Best Lead Actor 2015

05. Domhnall Gleeson in Ex Machina - Far from being a showy role (in fact, the least showy of the three performances), Gleeson's turn as a computer programmer dealing with a cat and mouse game between a genius and the AI he invented is a master's class in subtlety and nuance. He demands the screen in every scene with sincerity and humanity.

04. Joel Edgerton in Black Mass - I know everyone who sees this movie leaves talking about Johnny Depp's one note villain, but it's Edgerton who is most impressive as a cop seduced by the dark side. He is charming and desperate and smarmy and manipulating, sometimes all at once.

03. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight -  Jackson is a dependable, lovable movie star, but we don't always view him as a really great actor. But his performance as a soldier dealing with a bunch of criminals during a blizzard is easily the best thing he has done in years, right down to that chilling speech he gives near the end which will take your breath away and leave you shivering with the intensity of it all.

02. Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs - Fassbender practically came out of nowhere as a fully formed leading man, but the thing I love most about him is his eagerness to play troubled, unlikable, complicated men. He spouts Aaron Sorkin's dialogue like it's Shakespeare, and delivers a performance so moving and so strong that it is hard to stop thinking about it.

01. Leonardo DiCaprio in the Revenant - The concensus seems to be that this is the year Leo finally gets that Oscar, and when you see his fierce, brutal performance in the Revenany, you will be forced to agree. Not only does he say goodbye to his pretty boy looks, he completely carries a three hour long movie almost entirely with the power of his eyes. His character barely says a word, and half of the time when he speaks it is in another language, but the audience is never disconnected from him. This may not be my favorite Leo performance, but it probably is his best.

December 2015 Pt. 2

The Hateful Eight
Stars - Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Plot - A group of nefarious crooks and criminals with lots of secrets are snowed in a cabin together.
Thoughts - No one needs a good editor more than Quentin Tarantino. His longtime editor died before the release if Django Unchained, and you can tell the difference. I love a good long movie but this movie, where very little happens until the last 45 minutes or so, doesn't need to be nearly 3 hours long. Still, the performances are great, especially Jackson and Leigh, and the script is killer.
Grade - B

Joy
Stars - Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Edgar Ramirez, Bradley Cooper
Plot - A broke single mother deals with her crazy family and invents the miracle mop.
Thoughts - Another movie that is too long... and feels it. And despite being nominated in the comedy categories at the Golden Globes, it isn't really very fun. Again, great performances, and parts of it are stellar. It just felt very hit or miss.
Grade - B-

Magic Mike XXL
Stars - Channing Tatum, Joe Magniello, Matt Bomer
Plot - Our lovable strippers go on a road trip to a stripper convention, which is apparently really a thing.
Thoughts - You know how good the original Magic Mike was? Because it wasn't just a gratuitous movie about male strippers, but rather a character study where the characters just happened to be strippers? Well, this is the other thing.
Grade -  D+

Spy
Stars - Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Jason Statham
Plot - A desk jockey becomes a spy after the identities of all the other spies are compromised.
Thoughts - I didn't love this movie as much as other Melissa McCarthy movies, but she is the rare comedian who can make anything funny and she definitely elevates a movie that would have bombed with any one else in the lead.
Grade - B-

The Clouds of Sils Maria
Stars - Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart
Plot - An aging actress returns to the play that made her famous, this time playing the older half of the romantic couple.
Thoughts - Another movie that is way too long. Also, this one is pretty boring. So if you are going to watch it, come for the gorgeous cinematography, and stay for Stewart's award worthy performance (not even kidding!)
Grade - C

The Stanford Prison Experiment
Stars - Michael Angarano, Ezra Miller
Plot - Based on the true story of an experiment involving prison guards and inmates that went way too far way too fast.
Thoughts - This was almost a really great movie. I still highly recommend it, even if it is just for the stellar Angarano performance, and fascinating story. I had two pretty major problems with it though. The first was that some of the supporting actors, who were supposed to be playing college age kids, literally looked 12. The second was, apparently we can CGI dinosaurs, but can't figure out a way for fake mustaches to not look ridiculous.
Grade - B-

