I wanted to love this film so much. I had read so many glowing reviews that; I was anticipating this film so much. I seem to be the only person in the world who didn’t like it. Everybody had said how emotionally involving, it was and how it was ground breaking and made you see Aileen Woornos, in a completely different light, but I found that it lacked the emotional links, didn’t make me feel sorry for her in the slightest and made her out to be a crazy, irrational mad person. Here’s why.
Story Aileen Wournos, has ever since she was a child, felt like the only thing she had going for her is sex, so as she grows into an adult she becomes a prostitute, who unlike most other people in that profession, loves it, she has money in her pocket and she isn’t held down by the usual 9 to 5 days. But one night, one of her clients becomes violent, he ties her to the back of her car and beats her up, she goes mad with rage, grabs a gun and shoots him to death. She gets rid of the body and robs him, then the idea hits her, why sell yourself for sex? why not kill
these people and rob them, you defiantly get more money. No one will find out. Through her life she only meats one person that she really cares about and that’s Shelby, a young teenage girl, who is venerable and unhappy in her life, she needs some excitement and running away with Aileen seems like that. She’s unaware of Aileen being a criminal, and she doesn’t really want to know, as long as she’s got money and food on the table. Infact when she does find out, there isn’t really very much of a domestic. Shelby cries a bit and seems to be all over. Meanwhile Aileen becomes more and more addicted to killing and she is killing people more often and more brutally. Will her addiction take her over the edge?
Performances • Yes we all know that Charlize Theron won the Oscar for her portrayal of Aileen Wousbourn, and I agree that it’s a powerful performance, with gritty realism and she had obviously studied her character as she seems to have a really good understanding of her thoughts and feelings. I recently watched a documentary about this criminal, and yes, Charlize gets the mannerisms, the voice and slang absolutely write, but I think that there is a slight elements of ‘LOOK I’m Acting’ in her performance. • Charlize Theron got all the credit for her performance, but I don’t think that her acting ability is in the same league as Christina Rici’s, I think that all in all her performance, is much rounded and fresh, her portrayal, is probably in my opinion the saving grace of this movie, she is really brilliant as Selby, Aileen lesbian lover. One scene in particular, proves just how excellent she is and that’s, when she has to get on a bus and leave Aileen forever, it is truly a heart breaking performance, I think much more accomplished than that of Charlize’s I am amazed that she did not get nominated for an Oscar. • These two performances I think are the only ones worth mentioning as the director drew brilliant performances for these two, without injecting life into the supporting cast.
Script I personally don’t think that the script for Monster is particurllay good, for me it didn’t establish any emotion connections that was all left up to the actors. I didn’t like the way the script portrayed Aileen, to me she didn’t seem like a human, it felt like the writers had no interest in Aileen. One of the major good factors is that the emotional scenes are subtle and not as in your face as it could have been, an okay script, but I have seen better in less critically acclaimed films. I would have also liked them to add some more material on the actual court case, which is extremely interesting, as Aileen claimed that the police had set her up. Would have probably been a more interesting film if it was just about the court case. But I think that the last scene is extremely well dealt with, as Aileen is taken to be executioner.
Violence Extremely violent, where did you get from? I think I have seen more violence in certificate 12’s Hellboy for instance. I agree that the last death was cutting, because you saw the mans family and children, but it wasn’t anything shocking
Overall A well established, film with some really emotional scenes, but not all that it was hyped up to be.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
I've just recently watched this - i was shocked by it. Hey - have you seen photos of Charlize Theron normal - apparently she put on 2 stone for this movie!! I thought she played this role brilliantly. Very good review - well done again! Bev
oblivious0r 06.10.2004 18:19
seen this film before on the plane i thought it was very good and gripping in some places
hiedihi 06.10.2004 13:40
I loved this and it was much better than the book. The book has discrepencies in it throughout.
Heidi xx
![Monster [2003] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78491272.jpg "Monster [2003] [DVD]")
Oct 3rd, 2004
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