Black Snake Moan Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Everything is hotter down south.
A God-fearing bluesman (Jackson) takes to a wild young woman (Ricci) who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.
| Samuel L. Jackson | Lazarus |
| Christina Ricci | Rae |
| Justin Timberlake | Ronnie |
| S. Epatha Merkerson | Angela |
| John Cothran Jr. | Reverend R. L. |
| David Banner | Tehronne |
| Michael Raymond-James | Gill |
| Adriane Lenox | Rose Woods |
| Kim Richards | Sandy |
| Neimus K. Williams | Lincoln |
| Leonard L. Thomas | Deke Woods |
| Ruby Wilson | Mayella |
| Claude Phillips | Bojo |
| Amy Lavere | Jesse |
| Clare Grant | Kell |
| Craig Brewer |
7.40 out of 10 (3050 votes)
Visitor Reviews
My wife gone left me... and now I'm all alone... and to make matters worse... I watched Black Snake Moan!
posted on 22 Aug 2009Unless you're a big fan of diminutive cutie Christina Ricci, and are desperate to see her in a teensy pair of panties (and occasionally flashing her jubblies), there's a good chance that you won't stay the distance with Black Snake Moan. At over two hours long, this slow-as-molasses Southern-style tosh is enough to give anyone the blues, despite its promisingly salacious storyline.Ricci plays Rae, the nymphomaniac wife of soldier Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), who screws around whilst her man is off serving his country (her insatiable lust is apparently the result of having been abused as a child).After one of her drug-fuelled quests for indiscriminate sex, Rae is beaten up and left on a dirt track, where she is found by a god-fearing blues-man, Lazerus (Samuel L. Jackson), who takes the wayward hussy to his home, nurses her back to health, and sets about curing her of her wickedness (by chaining her up, preaching to her, and singing the blues).Lazerus and Rae eventually form a (platonic) friendship, but when Ronnie returns home unannounced (discharged due to high anxiety), discovers from a friend that his wife is a slut, and finds her shacking up with Lazerus, he loses his cool, grabs the nearest gun and goes looking for the old musician.Given the right treatment, this could have been a delightfully trashy slice of exploitation, but with earnest direction from Craig Brewer that shows no hint of being tongue-in-cheek, a dreadful performance from Timberlake, and umpteen laughable Southern stereotypes played completely straight by the stars, Black Snake Moan is rather dull and ultimately disappointing (except for those who are only watching in order to check out Ms. Ricci's knockers).
Samuel L is awesome
posted on 22 Aug 2009I just got back watching Black Snake Moan at The Studio on the Square in Memphis which was pretty cool knowing that its kind of Craig Brewer's Graceland. I think everything he's ever made has played there. Music is great in the movie which is what everyone will talk about, though most people may not mention how authentic the southern feel is to this film. Other movies seem to just insult the south like Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown, but with Brewer from Memphis there's just a real 'you're there' feel to the whole movie. It does what every great movie should do. It makes you think, forces you to react, and actually has a great message of forgiveness and being judgemental in probably the most unconventional way possible without having a bit of preachiness to it. See this one in theatres.
Great film!
posted on 22 Aug 2009I knew as soon as I saw the first trailer for Black Snake Moan that I would have to see it. I was not disappointed in the slightest in the film, which was written and directed by Hustle and Flow's creator Craig Brewer. It tells the story of a broken blues man and the nymphomaniac he aims to cure not just for her sake, but also his own...yet it's so much more than that. It's complex and rich and it manages to steep you in a gritty, sticky, sultry blue Memphis without making you feel like you need a bath afterward.The characters are (for the most part) multifaceted and very well-written and performed. The accents and the dialogue were carried off flawlessly. However, there was one weak link in the chain: Justin Timberlake. The best I can say for him is that he can pull off crying...it's a rare male actor who can cry convincingly. However, Justin's Ronnie was flat, but as an actor he was trying very hard. I would definitely give him another chance.Lazarus and Rae (Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci respectively) have a great chemistry and a great respect for each other. This is one of those films where it doesn't matter how good one actor is if the other one isn't up to the task and, luckily, both of the actors were up to the task.The music was very bit as good as you would expect, especially when Mr. Samuel L. Jackson sings the blues. Phenomenal.On the technical side, all was brilliance as far as I could see. It was well-edited, well shot, and well-mixed...everything was great. The character and set designs were just right, the casting of the supporting characters (even Justin Timberlake and especially Kim Richards) was spot on... Loved it.
