Black Snake Moan

Plot synopsis:
The film centers on two main characters: Lazarus Redd (Samuel L. Jackson), a deeply religious farmer and former blues guitarist, and Rae Doole (Christina Ricci), a young sex addict. Lazarus' wife and his brother were having an affair, which has left him bitter and angry. Rae's boyfriend Ronnie Morgan (Justin Timberlake) leaves for deployment with the 196th Field Artillery Brigade, Tennessee National Guard, and in his absence, she indulges in bouts of promiscuity and drug use. During one of Rae's binges, Ronnie's friend Gill Morton (Michael Raymond-James) tries to take advantage of her. She laughs at his advances, comparing him unfavorably with another man, and he severely beats her. Believing she's dead, Gill dumps Rae and leaves her for dead in only a shirt and panties by the side of the road and drives away.
Lazarus discovers Rae unconscious in the road the next morning and brings her home to nurse her back to health. Lazarus goes to see Tehronne (David Banner) – the man who Lazarus thought had beaten her – and learns of her promiscuity. Over the course of several days, Rae, delirious with fever, occasionally wakes up and tries to flee from Lazarus. He chains her to the radiator to keep her from running away. After Rae regains her wits, Lazarus announces that it is his spiritual duty to heal her of her sinful ways and refuses to release her until he does so. Rae makes several attempts to escape, and even briefly has sex with a teenage boy who helps out on Lazarus' farm.
She eventually comes to tolerate her position. Lazarus buys her a conservative dress to wear, plays the guitar for her, and feeds her home-cooked meals. Lazarus' pastor and close friend, R.L. (John Cothran, Jr.), visits Lazarus at his house and discovers that Lazarus is imprisoning Rae. The pastor tries to reason with Lazarus and the group shares a meal.
Meanwhile, Ronnie returns to town after being discharged from the National Guard due to his severe anxiety disorder. While searching for Rae, who has disappeared, he meets Gill, who informs him that Rae cheats on him whenever he is out of town. Ronnie attacks Gill, steals his truck, and continues searching for Rae.
In the morning, Lazarus frees Rae, having decided that he has no authority to pass judgment on her. Rae chooses to stay with Lazarus of her own will. Later, Rae and Lazarus take a trip into town, where Rae confronts her mother (Kim Richards) about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother's partner. Meanwhile, Lazarus has formed a budding romance with the local pharmacist, Angela (S. Epatha Merkerson). He plays a blues concert at a local bar, which Rae attends. Ronnie spots Rae and follows her to Lazarus' house. He confronts the pair with a pistol, but Lazarus talks him down and summons the pastor. Ronnie and Rae decide they are stronger together than apart and get married. While driving away, Ronnie suffers from a panic attack again and Rae begins to have one of her spells, but then they pull themselves together, and resolve to take care of each other.

Tags: insanity, romantic, atmospheric, flashback

Review:
Of course, I do not recommend it for young audiences due to some graphic material, but if you are looking for a great story and genuine acting from Sam Jackson, Christina Ricci and,yes, even Justin Timberlake, I encourage you to see 'Black Snake Moan'..
We saw a lurid poster with chains and suggestive commentary implying some sort of wacko sexual relationship between Samuel Jackson and Cristina Ricci, whereas the movie has some real depth and some thoughtful ideas.
This time around he fulfills on his big Sundance payday with another unique vision thats going to get everyone talking about Samuel L Jackson, and if you thought Christina Ricci was just that girl in the Addams Family movies then think again.
Ricci plays Rae a complete mess of a women who without her beloved Ronnie, played by the getting better all the time Justin Timberlake, has an uncontrollable need for all things sexual.
This movie isn't by any means Hustle & Flow 2, however Craig Brewer does tie the two films together with his hope for redemption and change for the better for even the most unlikely of people.
Other notable musical delights from the soundtrack are Bomar's 'The Chain', 'When the Lights Go Out' from the Black Keys, & the title track which is also among the most memorable scenes in the film where Lazarus sings to Rae on a stormy night.The efforts of Craig Brewer can't go without mention though.
After so many highs I guess the final scenes were a tad weak compared to the rest of the film.I imagine the majority of people who see 'Black Snake Moan' won't enjoy it due to the fact they won't be able to stop themselves from thinking how unlikely the situations are.