The Overnight
Stars - Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman
Plot - Two couples spend a night together.
Thoughts - This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life. Under no circumstances should you ever watch this.
Grade - F

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

My belief when it comes to comic book movies is that all superheroes are only as good as the villain they fight against. It's why The Dark Knight will remain to be the best superhero movie for the foreseeable future. It's not just about Batman (who is my favorite superhero, hands down), it's about Heath Ledger's incomparable Joker, a villain so gleefully terrifying, so ruled by absolute chaos, that you actually wonder if Batman will make it out of this ordeal alive (and the events of The Dark Knight change his life in massive ways, as seen in The Dark Knight Rises). That being said, I know we are supposed to cheer for Captain America because he is the good guy, but how the hell can you when The Winter Soldier is so f-ing cool???

While I'll always admittedly be a DC Comics girl, the thing I love about the Marvel Universe that has been created on screen is that everything is interconnected. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury has popped up in every Marvel film. This is Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow's third film - after Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. They reference Tony Stark and Bruce Banner and the "events in New York" a.k.a. The Avengers. I love that aspect of these films. What I haven't loved about the Marvel films up until now has been the way all of them have managed to feel absolutely jumbled when it comes to the big action set pieces, like you have no idea what's happening except that someone is fighting someone. Well, Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed The Winter Soldier, come from the James Cameron school of directing action sequences, in so much as you can understand what's happening. Sure, the big action pieces are still so over the top and outlandish (but isn't every action movie like that to a certain extent??), but at least you can tell what's happening and that's a major foot forward for this film. Also, The Winter Soldier is far and away the best of the Marvel movies. By miles! The summer blockbuster season usually doesn't start until May, so I wondered why they decided to open Captain America in April, but I guess when you've got a product that you know is good, you want to get it out there as soon as possible. Now all the other superhero movies to come this summer (Spider-man 2, The new sequel/prequel/whatever X-Men movie), have to live up to Captain America, and not the other way around.

As far as plot goes, the film opens with Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow going on a super secret mission to help a hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. boat on orders from Nick Fury. Something about the mission seems shady to the Captain and when he gets back to Washington D.C., it doesn't take long for all hell to break loose. Usually, in Marvel movies in particular, the actual plot is so labyrinthine that I have trouble following the events (and I have no idea how young kids who show up to see their favorite superhero have any idea what's going on at any time), but another reason The Winter Soldier is so great is because the plot may be complicated, but it's also able to be followed. It takes us about forty minutes or so before we encounter The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan, and I can honestly write an entire article about my increasing levels of attraction to him while playing this role, but I digress), and that's when things get really, really, really good. It seems Black Widow has heard of him - he's sort of an urban legend - an assassin so ruthless, so menacing, so unstoppable. Needless to say, he's a worthy villain for Captain America, mostly because he's just as strong, if not stronger than our hero, and there are often times when you're not sure the Captain will make it out alive. This makes for a good superhero movie - you need to have the good guy feel genuinely threatened!

The action scenes in this movie are impeccable - it's got everything! You want a bad ass multi-car chase? You've got it! You want a man with a bionic arm marching down the streets of D.C.? It's yours! You want a man jumping from a building into a helicopter? That's yours too! The action is thrilling and intense - most especially the best action sequence which is a fight scene in an elevator. I swear I stopped breathing for a good three minutes during that amazing to watch scene. Another thing this movie has? A sense of humor (something severely lacking from last summer's Man of Steel)! It's not that I want to be rolling on the ground laughing during comic book movies, but these movies tend to be on the dark side, so you need moments to lighten things up. And there's plenty of those.

