Black Snake Moan

May 18 2007 By The Journal

Wide-eyed sex kitten Rae (Ricci) is bereft since the departure of her sweet boyfriend Ronnie (Timberlake) to National Guard boot camp.

So she heads out, drowning her sorrows in booze and satiating her physical desires with strapping drug dealer Tehronne, who recognises that "she got an itch".

He scratches it, but when Rae fails to oblige Ronnie's supposed best friend Gil too, he attempts to rape her, then leaves her for dead by the side of the road.

Former Delta bluesman Lazarus (Jackson), who clings to God after of a failed marriage, discovers Rae and carries her home to nurse her back to health.

When he learns Rae is a woman of sin, with raging lust in her heart, Lazarus tethers her to his farmhouse radiator, hoping to tame her immoral ways. "God seen fit to put you in my path and I will cure you," he says.

Verdict: Black Snake Moan juxtaposes Rae's unorthodox journey to salvation, refusing to take off her chain because "I ain't right yet", with Lazarus's self-awakening, finding the courage to open his heart to local woman Angela.

Neither storyline holds lasting interest, and while Jackson and Ricci devour their roles, we're left hungry for full-blooded characters and a decent script.