But just to continue this honest streak, I have to admit that Jackson and Ricci are so good in their roles, that they were able to pull me into the story and keep a grip on my interest.Combining a sweltering Southern setting, blood and guts blues riffs, and a little unexpected Bible imagery, Brewer has definitely given this film a style of its own and an atmosphere that's as effective as the actors in telling this strange little tale of love and redemption.Though its aspirations run higher, there's no denying that the film has its moments of exploitation.
When her boyfriend Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) is discharged from the army due to his anxiety issue, he misunderstands the relationship of Lazarus and Rae, and tries to kill him."Black Snake Moan" is a weird tale of faith, hope, love and blues.
Similarly, Christina Ricci's go-for-broke intensity and vulnerability will leave few forgetful of the receding star's talent; the film serves to highlight both a return to form as actors.Brewer may not have known exactly how to finalize all of the unique elements his morality-as-exploitation film implements-some of the behavior of it's characters remain laughably sensationalist, and the underlying thematic resolution, as gained by these two main players coming to an understanding of each other, feels slightly forced (exemplified in a tacked-on end), but he is not trying to make a documentary-like piece of fiction here, he is striving for something equal parts sinister and joyous, and in that effect has largely succeeded with this wonderful piece of Dixie pulp..
Jackson almost makes the situation palatable and even sings several blues numbers with surprising conviction, but Christina Ricci makes Rae a primal stockpile of white trash clichés on top of a condescending back story.
Jackson and Christina Ricci both play believable versions of their characters, and honorable mention to Justin Timberlake, who filled his role with credibility.
I hope you get to see it...if you are that kind of person that likes a movie not only from the pictures or the story it tells...this is a good movie to see...if your not...well...see it anyway...cant hurt that much, and you get to see Christina Ricci acting so horny!!
At over two hours long, this slow-as-molasses Southern-style tosh is enough to give anyone the blues, despite its promisingly salacious storyline.Ricci plays Rae, the nymphomaniac wife of soldier Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), who screws around whilst her man is off serving his country (her insatiable lust is apparently the result of having been abused as a child).After one of her drug-fuelled quests for indiscriminate sex, Rae is beaten up and left on a dirt track, where she is found by a god-fearing blues-man, Lazerus (Samuel L.
Jackson), who takes the wayward hussy to his home, nurses her back to health, and sets about curing her of her wickedness (by chaining her up, preaching to her, and singing the blues).Lazerus and Rae eventually form a (platonic) friendship, but when Ronnie returns home unannounced (discharged due to high anxiety), discovers from a friend that his wife is a slut, and finds her shacking up with Lazerus, he loses his cool, grabs the nearest gun and goes looking for the old musician.Given the right treatment, this could have been a delightfully trashy slice of exploitation, but with earnest direction from Craig Brewer that shows no hint of being tongue-in-cheek, a dreadful performance from Timberlake, and umpteen laughable Southern stereotypes played completely straight by the stars, Black Snake Moan is rather dull and ultimately disappointing (except for those who are only watching in order to check out Ms. Ricci's knockers)..
I was surprised by how great Black Snake Moan turned out to be.Being a fan of Christina Ricci and Samuel L.
Jackson id figure id give this a try.Well when this was over I was just left stunned by how great this film truly was.I mean everything was dead-on great and very accurate for that matter.This film shows how the great director and writer Craig Brewer(who made Hustle & Flow another great film) can just take anything even something that seems ludacras and make it into this.Well, I like how it is just a good time, like its a film that just makes it there own in a good way.Also I love that it doesn't show big steroeypes of the south and how its been portrayed in things as the most repulsive place to be, but not this film it makes very accurate and because of that very reconisable.The cating in this was just phenomenal especially from Christina Ricci(who deserves an Oscar for this role), the always great Samuel L.
Jackson, and even Justin Timberlake did a great job as well.Overall almost everything is great about this, and while its not everyones type of film its definitely worth a viewing from anyone who can enjoy a good time.
Christina Ricci and Samuel Jackson had such great on-screen chemistry; I really enjoyed watching their characters interact.
First to counsel Ricci about breaking the chains of her evil ways and again for couples counseling after a tearful and shaking Timberlake fails (yet again) to kill Jackson.This one is definitely not for everyone, as you might guess from the drugs, cursing, boozing, wild sex, assault, kidnapping, bondage, nearly naked people, frequent underwear moments, blues club dance moves and an overabundance of fringe religious bellowing.