I'm not the biggest fan of Chris Evans as an actor, but I think he does a great job as Captain America. He's got a sort of breezy charm and confidence which really works for the role. Scarlett Johansson continues to be a total bad ass as Black Widow (I'd also like to announce that I think we are currently witnessing the prime of Scar Jo's career, and it's sort of been a pleasure to watch her these past two years or so). Anthony Mackie is a new edition to the group as Falcon, and he's absolutely wonderful. He's got great chemistry with Evans and he's so cool and calm that it's easy to cheer for him. Robert Redford is another new edition to the cast as an upper level S.H.I.E.L.D. guy and he brings his movie star charisma to every scene. But let's face it - this movie belongs to the Winter Soldier. Sebastian Stan may not get a whole lot of dialogue, but he manages to steal the entire movie. He's mysterious, cool, and somehow, sort of sexy (just me???). Sure, the movie is too long (aren't most movies??), but that seems like a minor complaint.

I don't typically like to give out grades this high so early in the year, but I just can't help myself. The Winter Soldier is a totally fun, entertaining movie, most definitely recommended.

Grade: A-

(P.S. In case you don't follow me on Twitter, and you should (@wonderfulscar), then you missed my official hotness ranking of The Winter Soldier cast: Sebastian Stan > Anthony Mackie > Redford > Frank Grillo > ScarJo > Sam Jackson > Chris Evans)

Oldboy, The Book Thief, Dallas Buyers Club

Oldboy

I will admit it: I was pretty excited for the remake of Oldboy. Typically, I don't think remakes are a good idea, but in this case, I did. First off, the remake was directed by Spike Lee, a divisive director but his best films are great films and I thought he was a good choice. Second of all, films with subtitles, no matter how good they are, will have trouble finding American audiences and that's just the way it is. I thought if the remake was really great, more people might just search for the original Korean film and it would get even more fans. The original Korean film is a cult classic for a reason. It's possibly the best foreign film I've ever seen - violent and edgy and dark and provocative; an instant classic. Unfortunately, the remake is merely a pale copy of a vivid film.

Saying too much about Oldboy risks giving something away. It's got twists and turns and a great, shocking ending. The basic premise is this: Joe (Josh Brolin) is an asshole with a long list of enemies. After a night of heavy drinking, he finds himself kidnapped and locked in a motel room where he is left to rot, framed for the murder of his ex-wife, for twenty years. Who kidnapped him and why? But the better question is: why let him out after twenty years? Once free, he tries to answer these questions and get his revenge. Brolin is great, there is no denying that. Sharlto Copley is this versions villain and I guess he might be auditioning for a Bond villain because I don't understand his over-the-top performance in the slightest. Samuel L. Jackson roams around dressed like the Penguin from Batman Returns. Some of the changes this version makes are for the better (doing away with the whole hypnosis subplot is a definite good thing), but overall, the movie is a huge disappointment, just like the American version of the epic, iconic hallway fight scene. I'm glad this version is more grounded in reality (the Korean version is a tad cartoon-ish at times), but it's also lost so much magic. The Korean version is definitely something special and if you don't mind subtitles, it's infinitely better than this mediocre wannabe.

Grade: C

The Book Thief

It seems strange to say a movie that is narrated by Death, takes place in Nazi Germany, and where more than half of the characters die is nice, but that's exactly what this movie is. There's nothing wrong with it, per se, there's just not much that's special about it either. The Book Thief is based on one of my favorite books of all time, a book that is so special and so singularly important to me, that it sort of makes me mad that the movie is not better. But, at the same time, I can't find a whole lot wrong with it. It's not that the book didn't translate well, it's just that it's so much better on the page. The book follows a young girl who is sent to live with a couple in Germany just before the start of World War II. She is obsessed with books and learning to read and ultimately steals books. She grows close to the neighbor boy Rudy, and also Max, the Jewish man living in her family's basement. It also seems strange to say that The Book Thief is a good movie to watch with the whole family, but it definitely is. It's just so damn nice that I can't really find much to say about it. It's definitely worth renting once it hits Redbox and Netflix.