Loved Black Snake Moan
posted on 20 Aug 2009I was a bit skeptical about this movie, but not one to let critics keep me from making my own choices, so I went with friends last night. Wow, the acting, the music, the story....captured my attention from the get go! I don't know anything about blues history, nor are skinny white girls in panties chained to a black man's radiator my thing....but this movie spoke to me on several different levels. It's about coming to terms with what you have done with your life and making a conscious decision to turn that around. It's about love and what love does to you. As far as the music goes....I'm already looking to purchase the soundtrack! Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci are excellent in their roles and Justin Timberlake does his role justice. Black Snake Mona 2 anyone?
Thought-provoking story, solid performances
posted on 06 Aug 2009Well worth the ticket price, Black Snake Moan offers audiences a well-written, overall enjoyable movie. Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci both play believable versions of their characters, and honorable mention to Justin Timberlake, who filled his role with credibility. The setting is very realistic, both inside and outside scenes, and the costuming/makeup is on par with the rest of the film's production standards. The story tests viewers with initial questionability, wanting you to choose either Ricci's or Jackson's character as your hero, and leaving you feeling fulfilled either way. A healthy exercise in modern cinema and acting, Black Snake Moan comes highly recommended to anyone curious about it.
Shockingly great film
posted on 04 Aug 2009Where do I begin? Let me say that -- after having watched the entire film and the special features on the DVD -- my wife and I watched the whole film again with the director's commentary running. I can't remember having ever before endured more than 7 minutes of such commentary for a film. It's worth hearing.I'm not a southern boy, but I spent some time around Memphis a long time ago, and have a feel for the area. This film almost smells of the South, it's so real. Samuel Jackson, one of my all-time favorite actors, is magnificent as the emotionally bent Lazarus, and Christina Ricci gives the performance of a lifetime as Rae, a woman who's been wounded severely during her brief life. I've always liked Ms. Ricci's work, but in this performance she's giving 137% of herself every second she's on the screen. Awards and little statues are not enough to reward her for what she lays before the audience in this film. There are other places where you can read the essence of the story, so I'm just commenting on the work. I'd heard the name Justin Timberlake before seeing "BSM," but had no idea what he looked like, or even why he's famous. Bumping my head on 60 years old, I'm outside his target demographic, to say the least. After seeing this film I will recognize him. He can act! He gives a substantial, believable performance as the loving soulmate of the county slut. The director is from Memphis, and shows reverence for his home region. He is also a fine story teller......and I MUST mention the music. I love Blues, and the soundtrack for Black Snake Moan is a veritable feast for a blues fan. I'm writing less coherently than usual because my enthusiasm for this movie is overcoming my sentence structure. See this film, and I mean now.
