A Movie Unlike Which You've Ever Seen

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2007)

After her boyfriend leaves for the military, Rae (Christina Ricci) goes out for a night of partying and has a little bit too much fun. Beaten and left for dead on the side of the road, she is taken in by Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), whose wife has just left him. Together, they will overcome their losses.
I walked into this movie knowing practically nothing about it. I had seen the trailer with Jackson hauling Ricci around with a large chain. I like Jackson, I really love Ricci (I've been a fan as far back as "Casper")... and I like chains. It seemed like a good idea for a film. I got Ricci, Jackson and the chain... but not in the ways I expected. A religious Jackson? A movie with strong blues overtones? Not expected at all.
But I don't mean to say that by unexpected it was bad. Definitely not. This might be Jackson's best acting ever (Kevin Smith says it's the best since "Pulp Fiction", but personally I think he was better here). And Ricci really does a fine job. I think many people will go to see her naked through much of the film, but she really does play a strong role and a strong character. Even Justin Timberlake, who I had low expectations of, was decent. When he got violent, his ability to channel himself was pretty darned impressive.
This film comes across as "independent" in the best possible way. A fresh idea, the courage to push the lines of appropriateness (though thankfully not as far as "The Brown Bunny"). And it was more artistic than entertaining (which many won't like, but it's a better, richer film in many ways).
Great film, great acting, great cinematography. I also loved the music -- Jackson learned to play the blues and I think he plays a pretty mean blues in this film (with his trademark potty mouth, of course). Many won't like this movie, most will probably not understand it, but expect it to return around Oscar time next year. Great, great movie.