Monster
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Movie Reviews of Monster
Movie Review: Best movie of 2003, hands down.
Summary: 5 Stars
Monster (Patty Jenkins, 2003)Forget the rest of the Oscar race for Best Actress. Charlize Theron has won the trophy hands-down with her portrayal of Florida's iron lady, serial killer Aileen Wuornos, in Patty Jenkins' amazing debut film Monster.
Monster is a biopic about the last months of Wuornos' freedom, from the time of her meeting with "Selby Wall" (Christina Ricci; her real-life counterpart had a different name) until the time of her arrest and trial, during which Wuornos, a highway prostitute, killed seven johns. And that, in a nutshell, is the plot. As far as biopics go, really, there's not much here you haven't seen before plotwise.
But the reason to see it, and I tell you you must see it now, is the ugly, painful depths of emotion to be found throughout the film. Theron's performance has already received lavish praise, all of it deserved. Less noted, but perhaps even finer, is the performance of Christina Ricci, whose character transforms from straight-up God-fearing closeted lesbian into a sneering carbon copy of Wuornos in subtle ways throughout the film, making the irony of the film's ending twist just a little further into the gut. Great supporting roles are also turned in by Bruce Dern and a number of cameos.
Despite the questions raised by the film, another thing that makes it brilliant is its refusal to pander to any particular group, something which it could very easily have done on many levels. There's no gay-acceptance subtext. There's no anti-death-penalty subtext. There's the allegation, which I have never seen before in any media treatment of Wuornos, that the seven murders were not all in self defense. (About time, too.) There's brilliant and beautiful irony laced throughout the film, and all of it played perfectly. The film walks on the edges of a whole lot of knives, and the balancing act it performs is masterful.
Roger Ebert called Monster the best film of 2003. I haven't seen quite as many movies as he has (oh, to have such a job), but of the lot that I've come across, I am more than happy to agree. Monster is a brilliant film, it is an important film, and it is a film you cannot see fast enough. Turn off the computer, get in your car, and go to the theater. Now. **** ½
Movie Review: Standing outside of the crowd.
Summary: 5 Stars
MONSTER is based on the life of serial killer Aileen Wuornos (played brilliantly by Charlize Theron), who was executed Oct. 9, 2002, after murdering at least six Florida men while working as a prostitute. In her 1992 trial, Wuornos pleaded innocent, saying she acted in self-defense to prevent being raped, a statement she later recanted. The film centers on Wuornos' life before the murders and her romantic relationship with Selby (Christina Ricci), a woman she dated while still turning tricks and killing men. MONSTER is also a story that is filled with emotion and pain as the cameras follow these two women as they attempt to create a life for themselves. As stated at the beginning of the film, Aileen has always wanted to be discovered and become a star. But instead, she is constantly standing outside of the group of her peers. She is constantly raped by a family friend and begins prostitution at age 13. She leaves home after her father commits suicides and her family disowns her. What follows is a life of pulling tricks at the side of the highway trying to hide from the cops while protecting herself from the constant threats of violence and worse, death.There is no doubt that this film evokes an on-going controversy of the life of Aileen Wuornos. While some believed it was right to prosecute and execute her for her crimes, others wonder at what degree the impact of her environment affected her actions. To be honest this film tends to lean on the side of the latter. The harsh life of Eileen as a prostitute was thoroughly investigated, such as being beat up and sodomized with a lead pipe while being tied up after a trick went sour. Even when Aileen tries to join mainstream society by getting a real job she fails due to being a felon and having a lack of education or legitimate working history. She has no option but to return to the streets. But no matter what your judgment is, this issue was best vocalized by one her tricks when he said that he "both hated and loved hookers."
MONSTER is a film filled with tremendous acting and thought-provoking material. It is also a film that has the potential to shake you up inside and leave you unsettled for some time afterwards. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Absolutely amazing!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Charlize Theron has given the performance of a lifetime- a completely mesmerizing portrayal from beginning to end. She is able to take the audience with her through a serial killer's tragic life, showing us not only Aileen Wuornos as the perpetrator of horrific murders, but Aileen Wuornos as a tragic victim. Ms. Theron is more than believable. She is downright astounding. The movie is tragic on many levels, brilliantly showing us the devastating effects of childhood abuse, homelessness, alcoholism, prostitution, rape, violence, and the ultimate betrayal. It's not a happy movie, but it's an important one.
Charlize does indeed show us how talented she truly is. She brilliantly conveys not just anger and rage, but vulnerability, fear, hope, love, desperation and complete dejection. I too saw this as a love story. A desperate attempt at some kind of normalcy in a life that had been full of dysfunction and abuse.
