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June 2007 BLACK SNAKE MOAN DVD Review

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DVD Review by Kam Williams BLACK SNAKE MOAN DVD Review Bible-Thumping Bluesman Tames Nympho in Tawdry Tale of Sin and Redemption  Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Cothran Jr. Directors: Craig Brewer Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC Language: English Number of discs: 1 Rating: Rated R for profanity, nudity, graphic sexuality, violence, drug use, and   ethnic slurs Studio: Paramount Home Video DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007 Run Time: 115 minutes DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and “The Making of” and   “Rooted in the Blues” featurettes.

Julia (Gabrielle Union) is a hotshot attorney with a corner officer in downtown Atlanta and a pricey condo with a breathtaking view of the city. The only thing missing in this workaholic’s life is a mate to share her success with. Her well-intentioned girlfriends, Cynthia (Tracee Ellis Ross) and Brenda (Terri J. Vaughn) try to play matchmaker, but all the blind dates they come up with turn out to be total disasters. Just when Julia is resigning herself to a perpetual state of spinsterhood, Mr. Right appears in the person of Monty (Idris Elba). The problem is that she barely notices him, since the only reason their paths cross is because he’s moonlighting as a limo driver to supplement his income as an auto mechanic. This spoiled-rotten witch-meets-working class hero premise underpins BLACK SNAKE MOAN DVD Review, the latest modern morality play from Tyler Perry. Although there’s no Madea character in the mix this time out, the film still features plenty of Perry’s pictures’ trademarks. Thus, we find an assortment of recognizable African-American archetypes from the abuse victim to the trifling womanizer to the sassy sister to the gallant knight in shining armor who serves to smash the prevailing negative stereotype of the black male as a gangsterish thug. Gabrielle Union has never before exhibited as much of an emotional range as seen in this role as an ice princess whose cold heart melts when offered an opportunity with a real man who comes with a ready-made family. Idris Elba is just as endearing as that too good to be true patriarch willing to do whatever it takes to protect his offspring. And the rest of the principal cast deserves kudos for giving their all in executing Perry’s timely script with a very positive message.

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