Black Snake Moan 2007
Black Snake Moan is like a porn film that has been redeemed. Christina Ricci plays a nymphomaniac and spends most of the movie in a very small cropped t-shirt and panties while chained to a radiator. Very doubtfully that is just the hook to get you to watch, but it felt more like marketing. The viewer is the one being exploited.
What follows is a more conventional movie about working past one’s demons, with good performances by Samuel Jackson, Ricci, and a minister, but other performances seem forced. I don’t want to seem prudish (and Ricci looks fantastic despite her sporting a black eye) but it seems like Ricci was letting her tiny outfit define her character rather than letting her acting do it. Her acting probably would have sufficed and the outfit becomes a distraction. Wikipedia says she went on a nutritionless diet to get an emaciated look, but what she achieved was looking a lot like a Hollywood actress (which maybe makes a comment on Hollywood actresses).
Unfortunately the story kind of wanders around all over the place but resolves very little. After working very hard to redeem Ricci, Jackson takes her to a bar where she drinks a lot and does some very sweaty and sexy dancing with both men and women. Huh?
The movie kept my interest at least, so despite being kind of a mess, I will give it a C+.
Written: 08 Dec 2007