Ricci is fantastic, but this movie may be hard for some to watch.

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 2007)

Samuel L. Jackson is super as Lazarus, a God-fearing Blues musician. He learned to play a bit of guitar for the role, and does most of his own singing which is effective in a primitive sort of way. He grows vegetables on his home plot and sells it in the nearby small town in Tennessee.
Christina Ricci is Rae, a small young woman who appears to be addicted to sex, with almost anyone at any time. A sort of "blue night" flashback shows her playing football with a bunch of friends, wearing only white panties and shoulder pads. At one point she falls to the ground, one of the guys gets over her, and has a quickie. We wonder why she is like that, seemingly with no personal boundaries.
Justin Timberlake is her boyfriend Ronnie who is in the military and being deployed. Right after he leaves, she contacts a large local provider of drugs for some hard, impersonal sex.
The movie is rough in many places, has graphic sex depicted, and its share of rough language. However it is a good watch if only for the acting of Ricci and Jackson who inhabit their roles. We wonder, will she die or will she begin redemption before the movie ends?
MAJOR SPOILERS. Rae's mother had become pregnant, considered an abortion, and now is sorry that she didn't. Her eventual boyfriend sexually abused Rae, and that is why she developed the sexual addiction. Ronnie returns home, being discharged for being too fearful to fight. Lazarus ends up helping Rae, first by chaining her in his house, and later just by becoming a good friend. As the movie ends we believe Rae and Ronnie will stay on the difficult road to personal redemption for both of them.