The Film
Monster's Ball is at different points difficult to watch and impossible to stop leering at, a heavy drama about two souls drawn together following their own profound personal losses. Although strangers, prison guard Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) oversaw the execution of waitress Leticia's (Halle Berry) husband, and both are extremely damaged goods by the time their relationship begins, their vulnerability only adding to the sparks.
Halle Berry received an Academy Award for her performance, despite being billed third behind Thornton and Heath Ledger, which is odd if you're familiar with the amount of screen time everyone has. I actually considered her somewhat miscast as the downtrodden Leticia, with her buff bod and perfect skin highlighted throughout the film: She's so beautiful, it clouds Hank's true motivations for being with her, but Berry is so committed to her role, there's no denying the power of her achievement.
Although an R rating is noted on the package, this is in fact director Marc Forster's (Quantum of Solace) slightly more explicit original cut.
The Picture
There's an overall clarity to the image, exposing characters' pasty complexions and liver spots, the grit of the surroundings or fine detail like the weave of clothing, lending a real immediacy to the sights, making our visit to this harsh world that much more real. The range of colors is limited but what there is reproduces well. There's a lot of smoke, a lot of dust, which can soften the picture in an organic way and neither is problematic, although a rainy sequence breaks down into an unpleasant digital graininess in a few shots. Blacks are generally solid and natural, although transitions from dark to light within the 2.35:1 frame can be twitchy. I also noticed some film dirt and some ringing in the shadows.
When the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is at its best, it is working on an almost subconscious level. There's the crack of shotgun blast or two and the subsequent echo certainly, and another sharp gunshot that is essential to the story, but what impressed me more was the way the music floats through the soundfield to evoke mood without overt cues. Individual instruments are precise, placed in different speakers in a deliberate, effective fashion. There are more traditional touches as well, as when at the viewing of the execution we can hear the mechanical curtain sliding back around us, or the previously mentioned rainstorm in the rears, or an interesting phase added to the voices in the drunken lovemaking scene.
The Extras
The bonus features here are all ported from previous DVD editions, and all at DVD quality. The commentary between Forster and Oscar-nominated writers Milo Addica and Will Rokos benefits greatly from their interaction, as they go deep on the more obscure forces at play. The four deleted scenes each run roughly one minute long, windowboxed on all four sides, with some heartfelt moments that flesh out the characters further.
"On the Set" (four-and-a-half minutes) looks like some video press kit footage that illustrates what the actors' process was like, including bloopers and a surreal bit with Billy Bob Thornton performing a scene as his character Karl Childers from Sling Blade. "Behind the Scenes with Producer Lee Daniels" (18-and-a-half minutes) offers his singular perspective while "The Cast & Director Interviews" (20 minutes) edits together the promotional Q&A done for the initial theatrical release. "Music for the Film: Monster's Ball" (eight-and-a-half minutes) allows composers Thad Spencer, Richard Werbowenko and Chris Beaty plus re-recording mixer Rick Asche to reveal the underlying complexity of their work.
Final Thoughts
Many horrible actions befall the characters of Monster's Ball but the recovery of Hank and Leticia makes for some of the most engaging drama in recent years. This Blu-ray gives us a fresh look at the movie, and the best of the extras that have come before.
Where to Buy:
Product Details:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
