The Many Talents Of David Banner

Black Snake Moan is Craig Brewer's Southern Gothic love letter to the blues. The film is essentially a mash-up of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Silas Marner with a healthy dose of quaint absurdity. While it ends up being a little heavy on the sugary sweet and heartwarming emo that fails to jerk a tear, it is strangely watchable. Most of the cast members seem to be caricatures of southern fried archetypes, from the racist white trash to the brooding bluesman to David Banner, the lovable pimp. (If only they could have worked Banner's "Play" into the soundtrack every time Rae has a fit of the "itch".) Somehow, however, in this pulp cartoon, the oversimplification of characters works. And, of course, there is the added delight in Sam Jackson using the Jabba the Hutt methodology to cure Christina Ricci of her wickedness. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, Ricci's chain during filming was real and weighed upwards of forty pounds. Also, she apparently ate nothing but sugar to maintain her healthy glow. It's no masterpiece, but if nothing else, the movie makes me start to see what Slug and Murs were talking about on Felt. (C+)