A decent tale
posted on 02 Aug 2009The trailer to this film focused so much on the chain (of course, because it's so sensational) that it missed most of the movie, which is about a developing, although rather simply drawn, relationship between Lazarus and Rae as they attempt to recover from their past pains with each other.Of course, with the premise of a nymphomaniac in chains, it's no surprise that there's plenty of implied sex involved. However, at it's core, Black Snake Moan is a basic tale of redemption and the healing power of helping another person along. Maybe it's just me though, but I think poor Lazarus should've had his story focused on more. He's a hurting man after his wife leaves him, but we never fully see how helping Rae resolve her past pains heals him too. It's just implied that it does--in essence, he plays the wizard that helps the young Rae overcome her curse, through a big ol' chain and some blues.I like the story, but I wish it were a bit more even and didn't have to rely on the sensational. The side characters were fairly decent, if simple and I liked the music. The acting was good enough, although I can't be certain if the Rae character is fully believable. But that might just be my naivety.All in all, I liked the film, but I wasn't compelled by it. Maybe it's that I'm too critical, but the story seems a little too convenient to be fully believable and so, while it all seemed very cool, I could never truly buy it. The chain thing was a little too far-fetched for me. Still, this can provide some entertainment for those looking for dramatic redemption stories with a shot of the blues. 7/10
Black Snake Moan
posted on 31 Jul 2009I overall was expecting for this movie to be intense just after seeing the trailers and previews for it. The first time I watched it, I only ended up watching it half way through and wasn't really all that impressed because I wasn't really paying attention enough to the storyline and the actors. But as for the second time that I watched the movie, I was automatically hooked. The whole overall feeling of the south and the religious undertones were kinda soothing in a way. When Lazarus was determined to free Rae of her sinful ways, it was like releasing the devil from her body. It's got kind of a basic theme, where love is still involved but it's got a sexual twist to it I think. The soundtrack to the film was really good as well. The whole blues concept really tied in well with the tone of the movie. Never really been into movies or anything but from the works that I've seen Samuel L. Jackson do, I wasn't too shocked that his performance was on point. I love how he really took his character seriously and really nailed the whole grittiness of the film. Christina Ricci was also excellent in this film. I don't think there are really any other actresses out there that could have performed this part and really brought the character of Rae to life. The only thing I would have to say would be the role of Justin Timberlake when he portrayed Ronnie, the military boyfriend was discharged from the military and came back into town just in time to witness Rae and Lazarus's relationship unfold. I don't really think he was the best choice in casting him as the anxious and intense character that Ronnie was. I mean, it's Justin Timberlake. I'm a fan of his music, but sometimes there are those few individuals who are better kept singing and not merging with the movie industry. What really surprised me though was the little money that the movie ended up making. Really overall, I think the movie was excellent for an independent film. Too bad it didn't turn out to be something greater.
This film is quite a bomb
posted on 31 Jul 2009I must admit I was impressed, this film is pretty cool. Both Samuel L Jackson and Christina Ricci do a good job acting out these two character's and the relationship that grows between them. You got some kick as music here, some hard hard blues that suits the mood of where our two main roles find themselves in their lives. The Black Snake is a thick metal chain. Samuel L Jackson is downright cool with his pink guitar, really suits him in same way the girl does, two opposites as black and pink, they are not even opposites but its so interesting how well they match. This is cabin fever. Christina Ricci must have tortured herself to lose all the weight she lost of recent, not that I am into this sort of subject but its downright scary and obvious but it pays off, she looks downright hot hot hot and sexy here.....a very dirty girl until Jackson finds her and saves her soul and with that his own.
The story is emotionally charged, tackling the subjects of race, religion, music, and sex
posted on 31 Jul 2009(My Synopsis) Rae (Christina Ricci) was a high school slut and nymphomaniac who connects with Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) to fulfill her needs. Ronnie must report to his National Guard unit and leaves Rae all alone. Rae is not alone for long, because she is the town tramp with a powerful need to hook-up with a man. After a party, Rae is taken home by a friend who ends up beating her half to death and throws her on the side of the road. The next day, Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson) finds Rae and carries her home. Lazarus gives medical care to Rae, and believes that he can also save her from herself. Rae is like a dog in heat so Lazarus puts a 40 pound chain around her and his radiator to keep her from going out looking for men. Lazarus has problems of his own, because his wife has just left him for another man. Lazarus turns to his blues music to relieve his pain.(My Comment) The movie has a deep meaning to it once you get past the sex and violence. The film has a different feel to it. The story is raw and almost puts you in the movie as if you were there. The 40 pound chain is a good metaphor, and symbolic of a chastity belt. You don't give love away to anyone, but you keep it for your true love. The chain could also be a parallel to a wife who is chained to the kitchen, yet Rae didn't cook. Rae only wanted to have sex all the time whereas a wife may not. I think Craig Brewer (writer & director) has made an extraordinary movie, and Samuel L. Jackson sings a mean blues song. The story is emotionally charged, tackling the subjects of race, religion, music, and sex all into one. (Paramount Classics, Run time 1:56, Rated R)(8/10)
Black man chains white girl to radiator, we all learn a lot.
