Monster's Ball
2001 · Movie · R · 113 min · ★ 6.8 · 77% critics
A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over. Their connection grows after shared tragedy, as they both confront grief, regret, and the possibility of change.
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Details
- Years
- 2001
- Release date
- 2001-12-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Critic score
- 77/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (1,088 votes)
- Budget
- $4,000,000
About
Choose this if you want a powerful, melancholic drama about grief and redemption through an unlikely romance; Not for you if you dislike racism-focused stories, sudden dark plot turns, or graphic intimacy.
Pros: powerful redemption story; strong lead performances; intense emotional drama | Cons: contrived or uneven writing; heavy subject matter; some events feel unbelievable
Themes
- new love
- ethnic stereotype
- waitress
- unsociability
- overweight child
- parent child relationship
- southern usa
- loss of loved one
- interracial relationship
- electric chair
- xenophobia
- shocking
- +8 more
Awards & recognition
- Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Foreign Language Film · 2003
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2002
- Satellite Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2002
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role · 2002
- National Board of Review Award — Best Actor · 2001
Show all 20 awards →
- National Board of Review Award — Best Actress · 2001
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress in a Leading Role · 2003 · nominated
- Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Foreign Language Film · 2003 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 2002 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2002 · nominated
- BET Award — Best Actor & Actress · 2002 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Screenplay · 2002 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Female Performance · 2002 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Actress – Motion Picture · 2002 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2002 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture · 2002 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role · 2002 · nominated
- Writers Guild of America Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2002 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama · 2001 · nominated
Cast & crew
Billy Bob Thornton
as Hank Grotowski
Heath Ledger
as Sonny Grotowski
Halle Berry
as Leticia Musgrove
Sean Combs
as Lawrence Musgrove
Yasiin Bey
as Ryrus Cooper
- WR
Will Rokos
as Warden Velesco
Milo Addica
as Tommy Roulaine
Coronji Calhoun
as Tyrell Musgrove
Peter Boyle
as Buck Grotowski
- TS
Taylor Simpson
as Lucille
Directed by Marc Forster