Coverage:

Warning! "Monster’s Ball" is not for the squeamish. Its unpredictable, engrossing and ambitious storyline will keep audiences off balance the entire two hours. And its raw and gritty performances will have viewers talking about its social impact in the lobby, at work and at parties weeks later. Halle Berry turns up the heat as the impoverished wife of a death row inmate (Sean Combs) who, through a series of horrendous hardships (I don’t want to give too much away), builds a friendship, a sexual need and finally a love affair with the corrections officer who oversaw her husband’s execution. Set in rural Georgia, "Monster’s Ball" deals with racism, the legacy of father and son relationships and forgiveness. "Monster’s Ball" is an adult film with a hard-hitting storyline, characters and riveting performances. The only thing it lacked was the hype of "Harry Potter" or "Lord of The Rings." However, Berry and Thornton should get an Oscar nod as the film slowly builds a word-of-mouth audience.