Monster’s Ball

The film that earned Halle Berry her Best Actress Oscar, MONSTER’S BALL is a slice of Southern Gothic that explores the volatile intertwining of hatred and masculinity in rural Georgia. Three generations of male Grotowskis have been prison officers, assigned to the inmates en route to execution. Grandfather is retired, but still virulently racist. The father, Hank (Thornton), takes pride in his work but not in his son. Leticia Musgrove (Berry) is a black, single mother with a tubby son and a taste for Jack Daniels. Tragedy brings Leticia and Hank together in a most unlikely relationship. The evocative camerawork and production design provide perfect mirrors for the excellent performances.