by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
A- Rated R 116 min
Provocative and controversial, Black Snake Moan by writer/director Craig Brewer pushes many taboo buttons of racism, interracial relationships, and the aftermath of child abuse. Brewer’s intriguing film Hustle & Flow put Terrence Howard on the Hollywood radar with his tour de force performance as a pimp turned aspiring rapper.
Similarly, Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of a bitter old blues singer Lazarus, who tries to help a disturbed woman, is riveting. Christina Ricci’s daring performance as Rae will grab headlines and accolades for her bold characterization of this mentally unstable young woman, who suffers from uncontrolled sex addiction.
The hook of the premise is really about three broken people–Lazarus, Rae, and Rae’s boyfriend, Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) who find each other. Ronnie suffers from anxiety attacks so severe he can’t function. When he is sent to Iraq as an Army infantry soldier, he broke down in combat and is sent home with a medical discharge. He knows about Rae’s problem and has accepted it. He has tried to help her. But, Rae needs serious professional help.
Lazarus runs his farm and is retired from playing the blues in clubs. One day his wife meets him in a town diner and tells him she’s doesn’t love him anymore and is running off with his brother. Shattered. Lazarus starts drinking heavily and picks up his guitar and starts singing the blues again, pouring his heart out in his music. Later, he goes back to the bar and plays a gig.
Meanwhile, Rae’s boyfriend Ronnie ships out to war in Iraq and Rae can’t stand being alone. So she begins her life of debauchery again, getting high on alcohol and drugs, having sex with any man who will have her. In a disturbing scene, she is gang raped and beaten severely-- left for dead beside the road. The next morning, Lazarus finds her and like an injured animal he brings her into his house and cares for her. He goes into town to get medicines for her wounds and her flu-like symptoms caused from exposure. Gradually, she begins to mend.
What happens next will inflame emotions, when, in order to keep her from running outside during her “spells,” Lazarus chains her to the radiator. His motivation is not sexual but he’s lonely, and he really thinks he’s saving her from herself. During his trip into town to get her medicine, he finds out about her sex addiction problem. Lazarus practices his guitar and his blues songs which calm her down. He sings Black Snake Moan–an old blues classic.
The movie has moments of humor that save it from becoming too dismal. It’s so outrageous in its bold portrayal of a black man and a young white woman, chained to his radiator. It harkens back to the old movie stereotypes. Yet, the masterfully written screenplay overcomes that biting satire to evolve into a hopeful story.
When Lazarus’ preacher friend R.L. visits him, he finds out about the girl chained up in Lazarus’ house. He is outraged and is repulsed by Lazarus’ method of therapy. Under R.L.’s influence, one day, Lazarus unchains Rae and tells her she can do anything she wants. He just hopes that he has helped her.
Remarkably, in a bizarre way he has helped her with his music and giving her a stable place to stay. The chain enabled her to take a break from her overpowering sexual spells. Strangely, Rae doesn’t run away. She has grown to like Lazarus. He is the first man she knows who didn’t have sex with her or pimp her out. In Lazarus, Rae has found a kindred spirit–one who she can rely on as a friend and not take advantage of her weakness.
Although in Brewer’s story, Rae’s chain symbolizes her psychopathic sexual addiction as a result of her being abused by her mother’s boyfriend, it’s a visceral reminder of slavery and the core of racial prejudice.
Christina Ricci nailed this difficult characterization of Rae, bringing out her insecurity and desperate need to be loved. Ricci delved deeply into Rae’s psyche to expose her pathetic cry for help. In taking in Rae, Lazarus exorcizes his own demons and the two benefit from the experience. Helping Rae and going back to playing the blues were his saving grace.
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