Grade: B

Dallas Buyers Club

Earlier this year, I saw Prisoners which I felt was an average movie elevated by great acting performances. I feel the same way about Dallas Buyers Club. The movie is overly long, it takes so long to get started and, once it does, it's got a sort of deja vu feel where the same events seem to be happening over and over. Still, the tale of a homophobic straight man in Texas in 1985 who discovers he has AIDS is also riveting at times. This is in part to performances by Matthew McConaughey (how many award worthy performances can he give IN A ROW??? By my count, it's 5, with The Wolf of Wall Street still coming out this year)and, especially, especially, especially Jared Leto. After being diagnosed with AIDS, McConaughey's Ron meets a transvestite named Rayon (Leto) and the two form a Dallas Buyers Club, which is a place for AIDS patients to get drugs smuggled in from Mexico. They aren't paying for the illegal drugs, but instead, paying a membership fee which sort of circumnavigates the law. At the beginning of the AIDS crisis, when no one knew what drugs would work and what wouldn't, these Buyers Clubs helped people live longer lives with a steady dose of mostly vitamins and protein shots. Of course, the FDA wants to shut him down, and of course no doctors are sympathetic to his situation save for one played by Jennifer Garner, and of course, it's AIDS in the 80's, and you can only delay the inevitable for so long. McConaughey is absolutely amazing to watch. His performance is an instant classic and I think he's bound to finally get nominated for an Oscar for it. But the real magic here belongs to Leto who is just absolutely stunning. He's incendiary and the movie lights up whenever he is on screen. A few weeks ago, I claimed Michael Fassbender gave the years best performance in 12 Years a Slave, but Leto is a very, very close second. I wouldn't want to be an Oscar voter who has to choice between these two men, but then, I guess you can't go wrong. The movie is flawed, for sure, but the performances sure as hell aren't.

Grade: B

Django Unchained

A few months ago, when I wrote about Wes Anderson's wonderful Moonrise Kingdom, I said the best thing about Anderson as a filmmaker was the fact that you immediately knew when you were watching one of his films. That can't be said about many directors. However, it does hold true for Quentin Tarantino, at least to a certain extent. Tarantino probably has more copy cats than any other filmmaker. He has influenced a generation of filmmaker's who want to copy his style. Just a month or so ago, I saw a movie called Killing Them Softly, which I loved, which I called Tarantino-esque. I raved coming out of the theater, calling it one of the best of the year. Then I decided I should wait to see Django until I made the bold statement that Andrew Dominik managed to make a better Tarantino movie than Tarantino. And I'm glad I waited, because Django Unchained is, to put it bluntly, awesome.

The story follows Dr. King Shultz (Christoph Waltz, so damn good) in the 1850s, a dentist turned bounty hunter. He needs to find the Brittle Brothers, three dangerous slave overseers who have a bounty on their head. The problem? He has no idea what they look like. That's how he gets to know slave Django (Jamie Foxx, never better). Dr. Shultz and Django strike up an agreement - Django will point out the Brittle Brothers to Dr. Shultz, he will kill them and then give Django some of the bounty money and set him free. Well, Django takes sort of naturally to killing white folks for money, so they eventually decide to form a partnership which eventually evolves into Dr. Schultz helping Django free his slave wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from dangerous plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio, who blows the roof off this damn movie). And since this is a Tarantino movie, there is as much talking as there is blood shed, and I wouldn't have it any way. When you write dialogue as well as Tarantino (and, really, I don't think anyone alive writes better dialogue), words and monologues can become so exciting, nearly as exciting as shoot outs and mandingo fighting. I'm the rare Tarantino fan who thinks Kill Bill Volume 2 is better than Kill Bill Volume 1. Sure, the first volume has all the crazy fight scenes, but the second volume has that verbal showdown between the Bride and Bill that is just as, if not more, exciting to me.

