Monster-2003
Director Patty Jenkins
Starring Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci
Top 250 Films #174
Scott’s Review #347
Reviewed January 9, 2016
Grade: A
Monster (2003) may feature one of the best acting performances of all time-Charlize Theron simply embodies the role of the notorious female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, in a simply astounding triumph.
The mannerisms, the anger, and the charisma that Theron portrays are nothing short of brilliance.
This brazen acting is simply the best aspect of Monster and the main reason to witness the film.
Besides, the film itself is great.
The film immediately focuses on Theron- we meet the down-on-her-luck prostitute sitting in tatters underneath an overpass.
Suicidal and with five dollars to her name, she goes to a dive bar for one last beer. Having blown five dollars, she reasons that the money will go to waste if she does not spend it.
Her older confidante is Thomas, a grizzled man assumed to be an occasional client of hers, played by Bruce Dern. She goes to a gay bar and meets Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), a lesbian.
Aileen insists she is not gay but winds up spending the night with her in Selby’s family home. The two form a connection and bond immediately, spending more time together and becoming immersed in each other’s lives.
When Aileen is brutally raped and beaten by a client, she begins down a dark and murderous path, killing men she meets after she steals their money.
Selby eventually catches on to this and is conflicted over whether to turn her friend in or serve as an accomplice to her crimes as the police close in on the pair.
Enough cannot be said of Theron’s performance. She becomes Wournos- from her walk to her infamous manic mannerisms, and her hair flip.
Theron, a gorgeous woman, gained weight, used false teeth, and became simply unrecognizable in the role of a brutal, angry, and trashy-looking woman.
Ricci also deserves praise, but plays her role as a bit clueless or dimwitted, counterbalancing Theron’s manic, in-your-face role.
It works well. Both characters long for love and companionship and are misfits.
In a sweet scene, the pair go roller skating together, hand in hand, to the famous rock song, “Don’t Stop Believin”.
This is a great scene.
One can argue that the director, Patty Jenkins, softens the way that Wournos is written. Known as a hardened, mean woman, Jenkins writes her as much more sympathetic.
This can also be attributed to the fact that Theron emits some vulnerability to the character- the woman never knew love until she met and bonded with Selby.
Needless to say, Monster (2003) is a dynamic, energetic film, thanks in large part to the powerful performance of Charlize Theron- a role that awarded her the Best Actress Academy Award.
Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Actress-Charlize Theron (won)
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best First Feature (won), Best Female Lead-Charlize Theron (won), Best First Screenplay