I went into it thinking I was going to get a real low-down, Southern-Fried exploitation flick where race relations get turned around in a small town and the "wickedness" that Sam Jackson's blues-man character is trying to rid of Christina Ricci's wily nymph would sort of parallel that.
But really, the intelligence of Brewer's script and how he handles the characters is that we get to see these people not just as simple caricatures but as real people, with histories, and it actually becomes a story of redemption, for both Lazarus and Rae as well as Rae's anxiety driven dishonorably discharged army man Ronnie played by Justin Timberlake.
These characters do have the blues, and their own personal discoveries are put against this gritty, small-town Southern setting.But there are two very important factors that Brewer has going for him not just in the dramatically sound and fairly original script: the music, which strikes up some of the best blues music I've heard in a long time (including the great usage of songs by the late R.L. Burnside, an epitome of true blues), and the performances from Jackson and Ricci (more so the former).
It's not even about it being a white woman and a black man- not that there isn't a moment or two that's obviously called into question by supporting characters- but about two lonely, psychologically screwed up folk who, if only by scratching the surface, un-earth things that have been going wrong for them: for Rae, her unwillingness to deal with commitment and her sexuality, for Lazarus his peace of mind and relationships with women and the Lord, and for Ronnie about what it means to be with someone like Rae. It's highly charged, darkly funny, and touching, and it's likely to be under the radar, albeit not without its cult audience..
Jackson endeavours to cure sexpot Christina Ricci of her nymphomania, by chaining her to his radiator.There was no way that I could miss that film, and I didn't."Black Snake Moan" is actually really good.
The title of this movie comes from a 1927 blues song by blind lemon Jefferson and has two startling performances from leads Jackson and Ricci, he a Christian blues man called Lazarus, she Rae a troubled white trash teenager.
Black Snake Moan is one of the best movies to hit theaters so far this year, and it's impressive mix of comedy and drama makes it a real gem.
Just wondering whether any of the glowing reviews of this film were from African Americans, after reading that last comment from a white guy who didn't see the movie but thinks it is racist against whites (if that post was even for real -- can anybody be that narrow?) Personally, I thought the New York Times critic said it best: * * * The character, played with his usual fearsome wit by Samuel L.
Lazarus' experience is more that of playing the blues and drinking whiskey; although reminiscent of a film noir, the mise-en-scene and music work well to tell us what he's feeling.Black Snake Moan also does the clever thing and leaves the setting ambiguous.
I could recommend Black Snake Moan as a comedy, as a love story or as a film in which people are just trying to find out who they are; on those notes, it's good enough to be a success in my opinion..
After initial attempts to escape Rae comes to accept her situation and recapture reasons behind her behaviour...Albeit certain hints of inner contradictions are present with sexuality use as story tool for preaching restraint in an almost religious manner, "Black Snake Moan" manages to overcome bad marketing, which diverted attention from the movie to wrong crowds.
The song "Black Snake Moan" coupled with a thunderstorms and failing lights, as if taken from a horror movie, serves as a tool to discover and fight inner demons, while a blues concert gives Rae a channel to dispose of sexual tension through dance.
Cristina Ricci comes off best as the lost soul with bulging tension and relentless sexual drive, while Jackson admirably performs several blues songs to rapturous applause of viewers, but simultaneously hits several false notes in the acting department, most evidently when supposedly losing control during a tirade about his wife to the chained Rae. Despite its trashy side and a lack in character depth the end product is pretty admirable.
this movie is on my own personal top ten.i was impressed by samuel's jackson voice and the feeling that passes to the viewer through the songs.now, it depend if you like Christina ricci in general(like me)you will love her in this role.she is a trouble girl who is been through family violence and she thinks that her life isn't worth a lot and thats why she has a kind of trash life,trash friends,she looks like she is trying to find a meaning in her life to feel a gap.thats when samuel jackson helps her to earn her self respect back.another thing i liked its how samuel's jackson life is the complete opposite than hers.they live in the same city but their experiences there are quite different.ricci is an outsider who everyone looks at her with pity and jackson is the honest guy who experience a society where people actually help each other.thats how i saw the movie i recommend it sincerely and even if you don't like blues i think you would love thesethank you for reading my first review.