Tarantino is one of the very few people in all of movie making that has event movies. It feels like if you know there is a Tarantino movie playing at a movie theater, you are going to go and see it, no matter what. He is so stylized, so fresh, so damn good, that each of his movies seems better than the last. I am not going to sit here and say, "Django is the best Tarantino movie ever," because we both know that's not true. But you know you are a good filmmaker when every movie you release is immediately thought of as your best one. Tarantino has created a body of work enviable by most directors.

That's not to see Django is flawless, because it isn't. For starters, after three or four movies in a row (the Kill Bills, Death Proof, Inglourious Basterds) with kick ass, well written, bad ass women, it's sort of disappointing to see Broomhilda. I'm not sure if Kerry Washington just isn't right for the movie, or if the role is just under written. The other major problem is the length of the movie. While the movie didn't feel overly long to me, there were places where they could have edited it down to make it feel faster. My final problem with the film is this - While Tarantino is one of the greatest directors of his generation, his flaw as a filmmaker is not realizing what a terrible actor he is. He keeps casting himself in his movies and, as much as I love him, he's not a good actor! I know he's probably living out some boyhood fantasy, but can't he be satisfied with being a brilliant, influential director?? Those were my three biggest problems with the movie, and other than that, I sort of loved it.

The movie was perfect Tarantino - talky and bloody and funny and dark. The performances were great all around - with DiCaprio, for me, taking top honors. I'm surprised he isn't winning more award season traffic because his performance is so good here, it's worthy. You can tell he's having the time of his life playing this terrible, terrible man. But the performances by the other three main actors - Foxx, Waltz, and Samuel L. Jackson as the most awful character in the history of black cinema, are all equally as impressive. This is two Tarantino movies in a row where Waltz just kills it. He should probably just work exclusively with Tarantino for the rest of his career. I've never been the biggest Jamie Foxx fan, but this role seems tailor made for him. I've read that he wasn't Tarantino's first choice, but I'm sure glad he ultimately got the role. It fit him like a glove.

Ultimately, while this isn't Tarantino's best film, it definitely is one of the best films of the year. As a friend of mine told me, "Run, don't walk, to the nearest theater!"

Grade: B+

Jumper + more

Jumper - Jumper suffers from what many movies suffer from - great idea, poor execution. I actually really loved the idea - a man could teleport anywhere in the world but has to deal with evil guys hunting for him because only God should have the power to be everywhere and anywhere. The film has great pacing and energy. The special effects are pretty solid (there is a particular fight scene between Hayden Christensen and Jamie Bell near the end which is just simply great). Jamie Bell's performance as the nervy Griffin is the clear stand out. His performance adds a frantic energy to every scene he is in. He's smart and funny and engaging. Unfortunately, he's not in the film nearly enough. Most of the good things I can say end there. The film suffers from one big thing: Hayden Christensen. He surely has the looks to be a matinee idol. He's a great looking kid and he's not a terrible actor (see: Shattered Glass). Unfortunately, he is more often than not wooden and ineffective. I could use those words to describe his performance here as well. There's very little development in the story as well. This could have been a really great superhero or anti-hero story but the writers hardly seemed to notice just how self involved the hero really is. It was almost enough to make the audience root for the villain, Samuel L. Jackson - except he was almost cartoonish, what with the blonde hair and ridiculous dialogue. And I love Samuel L. Jackson! Then there's Rachel Bilson. Summer, Summer, Summer. I loved you oh so much on The O.C. However, I fear she showed the extent of her abilities on that show. The fast talking cutsie thing worked very well on that hipster show but you can't always do the same thing. In film, you have to be able to branch out and do different things. I just don't think Bilson has it in her. Then there is the rumor floating around that Bilson and Christensen are romantically linked in real life. I don't care if it's true or not. If it is true, however, I really hope they have a lot more chemistry in real life because they have none on screen. Unfortunately, this movie is mostly mediocre. A great plot and Jamie Bell can only get you so far. Action sequences aside, the movie becomes quite boring. Jumper is somtimes fun and sometimes interesting. I actually hope they make a sequel and perhaps they can do a better job the second time around because it really is an interesting idea.
Grade: C-

