Monster
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Movie Reviews of Monster
Movie Review: Most powerful film I've seen in a long time
Summary: 5 Stars
Having heard so much about Charlize Theron's performance, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. The Aileen Wuornos story was something that I only vaguely remembered. I admit I was not expecting the film to live up to all the hoopla. I was blown away! I watched it at least 5 times within the first week I had it. The only flaw that I found was that the film did not explain in sufficient depth the extent of the abuse that Aileen suffered as a child. Some reviewers found fault with Christina Ricci's portrayal of "Selby" citing her lack of resemblance to real-life Tyria Moore. Actually aside from the difference in size (and who in stick-thin Hollywood would portray a 250 lb woman?), I found a strong physical resemblance. This film is not for the faint-hearted or the close-minded. There are love scenes between the two women & graphic, though not gory detail of Aileen's abuse by her "customers" & her horrific retaliation. The scene where she kills the man who offers her a helping hand, asking nothing, in return is gut-wrenching & reminds the viewer of the true nature of the killer. But for those willing to watch with an open mind the film is filled with poignant moments as well. When Ty (aka Selby) in effect hands Aileen over to the authorities (and unbelievably suffers no consequences herself), you have to feel something in your heart for Aileen. And the final line which I found especially sad......."well, they've gotta tell you something." As we grow older, who among us has not been disillusioned when we find the platitudes we were taught in childhood for the most part are meaningless in the real world. As someone who does not believe in capital punishment as either a deterrant or a morally acceptable punishment, I cannot of course condone Aileen's final fate, though many will say her punishment was just. Those seeking more factual information about the case may have to look further (don't bother with the book "Lethal Intent"). But for those who want to be pulled in to a very powerful truth-based story, about a side of American life that most of us are lucky enough not to ever see, watch this film.Movie Review: more a review of the reviews I suppose....
Summary: 5 Stars
Slight spoiler alert toward the end....Most the reviews of this film I've seen all seem to be under the assumption that the film maker here was trying to "Get inside" the mind of a serial killer, or show an understanding of Aileen's motives and rational behind the murders she commited. In my opinion it's a mistake for any viewer of this film to go into the theatre expecting the film to analyze the whole Aileen Wurnos controversy and by the end of watching it expect to be a little more wiser as to how and why this type of person comes about in our society and how they come about commiting such crimes. It's just not that sort of film. To me all this film is, is a little window in to the lives of two people. It just so happens that these two people are Aileen Wuornos and Tyria Moore. This film isn't there to answer any questions or justify any moral points, or be a vehicle to show the talents of the make up departments ability to change a stunning Hollywood actress into dirty trailer trash. It just shows a dramatic representation of some events that occured in two peoples lives and to show the humanity that can occur behind two people who find themselves in this bizzare situation. And it does it very well. The acting is of a very high standard and the story is told very solidly, depicting the facts. I didn't feel like I was being made to make any judgements on the characters and their actions in this film, I didn't feel like I was being made to expect a happy ending, it was just an interesting story being told in an interesting way.
Another point I cannot understand with the majority of reviews of this film is how the reviewers seems to be under the impression that this film is somehow obliged to provide us with a happy ending, and when we don't get a happy ending then the reviewer feels somehow cheated by the film. Not all art is beautiful, nor is it supposed to be. As art is supposed to be a reflection of life then it would be wrong for all films to have a happy resolution. But then loking at it another way the film DOES have a happy ending really, (...) I liked this duality of the film. In the words of Dr. Pepper, Try it you might like it!!