posted on 25 Jul 2009Better than I expected from a film selling itself on the premise of nymphomania and inter-racial bondage. The music is great, and cinematography focuses greatly on turning Ricci into a trailer trash Betty Paige and it works. Samuel L. get's to shout a lot, which he's good at, as well as play lots of blues guitar, which he looks cool doing. Even Justin Timberlake was decent as the mentally disturbed boyfriend. I get the feeling that this material under anyone else would have been complete s*%#, but instead managed to just barley carve out it's own odd little transgressive pulp niche, while still being an effective drama.
Ricci is on fire.
posted on 25 Jun 2009Entertaining with great performance from Ricci. I've rarely seen such a courageous performance, and if you add that to the remarkable range she has throughout it's one of the better performances of the year. Also, when the hell did she got so hot and skinny? Jesus Christ. Justin Timberlake was also surprisingly good, displaying some strong acting skills. It's a shame that him and Ricci had absolutely no chemistry. I also loved the blues music scattered throughout. It really gave the film a great ambiance and put the viewer in the mindset of the characters. The main flaw of the film for me was the fact that I didn't care about any of the characters at all. It was also incredibly unrealistic how the minister was perfectly fine with a girl being chained up in Laz's house and that the boy didn't tell anyone, amongst other unrealisms. I really liked it though, a lot more than I thought.
I aim to cure you of your wicked ways.
posted on 17 Jun 2009After Hustle & Flow, I just knew that Craig Brewer would present another great musical moment and a story of redemption and renewal. Although this film does not live up to his earlier success, it is, nonetheless, a film worth watching and has a strong message of hope.The draw is not only Craig Brewer, but the outstanding acting of Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci. A great supporting cast, including John Cothran Jr. and S. Epatha Merkerson, made this film more than enjoyable.The only thing that kept this movie from being more, was that it gave less than it should. The idea was great, but there really never was any effort made by Laz to help Rae except chain her up. He left all the hard work to the Reverend R. L., and gave up before she could really be called changed.The psychological effects of child sexual abuse are severe, and the denial by Rae's mother is all too common, but they really stretched it to have some pain traveling down from her head to her uterus, with the only cure a hard f*ck. That detracted from the real trauma experienced by Rae that drove her behavior. You see how she changed in just one week by foregoing alcohol and drugs. That message should have been stronger.But, I am not here to bury the Snake, but to praise it for the great music, the fine acting, and a story that really was worth telling, even if it had some weaknesses.
