Black Snake Moan
A God-fearing blues man (Jackson) takes to a wild young woman (Ricci) who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.
Director
Craig Brewer
Genre
Drama / Romance
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Cothran Jr., David Banner, Michael Raymond-James, Adriane Lenox, Kim Richards
This is not my type of movie. All you have to do is watch the trailer and read the plot summary to figure out where you stand. But I have to admit that Jackson and Ricci are so good in their roles, that they were able to pull me into the story.
Combining a sweltering Southern setting, blood and guts blues riffs, and a little unexpected Bible imagery, Brewer has definitely given this film a style of its own and an atmosphere that’s as effective as the actors in telling this strange little tale of love and redemption.
Though its aspirations run higher, there’s no denying that the film has its moments of exploitation. Ricci’s half-nakedness for 75% of the film is testament to that. And that’s what makes this such an odd movie to pin down. Did I really like it? Or did I merely appreciate the effort and success in Brewer’s ability to tell his unusual story in his own unconventional way?