Conflicted:

Black Snake Moan (Nice site, too!)

I was always interested in this movie. Maybe it was Sam Jackson’s “year of the snake” or maybe it was the old-fashioned “pulp fiction” postering. But the images of Christina Ricci in chains made this seem like a porno and I didn’t want to tell anyone that I wanted to see it, so I waited for video.

But lo, this is a great movie!

The characters are well rounded and you get a real sense of the community they are in. Sam’s character’s explanation of why he didn’t just take the girl to the sheriff is simple and (mostly) believable. I have family in the south, so I really liked these characters and the preacher character reminded me of one of my older cousins (complete in look and mannerisms, thus making me homesick). The south is presented truthfully and not as a stereotype.

And the music is nicely done! Not being a major fan of the blues, I found myself tapping my foot to the soundtrack. And the title song scene, where Sam plays guitar and Christina is wrapped around his leg and a storm’s brewing outside, is amazing!

The writer/director, Craig Brewer, considers his movies musicals of his hometown of Memphis. His first was Hip-Hop and this was the Blues. He says he has Country and Soul in the works.

Now I might have to see “Hustle & Flow”. I avoided it because of the “pimp” plot. Which is sad, because I have been a Terrence Howard fan since “The Best Man”.