'Black Snake Moan,' Finally

If I'm ever invited to stand up in a room and discuss what makes me tick as a human being, here's two things I can now say about myself: Watching Christina Ricci strut down the road in teeny weeny cut offs, cowboy boots and a navel bearing confederate flag tee-shirt while flipping off a tractor is a vision that gives me all kinds of goosebumps. Watching a dirty blonde, white panty wearing nympho-maniacal Christina Ricci chained to the bible quoting, black Southern bluesman Samuel L. Jackson's radiator unleashes, from my fingers to my toes, an inner and more complicated howl of--Hot Damn!

And we should all have that more complicated inner howl--but not merely through the obvious and innate sexuality of the scenario, but through a feeling we have as Americans. Yes, as Americans. Now that may read as an especially strong statement but everyone, (and I'm also talking every single writer who's been against this movie) has to understand the mythic power that is Black Snake Moan. There's just certain archetypes in life that we want to see and experience on a deeper level. Director Craig Brewer gets it, unearthing that depth with a beautiful blending of exploitation and genuine love. He cares about his characters, he cares about their situation, he cares about the South and he cares about the blues. The whole thing, right down to an open and close with legendary bluesman Son House telling us what's what is, by picture end, strangely inspirational.

But back to that radiator. Ricci plays Rae, a hothouse town slut straight from the Baby Doll, Erskine Caldwell, Ellie Mae Lester mold of a gal. She's got the fever, so bad that when she scratches that itch, like most nymphos she cannot be altogether satisfied. Which means this cat's not only alive (as Hot Tin Roof Maggie would declare) but on the prowl. Ever since boyfriend Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) has gone away to boot camp, her sickness has intensified and she's quickly screwing about every male in sight including, we presume, an entire football team. And before Rae's behavior can get any more self destructive she gets in the wrong car with the wrong guy and ends up dumped in the road.

Enter Lazarus (Jackson) an ex blues musician and farmer who comes across the semi-conscious, semi clothed little girl while taking out his garbage one morning. A regular person would probably call the police or emergency but we're not dealing with regular people (thank goodness) and so Lazarus takes Rae into his shabby little house, remedies her cough but discovers an illness that requires more special attention. Aiming to cure her of her "wickedness," Lazarus makes sure he can keep an eye on Rae by (you heard it again) chaining the young woman to his radiator and demanding she best listen to him. Angry and horrified Rae, clad in panties and the afore-mentioned skimpy tee, attempts an escape only to result smack down in the dirt. She has no choice but to listen.

But here's the movie's daring twist--she eventually wants to listen. But not because Lazarus is a strict prude, preaching the lord and imposing scripture, he's fractured himself, a depressed musician, still stung by his young wife who just left him for his younger brother, he understands Rae's problems. He's also wise to the wanton, something he can truly express through his music, especially when Rae is nearby. While he encourages her to go straight, she inspires him to let loose, culminating in a gloriously sweaty juke joint jaunt. Singing a wonderfully profane "Stagger Lee"/"Stacker Lee"/" (to a gorgeously gyrating Rae) Lazarus shows that sin, goodness and redemption aren't so (and this is perfectly suitable here) black and white.

And neither is exploitation and drama. Unafraid, Brewer, Ricci and Jackson tear into the heart and soul of this work, dirty fingernails and all. Brewer never flinches from showing what a tramp does while out (tramping) but even more interesting, he gives that woman a voice beyond the requisite heart of gold. And when do we ever get to see an old black man allow the young white woman to see the light without making him a neutered saint? There's chemistry between these two--it's platonic but it's there. And Jackson is superb and a lot more subtle than you would expect given the subject matter. Jackson makes Lazarus a real live person, a troubled but ultimately nice person, whom we come to truly care about. And Ricci, all raw and damaged goods and saucer-eyed sadness, gives her greatest performance to date, imbuing Rae with not only pulpy, slutty sex appeal but a good deal of warmth. It's an absolutely iconic performance.

It's also an iconic movie. Tuned to the thick hard sounds of, among others in a perfect soundtrack (Brewer has impeccable, right on taste), Son House, The Black Keys and R.L. Burnside (whom Brewer dedicates the picture to) the movie provokes us and makes us think while also working that part of the body that makes us move. Some critics may call this stereotypical Southern melodrama but they need to understand/feel just how powerfully mythical it all is. Not just the (as Baby Doll would say) "fuzzy and buzzy" story and the racial relations but the film's very presentation as well. It expresses pulp with care and humor but amazingly, without any self conscious wink wink, nudge nudges. This is straight from the groin, imagination and heart and it's quite simply, exquisitely made. Black Snake Moan may be right at home at the grindhouse but it could be shelved next to Faulkner easily. It's a stunning achievement that'll be misunderstood by many, but much like Rae and Lazarus that's exactly how it should be.