Sex and Breakfast - This is a small little movie that is intimate and mostly interesting. It focuses on two young couples having trouble in their relationships. James (Macaulay Culkin) and Heather (my girl Alexis Dziena) are in love but Heather is unable to acheive orgasm with James. Ellis (Kuno Becker) and Renee (Eliza Dushku) want to marry but they feel like they've become boring. Both couples are looking to spice up their sex lives and see a counselor who suggests group sex. The thing about this movie is it's not as shocking as you would think. When you hear the concept, you think, 'Oh, it's going to be all about sex with tons of nudity and whatever.' But, not so much. It's actually pretty character driven and focuses more on the relationships of the couple than their eventual intimate interactions. The writing is a little hit or miss for me and I don't know if the movie completely works. It actually would have worked a lot better as a short film, I think. Still, the performances are all solid and well done. It's not a great movie, but it's decent.
Grade: C+

Wind Chill - The beginning of this movie isn't half bad. It's sort of ominous, it gives you a great atmosphere and a good character and story build up. I mean, sure the characters are unlikeable, but that doesn't really matter to me much. Emily Blunt is good at being a bitch when she wants to be. Her character sort of has an arc which is unusual for ghost stories. Ashton Holmes is only slightly creepy. There's not much to work with set wise because it's basically too kids stuck in a pile of snow for a long time. The writing is pretty weak. It makes too many uncomfortable shifts from 'romantic' to 'horror.' It just doesn't work in horror movies. The only way romance should ever play a part in a horror movie is if the couple is already established at the beginning of the movie. People usually don't fall in love during terrifying situations. There's absolutely nothing scary about this movie whatsoever. The biggest waste of all is that it just throws away all the atmosphere it built up so well in the beginning. In the end, I just wanted someone to kill the lead characters because they were just so stupid I could barely stand it. Please, skip this movie at all costs.
Grade: D

1408

My problem with 1408 may be one of opinion or taste. The problem I have with films inspired by works by Stephen King is that I just don't like Stephen King (with the rare exception of The Shining which is a great book and an even better film). I admit that I am not as well versed in King as some of my friends. I've read most of his more popular books and I just don't like them. His work tends to set an impressive immediate tone. He builds a great, creepy atmosphere. Then, it all just gets silly. Maybe it's because I'm not a fan of the ghost story or the supernatural. I just don't find things that don't exist to be all that scary. I am more scared of people. People are real and they can really hurt you. Ghosts can not. So, to me, 1408 suffers the very same problem. The beginning builds a creepy atmosphere... that never really pays off.

The film starts out by introducing us to author Mike Enslin (John Cusack), a writer who, at one time, wrote powerful books but now is relegated to writing about supposedly haunted hotels and lighthouses and graveyards. The only problem is: he doesn't believe in ghosts. After a getaway to yet another non-creepy hotel and a less than impressive book signing, he returns home to find a postcard for New York City's Dolphin Hotel. The message? Don't stay in 1408. So, immediately he wants to stay in 1408. He calls the hotel and tries to book 1408 and they tell him it's unavailable... before he even mentions a date. So, his lawyer manages to find a loop hole. If he shows up at the hotel and the room isn't taken, it's against the law to refuse him the room. That's exactly what he does. The film sets a wonderful tone at first. The atmosphere is genuinely creepy. There's more than sufficient backstory about room 1408 to make it seem absolutely terrifying. Even after he checks into the room and the creepy things start to happen, it still manages to be creepy. I especially loved the almost demonic use of songs by The Carpenters (a band I just adore, by the way).

