Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Just perfect...

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) is the prison guard in charge of the executions. His son Sonny Grotowski (Heath Ledger) works with him but vomits while escorting Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs) on his final walk. Hank is angry and confronts Sonny. Sonny kills himself. Hank decides to leave the prison and ends up dating Leticia Musgrove (Halle Berry) who is the wife of the executed Lawrence. He has to deal with conflicted feelings especially those handed down by his racist father Buck Grotowski (Peter Boyle).This movie is filled with great performances. Even Sean Combs delivers a workable performance. Ledger has a short and tough role. Halle Berry has one scene that is shockingly haunting. Her berating her chubby son is unforgettable. All of it is held together by Billy Bob.

Just caught the last half of this movie and then read about the beginning. The underlying emotions and behavior were just too weird. On one level, the characters seemed to be portraying "real" ordinary folks going through some tough challenges. But, in the end, everything just came across as very strange. After I read about the first half, I was glad I hadn't seen it. It's just horrible and then to see how the main character had some how magically changed into a different person was just too WEIRD!!! As in not likely to have happened. Real people, whose characters make sense, would not have gone through all this in these ways. Many people do and can change their attitudes as they age and encounter new experiences, but it's a slow and unpredictable process. The only thing slow here was the pace of the movie and pace of the dialogue.

This is a very dark but powerful film. It is superbly acted and creatively filmed with some very effective focus shifting and other camera techniques that work extremely well without getting in the way. The one negative --- the reason I gave it only a 7 instead of a 9 --- is the excessively graphic, lengthy and frequent sex. It's overdone and unnecessary to the story line. Fine. People get into bed to-gether.That's life. But we do not need every last intimate detail and each protracted orgasmic moan. What otherwise is a fine and powerful film is reduced to the level of a skin flick. Usually death row films end with the execution. This one begins with it. I'd watch it again for the splendid performances by all and the excellent manner in which it has captured the feel of the US south. But if I do, I'll fast forward through all the heavy breathing

I thought this movie was incredible. Anyone going through a difficult time in their life can relate to this movie. One part of this movie touched me to the core, and I literally sobbed hysterically for half an hour during the movie. The acting in this movie is so raw, and powerful and just so true to real life. You actually will leave watching this movie with a sense of culture you didn't have before. Though not perfect the movie soars past any flaws, and truly rises above any movie I've seen in a while. Profound movie well worth watching again. Though definitely not for children, I think it's a movie i would want my kids to see when they get older. An amazing movie for sure, I truly loved this incredible piece of work with amazing actors.