Haven't written a review in a while. Must get the creative juices flowing again!!!
Haven't written a review in a while. Must get the creative juices flowing again!!!
Member since:01.09.2006
Reviews:72
Members who trust:18
Monster tellls the very graphic and rather shocking real life tale of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who became a serial killer after one of her clients became abusive. This is an extremely gritty and compelling story, with Charlize Theron giving an absolutely outstanding performance as Wournos. Aileen Wuornos was executed back in 2002 after being found guilty of the deaths of seven men, with all of them (except one) paying her for sex before they were killed. Although murdering seven people can never be condoned Theron's performance really makes you sympathise with Aileen's plight. The first death was for me accidental, and necessary if Aileen didn't want to be raped. After the first killing it seems that she became disgusted by her clients using her sex, also fearing that she would be attacked again, and took revenge by shooting them repeatedly. Christina Ricci also gives a good performance as Selby, a young girl who Aileen falls in love with before her killing spree begins. This is a sad and depressing tale, but one which is also gripping, mainly because of Theron's wonderful performance.
Aileen Wuornos was actually one of America's first serial killers, which
is one of the reasons why her case is so high profile. This film focuses on the period between 1989 and 1990 when Aileen struck up a relationship with Selby and started shooting her clients. There isn't much of a backstory, but after doing some research it becomes clear why Aileen is in such a terrible situation. Her childhood was riddled with drug use and abuse, and she became a prostitute at the age of thirteen. She moved to Florida, where she started work as a prostitute, picking up men on highways. After meeting Aileen and starting a relationship with her, it looks like she has finally found happiness. However, without any money coming in Aileen still needs to make a living, and continues as a prostitute. Her murder spree begins when one of her clients becomes abusive and attempts to rape her, and it all goes downhill from there as she starts killing more of her clients.
A lot of the film is set at night time, which fits the mood of this extremely dark movie. Rather than concentrating on the murders themselves the film looks more at the themes of love and desperation, rather than violence. Aileen clearly isn't a cold-blooded serial killer, but the circumstances that she has been pushed into mean that she has to escape, and the only way she can do that is through killing. The first client she kills is a disgusting, sick individual who gets his kicks attacking and raping women, so I can't really fault Aileen for shooting him, because he probably would have killed her. This first shooting is without question an act of self-defence, but tellingly it is the beginning of Aileen's quest for vengeance, as she attempts to rid the world of what she sees as the 'bad' people.
For me the film definately sympathises with Aileen, which in turn left me sympathising with her. She's portrayed as a woman who hasn't had the breaks in life, and as such is pursuing a life of degradation to make ends meet, not out of choice but out of need. The most heartbreaking part of the film is when Aileen, attempting to clean up her life, decides to go for a number of job interviews as a secretary. The way she is treated by the interviewee is appalling, and shows the kind of stigma that is attached to people with no qualifications or experience. It was at this point in the film that my view of Aileen really changed for the better, and my view of society went down to rock bottom. Although most of us would never take such extreme actions, you have to consider what it was like being in her position, with only her partner Selby for comfort.
Monster is definately not a happy film, and is the kind of film that leaves you feeling upset and angry at the end, as Aileen is sentenced to rot in death row, yet again shunned away by society. The film starts with Aileen sitting with a gun in her hand, contemplating the end, and ends in pretty much the same way, as she is led away in handcuffs from the court. There are so many unlikeable characters in the film that it's difficult not to start to warm towards Aileen and Selby. If only one person had been nice to Aileen and given her a break then everything could have turned out differently. It's partly Aileen's fault but also society's fault for closing the door on her, an act that leads her to start killing. What Aileen did was evil, but there's enough sympathy in her life story and in the film's tone to feel sorry for her, even if her acts of violence were unforgivable.
This is not for the weak of heart, but is still a necessary film to watch, even if its tone is brutal. Charlize Theron won best actress at the Oscar's for her performance as Aileen, and from watching her performance it's clear to see why. In Monster there is no happy ending and no real justice, just emptiness. Most importantly the film tells us that, whenever we feel like belittling someone, to look at the tragic story of Aileen Wuornos, a woman who just wanted someone to give her a break.
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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 think you have summed this film up very accurately and fairly, I really enjoyed this film though not sure that is the right word, at the end of this film I was in tears but I also wanted to get out into the world and sort everything out so I think that this is the value of film like this, they make you want to act and make things better for people like Aileen and Selby
storm_ina_teacup 21.12.2006 22:31
Ive always wanted to see this film but never got round to it, def want to see it now! great review x
![Monster [2003] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78491272.jpg "Monster [2003] [DVD]")
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