Very Underrated
posted on 17 Jun 2009When I saw this for the first time I knew it was going to be either loved or hated by the audience. I don't think there is much middle ground. The plot is very simple and straightforward, and it unfolds in a predictable way. The acting isn't great, despite what you may have heard. Samuel Jackson can't sing a lick, and Christina Ricci is only mediocre in her role (though softcorily attractive. Neither actor completely nails their part nor commands the attention of the camera, and this movie suffers partly because of it.But the lighting, cinematography, music, film editing, and direction are absolutely stellar. The character development is so deep that you feel you actually understand them in their messed-up, crazy actions, and because of it nothing seems too far-fetched or out of the ordinary, even when it is. The movie presents itself to be about sex, but it is about far more than that. It is about loss, redemption, determination, and overcoming the mere physical pleasures in life to understand the deeper meaning of love.It is a film about music. While sitting in the theatre, I found myself lost in the poetry of the old blues lyrics. By understanding the art of blues, the audience is able to more fully comprehend what this film is about. Much like 'Hustle and Flow' tried to explain what Hip-Hop meant to it's hard-core "real" fans, 'Black Snake Moan' shows how the free-style, yet structured world of blues can act as the guiding light to those lost in the realm of physical pleasure. Blues is playing what you feel, but never straying from the main form that got you there. In the movie, the camera might stray from the norm of what we're used to seeing, but it never completely loses us. The editing, lighting, and direction is freestyle, but not in an Oliver Stone 'freakishly annoying' kind of way.The blues is what leads to the final understanding between the two main characters. Music offers the understanding, redemption, and calmness through loss. If Sam Jackson had a better singing voice and Ricci didn't seem to force her part so much I think this movie would have been nearly a 9, but since it wasn't, my review gives it an 8.
Sickness and cure
posted on 11 Jun 2009Nympho waif Christina Ricci has a 'fever'. Cuckolded blues man Samuel L Jackson has the cure — a twelve foot iron chain attached to his radiator.What could have been a horrible, leering, judgmental mess, still admittedly leers and judges, but plays out its central theme of redemption with clammy, authentic conviction. It at least felt as if it had been dragged through a little dirt and grime and hurt.I loved Christina Ricci here, she's sort of ridiculous, but also really committed and serious. There's that great scene where she throws herself half-naked at the teenage boy... it's almost Showgirls-esquire. Ha ha! What a warped, ochre-tinged guilty pleasure.
Strong, Engaging Characters And An Original, Insane Premise
posted on 09 Jun 2009I really liked this film. Christina Ricci plays a teenage nymphomaniac (Rae) who is beaten up and left for dead by the side of the road. Samuel L. Jackson (Lazarus), a retired blues guitarist, discovers her and brings her back to good health, but, learning her reputation, decides to 'cleanse her' of 'her wickedness', keeping her locked to his radiator to prevent her from escaping.You forget how bizarre the plot is (even if it is supposed to be a metaphor) when you watch it, Ricci and Jackson both deliver excellent performances - their odd relationship is very convincing - and the fable-like story is told with just the right amount of realism and unreality, grittiness and sweetness. Although, having said that, there is perhaps a little too much of the latter, with the Lazarus's love-interest storyline feeling necessary rather than natural and the film ending a couple of scenes too long.It's also enjoyable to see a film set in such a fixed location and with so few characters, especially since the two main characters are so strong (there was a big ugly sticker stuck on the front of the DVD, and I have to agree with TotalFilm that Jackson's role in this is my favourite of his since Pulp Fiction). It also stars Justin Timberlake, who plays Rae's boyfriend. He's a just-about competent actor, but doesn't do a great job of portraying what I assume was meant to be a sympathetic character; he instead comes off as needy and irrational.Oh, and if you buy this film on DVD, I would advise that you don't watch any of the extras, because I found myself disliking the film less with every minute of talking heads. I watched half of the first extra and turned it off, afraid that my admiration for the film would dry up by the end of it. Maybe it's a sign that I'll regret this positive review in a few days? Regardless, I thought the film spoke for itself (on the first watch, at least) and I recommend it.
