Monster
THE STORY:
Please allow me to introduce you to Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) - an American prostitute who meets and falls in love with fellow lesbian, Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), which then inadvertently leads her to start killing her ‘clients’, desperate for a life of sobriety.
Now Aileen and Selby’s romance begins when they initially meet each other at a gay bar in Florida. Granted, their first exchange is a somewhat strained one, but then, when time ticks on – plus the drinks start to flow – they both warm up to each other quite a lot.
OK, an awful-awful lot, hint, hint!
But there relationship does not end there, oh no, because as days turn to weeks, both Selby and Aileen's relationship grown and grows and grows - even in the face of parental chastisement - idol observation - and a judgmental stance by one and all.
Plus, in addition to this, there union does have a couple of more drawbacks as well - i.e. no money, no honey.
So what do you think that Aileen tries to do, so that she can rectify this situation? Well, the same thing she has been doing since she was a teenager I am afraid to say - prostituting herself along the highways and the byways of the American West Coast.
Bad move.
Heck, not just bad - dismal - especially when one of Aileen's stray clients tries to rape her, and she is forced to shoot him dead in self defense, BANG!
Obviously, this cruel episode hinders Aileen’s mind quite a lot, and, sometime later, she decides to stop her life of prostitution, so tht she can dedicate her life with Selby – just the two of them, together.
However, what does Aileen try to do thereafter, instead of prostitution I mean? Simple - find legitimate work - and she does this by attending a number of local interviews, so she can earn an honest buck.
Unfortunately, though, this quest for work does not work - because she has difficulties due to her lack of education and her criminal history.
Therefore, desperate for some cash, she returns to her career as a prostitute once more, spiraling her life – and her relationship with Selby – by continuing to commit several acts of murder with the intent of robbing her victims for their money.
In turn, Aileen uses this money she obtains, so that she can indulge herself and Selby by drinking in bars and eating in fancy restaurants.
Though, one fateful day, after they have a car crash in one of Aileen's 'victims' car, Selby reads in the newspapers about these 'string of murders', which is why what next transpired is a very emotional set of circumstances indeed.
Lovers reveal - lovers drift - lovers incriminate - lovers cry - and lovers will never be the same again.
THE REVIEW:
Prior to watching ‘Monster', I knew quite a lot about the Aileen Wuornos murder-spree from a couple of documentaries I watched made by Nick Broomfield (click here for one of the reviews). Now these programs highlighted to me a different aspect of Aileen's life - as it mainly focused on the aftereffects of her crimes, as well as a back-story of who she was prior to these sad series of events occurred.
However, unlike these documentary's, 'Monster' presents the other side of this equation - as it primarily revolves around the time of the killings, and it chronicles a first hand dramatic perspective of what went on to boot. OK, a hint of Aileen’s ‘back story’ was on display in the title-sequence, and numerous voice-over and comments were inserted within also. Still, all in all, it was a tale focused on that 'one year period of misjudgment', plus, Aileen's relationship with her 'close friend', Selby Wall (real name, Tyria Moore).
Personally speaking, I feel that this filmic form was the best way of presenting this part of her story - more in-depth and dramatic in tone. Moreover, what I liked most about ‘Monster’ the most, was how there was no judgmental stance where Aileen's actions were concerned - and just highlighted what she had done – rather than painting a sympathetic / un-sympathetic portrait of what this ‘female serial killer’ was all about.
In addition to this, I found that Charlize Theron gave a ‘De Niro’ performance in this tale, literally transforming herself into Aileen, both in appearance and in attitude. Heck, I sometimes found it hard to believe that this was the same Charlize that I wanted to whack off to in all those perfume ads!
Also, Christina Ricci does a bang up job as well – her naivety and demeanor in this film, is so contradictory to her usual ‘sexual minx’ demeanor in other movies.
Plus, kudos has to go out to the director of this film, Patty Jenkins. She lavishes the screen with truth, and does not rely on her cast’s sexual appearance one iota to massage the proceedings. She allows all sexually provocative scenes to play out contradictory to the norm, making them appear somewhat natural and tender in content.
Class - Class - Class.
Overall, this is a very nice and well made portrait of a serial killer type film. It respects the story, it respects the characters, and it respects the audience, by showing the truth - and allowing for every person to think for themselves on who was right or who was wrong. Society? Aileen? America? Nobody? Or Everybody?
You decide.
Though, one fateful day, after they have a car crash in one of Aileen's 'victims' car, Selby reads in the newspapers about these 'string of murders', which is why what next transpired is a very emotional set of circumstances indeed.
Lovers reveal - lovers drift - lovers incriminate - lovers cry - and lovers will never be the same again.
THE REVIEW:
Prior to watching ‘Monster', I knew quite a lot about the Aileen Wuornos murder-spree from a couple of documentaries I watched made by Nick Broomfield (click here for one of the reviews). Now these programs highlighted to me a different aspect of Aileen's life - as it mainly focused on the aftereffects of her crimes, as well as a back-story of who she was prior to these sad series of events occurred.
However, unlike these documentary's, 'Monster' presents the other side of this equation - as it primarily revolves around the time of the killings, and it chronicles a first hand dramatic perspective of what went on to boot. OK, a hint of Aileen’s ‘back story’ was on display in the title-sequence, and numerous voice-over and comments were inserted within also. Still, all in all, it was a tale focused on that 'one year period of misjudgment', plus, Aileen's relationship with her 'close friend', Selby Wall (real name, Tyria Moore).
Personally speaking, I feel that this filmic form was the best way of presenting this part of her story - more in-depth and dramatic in tone. Moreover, what I liked most about ‘Monster’ the most, was how there was no judgmental stance where Aileen's actions were concerned - and just highlighted what she had done – rather than painting a sympathetic / un-sympathetic portrait of what this ‘female serial killer’ was all about.
In addition to this, I found that Charlize Theron gave a ‘De Niro’ performance in this tale, literally transforming herself into Aileen, both in appearance and in attitude. Heck, I sometimes found it hard to believe that this was the same Charlize that I wanted to whack off to in all those perfume ads!
Also, Christina Ricci does a bang up job as well – her naivety and demeanor in this film, is so contradictory to her usual ‘sexual minx’ demeanor in other movies.
Plus, kudos has to go out to the director of this film, Patty Jenkins. She lavishes the screen with truth, and does not rely on her cast’s sexual appearance one iota to massage the proceedings. She allows all sexually provocative scenes to play out contradictory to the norm, making them appear somewhat natural and tender in content.
Class - Class - Class.
Overall, this is a very nice and well made portrait of a serial killer type film. It respects the story, it respects the characters, and it respects the audience, by showing the truth - and allowing for every person to think for themselves on who was right or who was wrong. Society? Aileen? America? Nobody? Or Everybody?
You decide.
THE RATING: B+