The film features very solid acting, from both leads and is probably Jackson's best performance since Pulp Fiction, my only doubt lies with Justin Timberlake's character, but on a second viewing I'm sure I'll know the answer to that.Finally, this film is definitely one of those that will make you stop and examine your audience before deciding who to recommend it to.
What other movie can boast a good-hearted black man having everyday conversations with fellow-businessmen, a potential girl-friend or his preacher while the whole audience is chuckling to themselves "yeah, except he's got a half-naked white chick chained up in his living room!!!" What other movie has a scene played like a classic horror movie scene  "Kid, whatever you do DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!"  except what is behind the door is a very different kind of terror.But seriously, even with the over-the-top aspects of the movie (really not so "over"  twenty minutes into it I was thinking "Gee, I used to live next door to that girl in Memphis"), this is really a movie about people who are about as real as can be: good-hearted, wanting to fix life's problems and above all, looking for love even as they are hurting, conflicted and offhandedly profane.
JACKSON, Christina RICCI, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE) DIRECTED BY: CRAIG BREWER ~ THE RUNDOWN: Brewer's 'Black Snake Moan' doesn't warrant much more than a whimper, ignoring the tale's great potential for dark humor and presenting the simplistic story in a tedious and sometimes laughably melodramatic fashion.
well, you'll just have to see.Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci are two very fine actors and this movie is great for their contribution.
Jackson and Ricci are both absolutely amazing, too.It sounds odd to say, but Black Snake Moan felt like a FEEL GOOD version of a Hubert Selby, Jr. novel...
I had no clue as to what to expect when I decided to rent Black Snake Moan, I never heard of it and wasn't sure if it would be a good movie.
With stars Justin Timberlake, Christina Ricci and Samuel L Jackson, Black Snake Moan is a movie with some of the more unconventional characters put on screen, and with Jackson on board, you can be sure that he brings forth some of that mo-fo traits that features prominently in his movies.Ricci plays Rae, the village bicycle who is ridden by almost everyone in town.
The turns of plot all but have flashing neon signs accompanying them, but as long as you go along for the ride it's harmless fun.One could quibble about the fact that EVERY single Caucasian in the movie is either a scumbag, a slut or a moron, and every man and woman of color is virtuous and noble (even the drug dealing pimp who has a bit of a lighting halo over his head while he maintains that beating his women ain't his thing), but given the comic book/tabloid atmosphere of the film, that's a moot point.Good performances by Ms. Ricci and Mr. Jackson, and I for one, enjoyed Samuel's singing and playing very much.
Given the talent involved, I'm surprise this failed to find an audience as both Samuel L Jackson and Christina Ricci are superb and Justin Timberlake in a smaller role is very good too.
Plot In A Paragraph: Mississippi bluesman (Jackson) who holds a troubled local woman (Ricci) captive in his house in an attempt to cure her of her nymphomania after finding her severely beaten on the side of a road.I have seen some reviews that completely miss the point of the movie and just see a young skinny nymphomaniac white girl chained to an older black mans radiator, whoever did the marketing and promotion for the movie seems to think the same thing!!.
And it is the conviction with which this spirituality is played that lends "Black Snake Moan" much of its strength--the committed performances of Jackson and Ricci make this a film that goes from wrenching to uplifting with, well, seamless grace.
Beside Jackson, I've got to tell you Ricci performance was outstanding even I'm kinda to start liking justin's acting after this movie.
The music in this if you like southern blues you will love the music in this I'm not even into the music but in this movie your foot will be tapping.There isn't many flaws worth mentioning because it wasn't slow or made you feel dumb the acting was good and the plot was great.
Here is a film that has great actors, and set its sights mainly on their performances rather than their actions.The story centers around a blues singer turned farmer in the Deep South named Lazarus (Jackson) and nymphomaniac Rae (Ricci).
Jackson and Ricci do, and that's the main reason why the film works extremely well.Writer/Director Craig Brewer has done a fantastic job at not only showing the seamy atmosphere and troubles that exist in the Deep South, but also at creating characters we can sympathize with.
Both Samuel L Jackson and Christina Ricci do a good job acting out these two character's and the relationship that grows between them.
I thought Black Snake Moan would be one of those Walk The Line type of movies but I was completely wrong as Samual L Jackson adds another interesting character to his already impressive CV.