Sledgehammer subtle, but compelling regardless
posted on 09 Jun 2009In "Black Snake Moan," writer-director Craig Brewer is so obsessed with heavy symbolism that part of me felt like dismissing the entire film as pretentious--a sweltering Southern parable with some oh-so-risky subject matter. The movie also contains a heavy spiritual subtext where religion is being hauled into the picture--again, this is integrated without subtlety. After the darker opening scenes, the film increasingly blunts its edge until the entire production comes off with the artificial quality of a stage play (and I'll admit, the last 15 minutes go way too far into "Happy Ending" territory for my liking). And that's not to mention the archival footage of musician Son House, ruminating on love and death (and heavily foreshadowing things to come, of course). Yet in a strange way, these demerits are also qualities of "Black Snake Moan," the tale of aging Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), recently dumped by his wife (for his brother, no less), who comes across near-death nympho Rae (Christina Ricci, easily giving the hottest portrayal of trailer trash on celluloid ever); nursing the girl back to health, he chains her to his radiator to overcome her demons, and hopefully redeem his own fallen self. While there is a definite prurient appeal in watching Ricci fall out of her skimpy outfits, her performance is risky and mature--not a trace of Wednesday Addams to be found, and she easily holds her own with Jackson, who personifies "the blues" in his portrait of a flawed, God-fearing man. While heavy-handed, the scene where Lazarus sings Rae a song in the midst of a lightning storm/blackout is compelling, as is a scene inside a jumping blues club that makes you wish you were there. The setting is strong, and a case can be made for the literal symbolism (the chain, the radiator, the strange blurry man who haunts Rae's libido) being a deliberate outgrowth of superstition and spirituality. And it is the conviction with which this spirituality is played that lends "Black Snake Moan" much of its strength--the committed performances of Jackson and Ricci make this a film that goes from wrenching to uplifting with, well, seamless grace. While Justin Timberlake's jealous lover is a plot contrivance I could have done without, neither he nor the sledgehammer subtlety can keep this from being a fascinatingly meditative film.
This movie is outstanding
posted on 03 Jun 2009This if the first movie I've given a 10 to in years. If there was ever a movie that needed word-of-mouth to promote, this is it. A $4 Mil box is a disgrace. People don't know what it's about. If you have any appreciation for the Blues, or just a good use of excellent music, that alone is reason to go see it. How many people knew Jackson could sing, and damn fine too. You hear books and movies taunting that they're about salvation. After seeing this, you'll never be able to forgive such trivial use of the word. Yes, it's gritty, sexy, down home truth, bizarre and in-your-face real. Isn't that the best reason to see a movie? Those that get my meaning won't stay away from seeing this another week.
One of the best movies from this year!
posted on 01 Jun 2009I really think this movie deserves some Oscars! I really don't care what people can say badly about this movie...because it's a really well played parts from Samuel L. Jackson, and mainly by Christina Ricci!! I'm a big fan of hers, right since I saw her in Addams Family...been trying to watch all things she makes, and this is absolutely one of the best parts she played!! I love her looks (even though people say she's not pretty...I think she is...and I love her eyes)!! The movie is about many things...people say that is religious...people say that it's about racism...people say that is about drugs...people say that is about nymphomania...well...maybe is a little bit of all that!! But what I truly feel is that this movie has a high level of eye opening for what blues is...what it stands for...and mainly were it comes from: life...heart...pain...sorrow...and above all...spontaneous feelings!! I hope you get to see it...if you are that kind of person that likes a movie not only from the pictures or the story it tells...this is a good movie to see...if your not...well...see it anyway...cant hurt that much, and you get to see Christina Ricci acting so horny!! She's a fox!!
Christina Ricci needs a burger
posted on 28 Aug 2009Any movie where Samuel L. Jackson chains up a scantily clad Christina Ricci to his radiator to cure her of her nymphomania has to be at least worth seeing. What I didn't expect is that it would turn into a respectable drama by the end. And that's wherein the disappointment lies. It is a good movie. Christina Ricci and Sam Jackson are both excellent, the story is well written and it's different from anything else I can remember, even if it does end up endorsing the boring old status quo. The film could have been a lot more memorable if it had just stayed sleazy throughout. Still, it has its moments. The first sequence where Ricci discovers the chain around her belly is gold. You have to love Sam Jackson's titular song. And the sequence where Ricci writhes sweatily to another Jackson-belted blues number is hot as hell. Certainly worth seeing, but wait for rental.