justice fame. See, this is what happens when you give a good actress a great role. The best actresses will rise to the level of the role; the mediocre actresses will sink below it, collapsing under its weight.

Thornton has a tendency to pick offbeat, idiosyncratic roles, albeit usually with a Southern twist. His Hank is not a carbon copy of your stereotypical Dirty White Boy; he's a multilayered character with charm and evil mixed in. The film doesn't make him out to be a complete hero; just a flawed one. By the movie's end, he has come to grips (a little) with his failures and his shortcomings.

Berry and Thornton have a great supporting cast in Boyle and Ledger. When you think of a hateful, misanthropic, misogynistic demon, you don't think of Peter Boyle, who's turning in great comedic work on the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond". But after this movie, you sure do. Great job. And Ledger - well, I know him best from The Patriot, as Mel Gibson's oldest son. In that movie, he was tough, but he was still a boy in a world of adults. That boy's grown up, and Ledger proves his mettle as an actor in this role.

There will be some who find this movie too slow; granted, if you're looking for action, this won't appeal to you. But it's an excellent story, and not as simplistic as it may seem on the outside. It's very well written (meaning that there are few plot holes), and ably directed. You may be fascinated, as I was, with the character development from beginning to end. Things are not - pardon the expression - treated as black-and-white issues; there are varying grays that are resolved and not resolved by movie's end.