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Monster Customer Reviews (28 - 30 of 100 Reviews)

A Different Kind of Love Story
While IMHO "Monster" is an absolutely amazing film, it obviously is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. But the only reasons for criticism are writer/director Patty Jenkins' exploitation of a real-life situation and the perception that serial killer Aileen is portrayed as more of a victim that those she murdered. While there is some logic to those arguments, I think Jenkins actually showed considerable restraint. Exploitation and character identification are inevitable in this type of story. It is more a question of degree-if you compare this to 1990's tearjerker "Too Young to Die" (starring Juliette Lewis in an almost identical story), Jenkins comes off as a model of objectivity and distanced perspective.

What is most unique and compelling about "Monster" is that it is much more a love story than a thriller or a crime drama. The two main love scenes are absolutely riveting, with intensity levels higher than you are likely to find in any other film. "Tide Is High" and "Crimson and Clover" will never sound the same.

One thing that works unexpectedly well is the incredible contrast between the two characters. Jenkins works hard to emphasize this, with camera shots that emphasize the physical size differences coupled with dialogue and behaviors that emphasize the contrasting personalities of this odd pair. Having Scott Wilson play the last murder victim is a homage to an earlier "Mutt and Jeff" pair of murderers, as he played Robert Blake's "In Cold Blood" sidekick.

Although most of the critical acclaim has gone to Theron for her portrayal of Aileen, I think that a lot of the credit for Theron's masterful performance should go to Ricci's subtle and nuanced portrayal of Selby. Watch Ricci's eyes in all her reaction shots, it is as close to acting for the camera perfection as you are likely to ever see.

If you really enjoyed Theron's incredible transformation from her typical hot starlet to this gritty prostitute role, then check out Catherine Deneuve in "Repulsion" (1965) and "Belle de jour" (1967). While not as physically extreme as Theron's transformation, Deneuve's two characters are equally hard to reconcile as being played by the same actress. Yet another acting for the camera marvel, as wardrobe, makeup, and hair-styling combine with behaviors and speech to effect an amazing range between two characters played by the same actress.

Theron's performance is unforgettable
There is one reason to see "Monster," and it's Charlize Theron's remarkable performance as Aileen Wuornos, the highway prostitute/serial killer who in real life was executed in 2002. For this role, Theron gained 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows, and basically transformed herself from a glamorous Hollywood starlet into an overweight, prematurely-aged white-trash hooker. But the transformation is not purely physical. Emotionally, Theron inhabits the role of Aileen so well that I could literally feel Aileen's rage, hopelessness, sadism, and craving for affection. Watch the way she smokes a cigarette. She seems to be attacking the poor little rolled-up stick. Or the way she swaggers into a room, full of angry bravado.
Director Patty Jenkins wisely focuses on a brief period of Aileen's life. There are clues about her horrible childhood (by the age of thirteen Lee was a hooker), but the movie starts when Lee, down to her last $5, steps into a gay bar and meets a naive clingy lesbian teen named Selby (Christina Ricci). After a rough start, the two women enter a co-dependent, destructive relationship. Selby demands to be "taken care of" and when Aileen fails to find a "good" job she goes back to her old ways. One night she is brutally raped by a john, and kills him. The subsequent murders, however, seem more motivated by money, as Selby constantly demanded more money.
It's hard to feel sympathy for either Lee or Selby -- Selby is immature, manipulative, and greedy, while Lee's victims become less and less "deserving" of their fate. But Patty Jenkins and Theron and Ricci create a world of hopelessness and despair, of chain-smoking and seedy bars and cheap motels. If anything, the movie will shock the audience out of its comfortable middle-class existence. This is how the other half lives, and it's not pretty.
The film is not perfect -- it's somewhat low-budget, and I thought Jenkins added one 80's pop song too many in the soundtrack. But these are minor complaints. Overall, it's the tour-de-force performance by Charlize Theron that will stick in my memory.

The True Story of Aileen Wuornos
Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci star in this graphic and true story about Aileen Wuornos, an abused prostitute who was convicted of killing at least seven men in Florida.

Theron stars as Wuornos, while Ricci stars as Selby, a young and extremely naive girl who becomes involved, both romantically and eventually on the run with Aileen. Aileen met Selby in the midst of her spree, and after spending time with her, she begins to fall in love. Due to these feelings she's developed, she longs to have a real life and a real relationship with Selby. However, she can't stop the killing. She kills for revenge for the years of abuse she suffered, and she also kills for money for herself and Selby to survive. Most of her victims were married men. Aileen tries to get a "real" job, but no one will hire her due to her lack of skills. As her life continues to crumble, even Selby begins to question her.

Eventually, Selby finds out what is really going on with Aileen, and she cooperates with the authorities to convict Aileen of multiple murder. After being convicted and sentenced to die, Aileen Wuornos survived for twelve years on Death Row before finally being executed in October of 2002. Aileen and Selby never spoke to each other after Aileen's trial.

This is a very good movie. Charlize Theron's portrayal of Aileen Wuornos won her an Academy Award for best actress. Christina Ricci's performance of the confused and easily-influenced Selby was excellent as well. Be warned: the violence and language contained in this movie makes it suitable for mature audiences only. I highly recommend this film. Watch and learn about one of history's most notorious serial killers.

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