Black Snake Moan; Wonderin's

Cafe Society
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So, I finally hobbled into the 21st century by signing up for Netflix. First movie ordered was “Black Snake Moan”, highly recommended by friends 'cause 1.) it’s a movie with a strong blues theme, featuring musicians I know in my old world of Mississippi, rolling into 2.) the Sam Jackson role of Lazarus is loosely based on a dear late friend, RL Burnside, rolling into 3.) yeah, well, Samuel Jackson, Mr.Dreamy Mc Intense Glare, how could you go wrong???

It took two tries to watch it. Last night, got to the point where Rae/Christina Ricci runs out on her length of chain, burst out laughing, and had to quit it. First off, Lazarus is trying to help her, after she’s been beaten unconscious, and doesn’t give her any damn clothes to wear, so she’s laying around for days in panties and a skimpy top. Sure, this makes for exciting camera shots, especially since Ms Ricci had honed her body down to a pretty amazing state, but, if someone is needing care, ya usually try to make them a little comfortable. OK, them’s quibbles with the plot point of boiling point sexuality, but, it seemed cartoony to me.

The glaring point was that Lazarus had chained her, in his poor shack, to a radiator. It was an oft used image, chain pulling against the radiator, cue Ominous Clank of Bondage. Nice image. But, radiators are steam heat from a central boiler source, used in larger houses, or apartments, and not at all used as a source of heat in rural Southern shacks. There just wouldn’t be a radiator in that house. Chained to the woodstove would be more like it.

There were other details in the same vein that were not well-thought out to my mind, so, it read as a cartoon, and a shadow of what it could have been. Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci were great in their roles, testament to their talent, given the so-so quality of the writing. I appreciated the plot, and, as said, the music weaving through is dear to me, but, after hearing such a buildup of how great this movie was supposed to be, was disappointed.

Perhaps it’s a case of knowing too much about the subject, so, I’d like to hear of other’s opinions of it. Did you like it? In reviews, the pundits were lauding the bold confrontation of racial issues. I didn’t see it as bold, but, again, am coming from a different perspective from my experience, so could be blind to that. Thanks for answers.

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And there is no way in hell that kid would’ve gone into that house uninvited. His mama did NOT raise him that way. And the wedding chain was more than retarded.

Still, though perhaps it’s only an afterthought/excuse, the director has said that the movie is not supposed to be taken literally. Whatever that means.

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I loved it. It’s one of my favorite films from this year. I’m tired of defending it though, so I won’t, but IMO, I thought it was very moving, extremely well-acted (Jackson, Ricci and Timberlake were all perfect casting), well-written and, well, interesting. Lots of movies are good, but many times even very good movies aren’t interesting. I found everything about it fascinating.

Thanks for reminding me of it. I’ve just started taking steps to figure out my favorite films of the year. That one will be in my Top 10 (along with Across The Universe, so you can know right now that the list will be eye-roll-worthy to most people).

And, as a straight woman, I must say I’d sell my soul for a body like Ricci’s in that movie. Damn.

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Equipoise, please elaborate on your loving the movie. I was moved by it, but also had the issues described above. That’s why I posted here, to hear other opinions. Please do voice your take on it. :slight_smile:

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I liked it much more than I expected to. I confess - I rented it to see Cristina Ricci naked.

For that alone it was worth it.

But the movie was better than that. I usually prefer light comedy or action films. Drama is not my style. But I felt that this was well done and well acted.

While I acknowledge your insights on the radiator, I don’t usually quibble over such things. Tech movies are even worse. ::shrug:: It is a movie and they aren’t trying to recreate reality, but tell a story.

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I loved the movie. I don’t know enough about radiators to have noticed it being a plot error. Her scantily cladness didn’t strike me as odd, but if it was, it could easily have been explained if they had a scene with him trying to add some layers and her in her feverish state of claustrophobia (clothes-trophobia?) ripping them off. I did like the wedding chain. But even if I had noticed things to nitpick, I don’t think they would have bothered me as much in this movie, which was about emotion and atmosphere. Whereas nitpicky things would bother me in a movie that is about plot details like a mystery or hard sci-fi or fictionalized bios, or when the plot detail affects character motivation.

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It struck me as the writer/director wanting to do something totally different, not matter how silly or far fetched.

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I thought it was swell, in that the ending was not what I expected, the acting was great, and the music was a joy.

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Based on this thread I NetFlixed it.

Wow, Count me as one of people who really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was awesome. I’m watching the extras right now.

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I liked it, didn’t love it, found belief hard to suspend at times, would recommend it, but not to the faint of heart, who knew Cristina Ricci was so fucking hot, troubled soul notwithstanding

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Okay, I’ve watched the 4 seconds in question like 40 times now, with the volume on my 800 watt stereo cranked up to “painful” and I still can’t understand what Rae says that pisses Gill off and begins the beating.

Anyone able to understand this horribly mumbled, poorly recorded dialogue?

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According to the script found online: “You don’t got half what Tehronne got.”

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Ah ok, thanx. I figured it had to be about that, but I really couldn’t understand her at all.

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By “honed” do you mean “starved” and by “amazing” do you mean “frightening?”
The movie was a comedy as far as I was concerned, a very awkward comedy.

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Damn. Harsh, yo.