06-15-02 - 8:34 a.m.
after all the halle berry hype, i was truly awed by monster's ball. yeah, it was grim, but so was early ingmar bergman, and this film is reminscent of his work. the spare dialog. billy bob thornton's carefully crafted, understated performance. the haunting photography. the blossoming love story. and most of all, the symbolism. hank's cathartic vomiting. his affection for chocolate ice cream. his periodic scrubbing of blood stains. the white paintbrush on the dark paneled walls of his father's house. the hands reaching for the caged bird during hank and leticia's frantic lovemaking. she wants to feel good. he just wants to feel something. together, they do. it was beautiful. i loved it.