Tries to make people believe it has a moral...but its pretty shallow despite some good performances

Rating: 6/10 (26 January 2008)

Black Snake Moan is about two things...one...the irrepressible Samuel L. Jackson...and two...Christina Ricci continuing her quest to completely shed her wholesome Disney 'lil gal persona which if other movies didn't...this one blows it away. I mean its gratuitous in everything that it does but somehow its trying to make us believe (successfully to some people) that it has a moral and something beneath that its trying to say but I don't believe that. I think its a messed up story about a girl who is messed up and finds a twisted relationship with a lonely messed up man...and she's naked most of the time. That's what Black Snake Moan is and that's why people see it period. It's not a complete loss because it's reasonably entertaining but twisted and dark and very country in the way that everyone is redneck through and through which is fine but its such a focus on the film. The story is too strong I think for what its trying to convey because at heart I think its trying to be a G-Rated Snuff film. You know showing all this without actually SHOWING all that. Still it has it all...Rape, beating, kidnapping, submission, misplaced religion, infidelity, hell even child rape if you count Ricci's seduction of a young boy. Sound good so far?
Samuel L. Jackson is Lazarus, an aging, scorned farmer with the fear of God in him is basically loses his mind although that's never really addressed. His performance is excellent as you should expect from Jackson. Its not his best but given the material I think he gives it his all and really shines on screen. Christina Ricci is brilliant as the slutty, equally scorned, lonely, used and abused, Rae. Her performance actually makes this film worthwhile EVEN THOUGH I think she was completely gratuitously displayed and used by the film makers she really nails the part and makes it her own. Justin Timberlake makes a brief but very, very good cameo as Rae's returning boyfriend who essentially saves her from Lazarus...sort of. But the focus on the film as you can expect is between Jackson and Ricci who are really great together and really hold this movie together. If it weren't for them I think this would have been a steaming pile of garbage so thankfully you get to see two really good performances.
Craig Brewer who wrote and directed Black Snake Moan, I think, is trying to make some sort of cultural statement in a very shocking way. Well the film can be shocking, revolting even but I never do see the statement at all. Nothing is really saved or changed...no one sees the error of their ways...the beginning and climax is there but then you don't get any just ending to all this. Essentially these two disturbed and scorned people find each other in the strangest way and end up taking to each other (not romantically or sexually) but on a different level but where does it get them really? The heart of the story is there but it gets caught up in all the other garbage that the film has to offer. All in all its definitely not crap...but mostly for the reason of the cast as I mentioned but the story won't blow your mind and for the most part its pretty easy to skip this one. 6/10