Black Snake Moan

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 2, 2007

DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007

Plot 411: When a deeply religious man finds a young woman beaten and unconscious in the road, he takes her into his home to heal her body and soul.

Review: Samuel L. Jackson is Lazarus, an isolated but God-fearing man who finds a woman near his home who was left for dead. He takes Rae (Christina Ricci) into his home to help her heal and learns she is addicted to sex and drugs. Rae's boyfriend Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) has recently been deployed overseas, and she uses sex and drugs to distract her from her loss. Lazarus becomes determined to right this girl and chains her up at his house until she can detox from the drugs and get her head on straight. The movie is an interesting look at the importance of religion and the prominence of race relations, especially in the south where the movie is set. It seems absurd for an older black man to chain a young white woman up (even if his reasons are to ensure her own safety) and is a definite flip in roles. However, the influence he has on Rae is immeasurable to her well being. Ricci gives us an excellent performance in this role as sex-riddled Rae. The movie is raw and gritty and shows us a part of human nature that is not often depicted in glittering Hollywood movies. It allows us to accept our imperfections as long as we are able to acknowledge them in each other.

Watch It: For some really strong performances out of the actors.

Skip It: As it is edgy and may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Alpha Dog

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 12, 2007

DVD Release Date: May 1, 2007

Plot 411: When a guy won't pay his debt, his dealer kidnaps his kid brother to get back at him.

Review: I just don't know what went wrong with this one. The previews looked good and the cast includes some of Hollywood's up-and-coming young actors, but this just wasn't a good movie. A young drug dealer named Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch), who I think is just a rich poser, is insulted when Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster) refuses to pay his debt and breaks into his house. Truelove and his gang decide to confront Mazursky but run into his little brother Zack (Anton Yelchin) instead. They throw him in a van and kidnap him, but they don't really know what to do with him. The gang kicks back and Zack enjoys their company. He even refuses to leave when given a chance. But things soon get real when Truelove decides to kill Zack rather than ask for a ransom. His gang must man up to the task and try not to get caught or automatically face time in jail if they let Zack go. The script was based on real events that happened in Santa Barbara County. The kids involved were seriously just kids. The oldest was only 21. How could they cause the death of another person? Was it just a disconnect between life and death? Were they so drugged out that they didn't feel remorse or guilt or shame? It's just crazy. What the movie did get right was the nonchalant attitudes that the boys had. Life seemed to be one big party that never ended. Also starring in this movie was Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone, Fernando Vargas, Lukas Haas, Amanda Seyfried and Bruce Willis.

Watch It: For an interesting look at the inner workings of a quasi-gang atmosphere.

Skip It: If you have a low tolerance for youthful stupidity.