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Movie Review - Black Snake Moan (2007)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Craig Brewer |
| Starring: |
Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, and Justin Timberlake |
| Rated: |
R (for strong sexual content, language, some violence and drug use) |
| Length: |
115 minutes |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Tagline: |
Everything is hotter down south. |
| Studio: |
Paramount Vantage |
| Website: |
Black Snake Moan |
| Release: |
March 2, 2007 |
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PLOT
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Christina Ricci is a slutty, disease-ridden nymphomaniac who looks for "love" in every man she comes
across. One day, the God-fearing, blues-playing Samuel L. Jackson finds her bloody, beaten, and
half-naked on the road in front of his yard. In the Betts household that's called "Saturday morning."
JUST KIDDING!
Anyway, when she finally comes to her senses she finds that Jackson has tied a huge chain around her waist
and he has plans to "cure" her. The black snake's moan ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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I'll be honest with you; this is not the type of movie that I'm usually drawn to. All you have to do
is watch the trailer and read the plot summary to figure out where you stand. But just to continue this
honest streak, I have to admit that Jackson and Ricci are so good in their roles, that they were able to
pull me into the story and keep a grip on my interest.
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. Those of you with more delicate palates
might experience a little discomfort watching this, and understandably so. It's raw. It's ugly. It's
dirty. Even Brewer agrees that this isn't exactly for everybody.
And that's what makes this such an odd movie to pin down. On one hand, I don't think I'd ever have a need
to see it again. But on the other, I'm kind of curious how my opinion might be affected via a second
viewing. 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?
It's definitely a film that inspires discussion ... and a wide variety of adjectives. Strange.
Over-the-top. Interesting. Unique. Uncomfortable. Take your pick. All these things combine to make it
the theatrical experience that it unashamedly is.
It feels like a gritty, twisted blues song come alive on screen. It's a character study, and if you
have any hope of enjoying it then you must accept the fact that the film doesn't shy away from
showcasing the underbelly of a very disturbed young woman and the path she's traveling.
No, it's not for everybody. But love it or hate it, I feel safe in saying you likely won't see anything
else like it this year. Proceed at your own caution. And remember, everything is indeed hotter down
South.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- The first time I saw a preview for Black Snake Moan was when I went to see
Snakes on a Plane. Upon the conclusion of the trailer I
remarked, "Hey, is this movie called Skank on a Chain?" I still chuckle.
- Christina Ricci wore an actual forty pound chain during filming.
- Rumor has it she borrowed one of Flavor Flav's infamous clock chains.
- "A lot of people ask me, 'Why did you name this movie BLACK SNAKE MOAN?'" says director Craig Brewer.
"Well, there's this song called Black Snake Moan, by Blind Lemon Jefferson, and I think that it's
one of the most haunting, wicked blues songs of all time. A lot of his music is viewed with this sense of
fear of the unknown. What's in my room? What's crawling around? Somebody, come help me."
- Memphis Producer and the film's Music Supervisor Scott Bomar said, "Jefferson wrote the song about
going blind, and there is a line in the song about 'black snakes crawling over me.' It was this darkness
that was coming over him, and he called it a black snake."
- Johnny Betts once wrote a song called White Flake Groan. It was about this severe stomach
ache that came over him after he ate way too many frosted cornflakes.
- "The only way to make BLACK SNAKE MOAN come about," says Brewer, "was to immerse the cast in the
world where that music breeds: Memphis."
- Producer John Singleton calls BLACK SNAKE MOAN "much more daring than Craig's other picture
(HUSTLE & FLOW). It is certainly something people have never seen before."
- Samuel L. Jackson had to learn how to play the guitar from scratch.
- Says Singleton, "Once he got involved, one of the things I asked Sam was 'Can you sing and play
guitar?' He said, 'I can act. Anybody can sing the blues if they got some soul in them.'"
- Craig Brewer sat about five or six seats down from Johnny Betts at the Memphis premiere.
- Christina Ricci was in Sleepy Hollow with Christopher Walken who was in Envy with
Ben Stiller who was in Flirting with Disaster with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with
Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Let's see; how many possible ways are there to say, "Um, no." ??? I'm gonna go ahead and make a
prediction that you won't see many movies in 2007 that are more raw than this. There is much droppage
of the "f" bomb, "s" missiles, G-d**ns, etc.
What else? Ah yes, Ricci wears short shorts or panties for about 3/4ths of the movie, she's shown
topless multiple times, and we see some scenes of somewhat graphic sexuality with her.
To say this one isn't for the kids or the easily offended should be as obvious as the box office failure
of Frankie Muniz's next movie.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer makes it perfectly clear that you can expect to see a trashy-looking Christina Ricci for a
large portion of the film. It's a fairly good judge of whether this is your kind of movie or not.
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THE GIST
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Black Snake Moan is the type of film that makes you stop and examine your audience before deciding
who to recommend it to. It features very solid acting, a great atmosphere, and a strangely different story.
But it also gets a bit sick and twisted at times and has no problems doing so. Take my words to heart and
then go with your instinct on this one.
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