I saw a little of Monster's Ball a few months ago. I wasn't impressed with it at all, not even a little. Actually I was shocked that Halle felt the need to go to the "extreme" with that part. You mean to say in all the work she's done, she had to do porn in order to win an award?
I just shook my head and thought is this the only way we can be recognized? I think Cinemax is supposed to show other scenes in the movie never before seen in the U.S. IMO, I don't really think she's a great actress, but I'm happy she got an award nonetheless.
Now I saw Training Day a few months ago as well. That part was so unlike the regular Denzel. When he got to cursing I was like
Out of all his movies I think that was one I liked the least, but it showed how versatile his acting abilities are (like we didn't know.) He looked sexy in that movie especially the scene where he left Macy Gray's house and the neighborhood folks started shooting and he had both guns blazing....ok I'm rambling. I don't care what the role is, Denzel can tear it up though. He was excellent in John Q. Now his acting in that movie was an award winning performance. Kimberly Elise did a good job as well because her acting wasn't so great in Set It Off. She has really matured. When an actor/actress can make you feel an emotion, that's the sign of a good performer.