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.