Movie Review: Black Snake Moan

From Snakes on a Plane to Black Snake Moan, Samuel L. Jackson just can't seem to stay away from the reptiles. Rather than physically fighting off hordes of the slithering critters, he is attempting to fend off the temptations of the world, he is seeking redemption. Joining him on his quest for redemption is Christina Ricci, playing a character who is his vehicle to that much needed redemption, along the way, she is begrudgingly brought along for her own transformation.

Black Snake Moan is a daring, audacious example of exploitive filmmaking that seeks to transcend the element of exploitation and deliver something deeper. Director Craig Brewer, who delivered the Oscar nominated Hustle & Flow a few years back, has written and directed this feature which centers on a pair of fractured individuals who find the path to salvation in each other. It is a film which has much to say, yet never falls into the pit of self-importance, rather it delivers characters which take themselves to the edge of parody, playing the edge with a daring dramatics and humor. It is the humor that carries the film, through moments of relief and moments of incredulity at the turns the story takes.

We are first introduced to Rae (Ricci), a woman with a history of abuse which has translated to a present filled with drugs and promiscuity, basically, she will take anything and engage in carnal pleasures with anyone. She is an acute nymphomaniac who has found her savior in Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), a young man with his own issues, who sees his savior in Rae. In an effort to better their future together, Ronnie has signed up with the National Guard and is set to be shipped out. This has a dramatic effect on Rae, as shown by her half naked writhing on the lawn immediately following his departure. Her lawn show translates to her parading herself into town, freely offering herself to whoever she can get her hands on. She has been set on a path of self-destruction which leads to rough sex and the inevitable beating. After the bludgeoning, she is unceremoniously dumped on the side of the road and pretty much left for dead.

That brings us to the other major piece to the puzzle, Lazarus (Jackson). He is an aging bluesman whose wife has left him, and he is feeling seriously hurt and with a questionable future. He has set aside his music, while working on his marriage and makes a living selling homegrown vegetables out of the back of his truck. Now, with his wife gone, all he has are his crops, that is until he meets Rae. Rather, Rae is discovered on the side of the road beaten and near death. Laz, as he is called, takes it upon himself to nurse her back to health. During the course of his care, he finds her to be something of a wild one as he learns of her promiscuity. This leads him to desire to cure her of her wickedness, which in turn has him chaining her to his radiator.

The rest of the film has them struggling to come to grips with each other. Laz is determined in his path, and he will not be turned. He is a man with some darkness in his own past, and he sees redemption in his helping of her, while she is trying to come to terms with her own issues. It is story that is not exactly original, what makes it so unique is Brewer's approach. The touches of racial and sexual politics, the place or religion, and our ability to come to terms with ourselves wrapped into this odd modern exploitation setup.

Craig Brewer does a nice job of building the scenes, and filming them so as to draw you in. There are scenes of steamy illicit sexuality, tender platonic relationships, striking violence, and moments of humor, shot with a distinctive look and feel. Above all of that are the performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci. Both of them have put everything out there on the screen, delivering some of their best performances, in fact, Jackson has sad this is the best work of his career, and it just may be. He truly disappears into the character, sure it has a distinctive Jackson feel to the delivery, but there is something more. Lazarus is a fantastic character, and one that could not have been brought to life by anyone other than Jackson. Ricci, on the other hand, gives us this fractured portrait of a woman who is sinking into the darkness. It is a brave role that she really puts herself out there for, emotionally and physically stripped raw to the world.

Bottomline. This is an excellent movie. A well known plot ouytline played out in a different way. It is not wht you expect, and it is better off for it. It does not sink into self important pretentious preaching, rather it offers personal rediscovery with a healthy dose of humor and the blues.

Recommended.