Note: When done watching this movie, come home, put on some T-Model Ford, play it loud and think about god, the devil and just what the "turkey and the rabbit" mean.

Comments

[Quinn]

Great review. I'm excited to see this now. One thing, isn' t it Stagolee, not Stacker Lee?

[theron]

Ricci has grown so much as an actress in the last few years. I can't wait to see it. Plus, I'm glad Samuel L. Jackson is singing about snakes instead of fighting them in mid-air this time.

[Eli WAllach & Gromit]

"teensy-weenies"????
freudian much?

[Kim]

Thanks for noting the teensy weensy, uh, slip.

[Pierce]

It is killing me that there are no theaters anywhere near where I live. I may have to move back to Portland just to see this one on a real screen.

I'm fairly sure that lack of first run movies is a valid reason to pick up and move away, isn't it?

[Sam]

Great, great write up.

I'm at this movie today--front and center.

And you're right, people will not get this movie because they will be too busy thinking about it rather than just feeling it.

[frankbooth]

Pierce,

I can't imagine a better reason, aside from a contract on your life. I'm guessing that the food also sucks in your current location, as well as the presumed general lack of culture. Pack a bag, buy a bus ticket, sell your blood if you have to. Just go, before you snap and begin re-enacting scenes from Taxi Driver.

(NO theaters? Not even multiplexes? Must be a serious backwater. Just where the hell are you, anyway?)

[Dennis Cozzalio]

From BABY DOLL to GATOR BAIT and into the beyond, where exploitation meets art, that's where you'll find BLACK SNAKE MOAN. I saw it Saturday night, Kim, and I have to say I can't disagree with anything you've said. This was a terrific movie, and I loved the note of ambivalence that it ends on, where the cards are tipped and Brewer reveals that the foundations of his belief that perhaps we really can save each other are shown to be a little shakier than we first assumed. With trucks bearing down on them as they drive down the highway toward (presumably) a new life, we get a little peek into the future of two people and see that the more things are redeemed, the more they may stay the same.

This movie really did exceed my expectations. Thanks for your strong voice talking about it.

[Pierce]

Frankbooth,

I think it would take a couple of serious steps up for my town in middle-of-nowhere Michigan to be known as "backwater".

There are a ton of churches here though, so should I ever need to be saved....

[Billm]

no mention of one of the best movie posters since the the 70's?

[Kim]

I've been all over that kick-ass poster if you read my previous posts anticipating this movie...

But you're right, these are some of the greatest movie posters I've seen in a long time.

Kim

[SolShine7]

Now I really want to see this movie! Samuel L. Jackson is one of the best multi-faceted actors out there.

Good post!

[whitney]

Finally a review I’ve been waiting for. I love love loved this movie. (You were great on Ebert and Roeper).

Your opening of this review was great...those are my favorite scenes in the movie.

This movie has soul and it has the blues....it’s real.

[Daniel/Julius]

I just saw this movie on Friday night, and I agree with everything you said. This movie must have been a nightmare for the studio to market, because you just can't explain the arc of it with out witnessing it. It would just sound silly. But, there's SO MUCH heart, soul, heat and guts to this.
I remember the first time I heard of "Black Snake Moan." It was at opening night of "Snakes on a Plane" and the theater I went to in LA had a half dozen models in shorty-shorts, boots, half-shirts and chains around their waists handing out mini-posters for it. Then we saw the trailer. I guess you hook'em with the explotation angle and once you get their asses in the seats you can pull on their guts.
Just like "Hustle and Flow" I went into it with a false sense of what the movie was going to be and came out oh, so pleasantly surprised.

Great review. Thanks.

[Scott Cherney]

A few observations after finally up to this on DVD:
Christina Ricci is back on track after being derailed in the last few years, her best since THE OPPOSITE OF SEX.
This is the first time I've been wrapped up in a Samuel L. Jackson performance without thinking of that damn Dave Chappelle beer parody. "Samuel Jackson! It'll get you drunk!"
Kim Richards as Rae's mom? The little moppet from ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN? Brilliant.

[shane]

i think this sight rocks the socks of any one who enters here

[dazzlingmoan]

OMG! I so agree with you guys, I have just finished it a while ago and the movie is extremely great that I wasn't feeling bored the whole time. "Samuel L. Jackson, you're damn hot!!!^^"

[Video nympho]

SLJ is great in that movie...I especially liked the end. Heavily recommanded.