Reception
The film received mostly positive reviews. Review website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 120 of the 141 reviews they tallied were positive. This resulted in a score of 85% and a certification of "Fresh".
Roger Ebert gave the film four stars and stated that, "The movie has the complexity of great fiction" listing it as the best film of 2001.
Reviewers also lauded the performance of Coronji Calhoun, who was chosen from an open casting call for the role of Tyrell Musgrove, the ill-fated son of Lawrence and Leticia. "Perhaps one of the most affecting performances of the year was given by a 10-year-old Louisiana fourth-grader who has never acted before or studied the craft," commented Variety reporter Christopher Grove.
Despite the critical acclaim, some activists urged a boycott because of extreme racist ideologies that portray African-American males as criminal or inept and black women as needing a white savior. This was highlighted by the fact that other actresses refused the role based on its plot and sexually explicit scenes. Halle Berry's Oscar win, the first for a black actress in a leading role, angered many African Americans who thought she should have received the prestigious award instead for her performance in Losing Isaiah. Film critic Esther Iverem of SeeingBlack.com wrote, "Ultimately, Monster's Ball uses the legacy of racism in an unconvincing manner to belittle its impact, and its historical and present-day consequences."
Read more about this topic: Monster's Ball
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)