Ms. Theron, YOU are my new hero. You kept a real person real. So often, actors who portray real people end up doing sad charicatures of them instead, leaving the audience empty and embarrassed for them. Not so here. This was played pitch perfect. Bravo to you Charlize. Start writing your Oscar acceptance speech.
A few more words: Christina Ricci is no slouch in this movie either. They play off each other wonderfully. She provides a subtlety in contrast to Theron's in your face character. I read somewhere that Patty Jenkins saw Charlize Theron in "Devil's Advocate" one night and immediately knew she was the one to play Aileen. If her instincts stay as sharp as that, she will have a very successful film making career. BR>Favorite scenes: the vulnerability Charlize Theron shows when she is sitting on the bed in her bath towel and finally gets up the guts to verbalize her feelings to Selby. Incredible.
Also, the scene where she is sitting on the couch rationalizing to Selby why she kills. Absolutely Perfect.
See this movie.
A word of warning though: this movie stayed with me for DAYS. Be prepared to think about it for a while. It draws you in and doesn't let go. I was not watching a movie, I was experiencing a life.
Movie Review: Begrudgingly, 5 stars
Summary: 5 Stars
What I've been pretty surprised by when I hear this movie being discussed is the fact that most people point immediately to the performance by Charlize Theron, saying that it's almost as if you're not watching an actress but the real person she's playing. My confusion is first of all that I can't help thinking: isn't a good acting job contingent on a number of things? Like the dynamic between the characters? My problem with this movie is that there just isn't enough real interaction between the protagonist and Selby to make it seem as if we really AREN'T just watching two actors in front of a camera. Perhaps this stems from the problem of trying to fashion characters who were real people and whose history the writers of this film must have been familiar with. I'm sorry but the characters just don't seem to have any free will of their own. I was disappointed with what they "did" with this story: it's such an unlikely romance that exists between the two main characters, singularly beautiful, but I don't believe the unique nature of their relationship is ever really adequately illustrated for us. It's as if they wanted to make these characters more likeable or even more believeable by domesticating them, but forgot that the movie isn't ABOUT an everyday person, it IS about a societal "monster". There seems to be chemistry between the two main characters, but an almost "professional" kind that only exists between actors. And as far as Charlize Theron's performance, sorry again: she's just not a very nuanced character and aside from the nuisance of the makeup, ANYone could have played this role as well as her.
Now, since this IS a five-star review I need to backtrack a little. I give this movie five stars because it has more than a few "moments". Some of it, in fact, borders on amazing. I won't describe specific scenes, I'll only say that the director managed to make a movie that is shocking, heartbreaking, even comical at times, and which still manages not to "preach" as one might expect it to. I would say, Whether you think you're going to enjoy this or not, watch it. The last scene is very simple and powerful and it alone makes this movie worth watching.
Movie Review: One Fascinating film that shouldn't be pass up
Summary: 5 Stars
MONSTER is not a happy film. It's one of those movies that leave you dead at the end.
If there is one performance that will tear you up inside this film, it's Theron's. For the entire movie you can hardly believe that this is, in real life, beautiful women. Theron throws all the glamour out the window, gaining weight and frumping herself up to the point of being ugly. This is a complete 360 and she's so engrossing. She carries the film to heights. A lesser actress might turn in a wonderful performance, but Theron was Aileen. This is some great acting. Christina Ricci's portrayal of Shelby is equally remarkable, conveying childlike naivety, seductiveness, stubbornness and growing manipulative ness very well. They both dominate the film. The supporting performances did fine as well. I also give Kudos to Bruce Dern. His character has the distinction of being the only person who shows any real compassion for Aileen. While a small role it sticks out because it's the only real bit of bright light in an otherwise dark and gloomy picture.
The screenplay by Patty Jenkins (Who also directed) does a great job of giving Aileen and those around her life. What Aileen did was reprehensible. The violence is not glorified--it's bloody and sick. What's so fascinating (and scary) about this film is that I actually began to sympathize with Wuornos! While I could never condone her actions you can see clearly what led her to it. This is a rare film--it makes a serial killer look sympathetic. What she did was evil, and she had to pay for that. Not all evil is dark and black, and not all people who murder are 100% culpable. But yet you reap what you sow no matter what you're past.
MONSTER is a well-made film that's not for the weak of heart. It's also engaging, engrossing, and realistic. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely. You won't learn too much about how Aileen Wournos turned into the person she did. Even the narrative itself is a little confusing at time, so that you can't be sure where Lee and Selby are at given moments. But it's Hollywood professionalism at one of its rare high points. It's made by a professional team for mature adults.