Movie Review: One Woman's Heart of Darkness
Summary: 5 Stars
Obviously, to praise Monster is not to condone the behavior of people such as Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) and Selby Wall (Christina Ricci) portrayed in this film. The same can also be said of other films such as In Cold Blood and Bonnie and Clyde. The film is an art form. To me at least, the objective as a reviewer is to comment as honestly and as thoughtfully as possible on any film as a work of art. Having recently seen Monster and then City of God, I view both as works of great art. Hence my Five Star rating of each. This review is composed prior to the announcement of those who are to receive Academy Awards. Either Theron or Diane Keaton would be a worthy recipient as best actress in a leading role but my preference is Theron. She commands our attention from her first to last appearance on screen. For me, she IS Wuornos. Moreover, I cannot recall another a character in another film whom she resembles. As portrayed by Theron, Wuornos is passionate, delusional, pathetic, frightening, vulnerable, and on occasion touching. I never expect to understand fully (or even partially) why Aileen Wuornos -- in real life, not in the film -- behaved as she did. Too much happened -- and did not happen -- in her life which is not revealed or even implied in this film. Who is the "monster"? Is it Wuornos? Is it the society into which she was born and within which she evolved to womanhood? Whom to blame? What to blame? Should any blame be assigned, other than responsibility for the murders committed? To repeat, I do NOT condone the behavior portrayed in this film even as I admire so much what Patty Jenkins achieves as director as well as the achievements of her cast and crew. For 109 minutes, I was fully engaged in -- not merely watching -- human experiences wholly unrelated to anything I had ever experienced in my own life. Perhaps this is what a film makes possible...and a movie does not. Perhaps therein is the difference between art and artifact. As these comments no doubt suggest, I am still absorbing and digesting what I have seen. This much I do know: I will never forget my brief visit to Aileen Wuornos' world but have no desire to return to it .Movie Review: We Do Indeed See What Makes Her Tick
Summary: 5 Stars
Some reviewers of this movie felt that the film really didn't show us what makes Aileen Wuornos, the serial killer, tick. I beg to differ. Charlize Theron, in her outstanding job of acting, magnificently brings out the suffering, the loneliness, the despair of this unfortunate individual. Aileen comes from a dreary background (her mother abandons her, her father commits suicide, and she turns to prostitution in her early teens). The movie opens with Aileen contemplating suicide. Then she meets her future lover, Selby, in a bar, and becomes intoxicated with the type of friendship that has been denied her all of her life. She becomes alive, wanting nothing else but to hold on to her new lover, and make her happy. She engages in a frenzied bout of hooking in order to get some cash to sustain her in this new relationship. A tragedy ensues in which Aileen kills a psychopathic john. Aileen continues to kill, mostly for the cash, and to have a car to get around in. In her desire to leave the life of a pro she tries to get a job to support herself and Selby. She doesn't have a clue about how to dress properly or interview for a job. The experience is frustrating and painful to her, and she sees, as do we, what a true outcast she is. She puts on a sour grapes bravado with Selby: who wants their stupid jobs anyway.
This carefully scripted movie leads the viewer to an understanding of Aileen, but does not promote sympathy for her. Her murders are too repellent for sympathy. Ms Theron is excellent in showing the frantic hopelessness of Aileen, who struggles desperately to hold her life together. She wants to live with Selby, have a job, and a house in the suburbs, but knows deep down under the macho front she tries to maintain, that her dreams will never be realized.
See inside Aileen? We see inside her with every wild wide eyed look; with every gesture; with every word she utters. Her anger, her walk, her desperation all show us a person who is totally outside society. There is no way she will ever fit in. We know it and she knows it. Within the first ten minutes of the film we know that Aileen Wuornos is doomed.
Movie Review: "I am a really good person, right?"
Summary: 5 Stars
Aileen (Charlize Theron) has lived most of her life waiting to be discovered in a similar way to Marilyn Monroe, but this never happened. She ended up blowing guys for five bucks in the back seat of their cars, living out of a storage room, taking baths in the sinks of public restrooms and trying to survive. She has really nothing to cheer her up, until one day she walks into a gay bar and meets Selby (Christina Ricci). They quickly become friends and even more, but not before Aileen recanted some statements she made due to her being a compulsive liar.
When things go south with one of her clients, Aileen ends up killing the man after being brutally abused. From that point on we can see her rage towards her clients and her desire to "punish" them for being what they are. Or maybe she is angry with herself for having to do this job and takes it out on them. She does try to change paths though, mainly due to her love for Selby. She wants to take care of her partner's need, but finds no help whatsoever when looking for a job. So, back to the old work...and hello serial killer.
There are several things about this movie that make it brilliant, with Theron's performance right at the top of the list. For an actress that is usually involved in representing classy and beautiful women, it must be a real challenge to play the role of Aileen. Part of the credit has to go to the make-up artists though, who made possible an incredible transformation.
The other point that I think is worth mentioning is the quality of the script, since the story takes us inside the mind of the serial killer. It is fascinating to understand the motives and reasons behind her actions. I can understand though that people that have been touched by the effects of Wuornos' crimes are not interested in this and may resent it. Also, I am not sure about how much of what is presented is fiction. In my mind, even if part of the "facts" presented are fiction, this movie is a high quality creation and a very interesting option to consider the next time you plan to sit in front of the TV for a couple of hours.