Anyway, then the movie takes a turn for the worse. I can't really give away the things that happen but it all just gets a little silly. Really, it just becomes crazy. And not crazy in a good way. Not crazy like Bug which was pure crazy genius. It becomes stupid crazy. He's in the hotel... he's not in the hotel... he's back in the hotel. He's out of the hotel but maybe he'll end up back in the hotel. Is it all in his head? Is any of it really happening? Really, it's just stupid. By the end of the movie, I'm not even sure I care what was real and what wasn't.

But the build up to the stupidity is so great. And the film definitely scores some extra points for John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson (who's role is very small... and sort of confusing). Jackson is just simply one of the coolest guys alive. Cusack simply eminates oodles of charm. He's such a beloved actor and there's a reason for it. Even if he's playing a character here who may not be the best man in the world, he's still intensely likeable. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't like John Cusack. You are instantly invested in his character no matter how out of control crazy the story becomes, which is a huge saving factor for this movie that really just dashes most of what it's worked up to with a terrible, throw away ending.

First Half - B+

Second Half - D
Grade: C+

Black Snake Moan

If you have been looking for a film where an out of control nympho gets chained to a radiator by an extremely religious southern man, then look no further than Black Snake Moan, the new film from Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer. Not exactly what you're looking for? Well, go see it anyway. As long as you are open minded and don't take everything too seriously, there's no reason you won't leave the theater glad you saw this movie.

Brewer, who, as I said, is repsonsible for my very favorite movie of 2005, takes the audience to the deep south where, as the tagline claims, everything is hotter. And, indeed it is. We are introduced to the God-fearing bluseman, Lazarus played by Samuel L. Jackson and the almost always half naked Rae; a role bravely taken on by Christina Ricci (and, I mean, who else could possibly play this role? Who else would even consider taking this role? I know Ricci has had her share of missteps but she sure is much more fearless than the likes of Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst... anyone can play Marie Antoinette. No one else could have played Rae). After Rae's military bound boyfriend leaves for duty, Rae partakes in some drinking, drugs and sex then gets beat up by his best friend and left on the side of the road wearing a half shirt and some underwear. This is how Lazarus comes to meet Rae, take her in, care for her and... chain her to his radiator. The unlikely pair cross paths just long enough for their characters to learn a lesson from one another. Both lessons ultimately convey the message that, no matter what, we are all human. No one is perfect, we're all a little fucked up, as Rae says, and, if everyone would just realize that, then we'd be a lot better off. The question is, however, if this message will be accepted, or even understood, by all who see the film. That's another story.

One thing not up for debate is how great Jackson and Ricci both are here. You'd think with the role of a sex-crazed woman, overacting would be a given but not here and not in the least. Ricci is astounding and demonstrates her true talent with a raw performance that, despite being in dozens of films, is her best to date. Then there is Jackson who, for the first time in a long time, makes us forget who he even is. He's done the Samuel L. Jackson shtick so much lately that it's truly great to be reminded of what a wonderful actor he really is. Justin Timberlake is solid as well. He didn't reach the same level that he did in January's Alpha Dog, but this is still a strong outing from an actor who is just starting out.

The efforts of Craig Brewer can not go without mention. His last film was Hustle & Flow - a film that had such low expectations and surpassed them all gaining critical acclaim and putting him, and Terrence Howard, on the map. What he has done with Black Snake Moan will be what sets him apart from other new directors in the industry. He wrote and directed Moan and the end result is a story that is surprising and clever. As you watch you feel lik you know exactly where it is headed despite its valiant composure. Just as you think you've predicted the next move, Brewer shifts gears and takes an entirely different route. In an industry where everything is predictible, it's nice to see this in a film. There are just two problems that I can think of: the background characters are drab and uninteresting and the ending may disappoint some (although I actually really liked it) who are looking for something more exciting. While Ricci and Jackson should be praised for their fearless work, the absolute best thing about the movie has got to be the music. It's a Southern folk and rock and blues soundtrack that hits all the right notes.

Grade: A-