Review of Black Snake Moan (2006) by Directors C — 31 Jan 2012

Although a misfire for the mainstream audience (who should avoid it like the plague) I am a huge fan of this movie.

I am sure I will never be able to look at Christina Ricci or Samuel L Jackson the same way again after witnessing, in my opinion, their most breathtaking performances ever. Especially after watching them in a movie that's more aware of itself than anything i've ever seen. It's about Christina Ricci being shackled by Samuel L Jackson and chained to a radiator and from this the two of them, who are exact opposites, heal eachother emotionally...and it still manages to be clever. How much more aware can you get?

The chemistry the two of them shared was phenomenaly impressive and it made the movie sophisticated from it, as it was very emotional to watch.

The film itself has the best formula mix of utter hatred and hidden emotion i've ever seen. It's also got a brilliant blues soundtrack and well executed deliberately dark cinematography.

Black Snake Moan is a piece of film making that goes where no actor, director or writer want's to go. Having said that anyways it's ironically directed solidly, acted brilliantly (the leads deserved trollies of awards but were overlooked) and it's much closer to a grim sexploitation movie than Tarantino and Rodriguez who made Grindhouse so desperately wanted to replicate. Except this is smarter and longer.

One of my all time favourite films!