92 - Monster’s Ball

It's time! It's the film that won Halle Berry her Oscar and we've timed it perfectly to discuss the 95th Oscars. The first and second time a Person of Colour has won Best Actress at the Academy Awards. With that celebratory but also bleak premise, let's look at the film itself. Releasing in the same year as Swordfish, Monster's Ball (2001) is a completely different kettle of fish: Set in the southern USA, a racist white man, Hank, falls in love with a black woman named Leticia. Ironically, Hank is a prison guard working on Death Row who executed Leticia’s husband. Hank and Leticia’s inter-racial affair leads to confusion and new ideas for the two unlikely lovers. Who know that's what Monster's Ball is about? We certainly didn't! But what is the Monster's Ball? What role is Heath Ledger is playing and why is he billed ABOVE Halle in the opening credits? Will we buy this very Oscar-y baity premise or is Billy Bob a flop as Prince Charming at the Ball? Listen in and see for our penultimate episode of Hello Halle!