i opt to watch this film for one reason and one reason alone . samuel l. jackson . i happen to like him and a lot . i have see no preview or trailer for this overlooked film and so go into it with no real expectation . jackson do not disappoint a lazarus and a down on his luck blue man in the deep south and and deliver perhaps his most powerful performance ever and include playing and sing a number of excellent blue tune . but the real surprise here be christina ricci and at best a vapid airhead in real life and who take the role of the sexually abused town tramp rae and make her a believable and almost even likable character . watch the decidedly non sexual relationship evolve between lazarus and rae be simply amaze . justin timberlake and pop star turn wan na be actor and should go back to cause wardrobe malfunction and prance around a pop stage . his mostly force performance be distract and at best and from the real story here . this movie be raw and gritty and and at time quite in your face . not everyone will like it . those that do and however and will be quickly move it to the top of their favorite list .