Is living in Australia for a year so lots of travel reviews coming your way! Trying to read and rate...
Is living in Australia for a year so lots of travel reviews coming your way! Trying to read and rate as much as i can xx
Member since:11.09.2003
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Monster, 2003, Rating 18, Running Time 109 mins.
The story
Monster is based on a true story about Aileen Wuornos; Aileen was an American prostitute who developed a taste for killing. Aileen had become a prostitute at the age of thirteen, she had a hard life with no family to support her, and she made her own way through life always feeling unloved. In 1999 she met a young woman called Selby, Selby was a young woman coming to terms with her sexuality, when she met Aileen she was instantly attracted. Even though Aileen was not a lesbian her want for love took over and she started a relationship with Selby. Aileen and Selby decided to go on the road together, but with no money Aileen was left to find some. Aileen finds her self in a compromising situation and accidentally kills a man, after realising that she has got away with the murder she realises she can do it again, and so her taste for killing begins. Instead of having sex with men for money Aileen started killing men for their money
and became one of America's first women serial killers.
My Thoughts
This film is exceptionally acted, Charlize Theron plays the role of Aileen Wuornos, and she gives an Oscar winning performance in this role and did indeed deserve her first award. Charlize is unrecognisable in the role, totally transformed from beautiful Hollywood actress to street girl Aileen, she acted this role in detail from her voice, to the way she walked she even gained weight for the role to completely transform herself. This role is challenging as it fuelled with emotion and risks and must have been emotionally and physically draining. Supported by actress Christina Ricci playing the role of Aileen's lesbian lover Selby, they both show the relationship that these two women had with each other. Some of the sex scenes are quite explicit, and slightly shocking, but the love they have for each other is just as over whelming and compelling as a heterosexual couple would be. The scenes in which Aileen is killing these men are portrayed in a manner that isn't to over the top, we get to see the build up to the murders and an insight into these men, rather than it being about the bloody side of it. Finding out information about the victims allows us to see what a cold killer Aileen became it was as if she was taking all her hate in life out on these men. In my opinion only one of these men really deserved to die. This film is not exactly pleasant viewing but it is an interesting story amazingly acted and would recommend it for people to watch.
Characters/Actors:
Charlize Theron plays the role of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Aileen has not had an easy life, forced into a world of prostitution at the tender age of thirteen, living on the streets trying to make a life for her self. Aileen has always felt unloved until she meets Selby. Aileen starts up a relationship with Selby and takes on the provider role going out to work for their keep. After an incident occurs one night Aileen finds herself killing a man. She is amazed that she has got away with it and starts to kill men for their money rather than having sex with them. Charlize was awarded an Oscar for her performance, and she really deserved it. Before this film Charlize had roles in 'The Devil's Advocate' 1997 and 'Mighty Joe Young' 1998, I had not really heard much about Charlize Theron before but I am sure we will here a lot more about her in the future.
Christina Ricci Plays Aileen's lesbian lover Selby, Selby is a young woman coming to terms wit her sexuality, she has been sent away from her mum and dad to live with relatives. She meets Aileen and instantly falls in love even though they are from different worlds. Selby sees it all as an adventure and a way of defying her parents. Christina Ricci is a brilliant justice and does an impeccable job of supporting Charlize in this film. I always think of Christina as the little girl 'Wednesday' in 'The Adams Family' 1991, it amazing how far she has come over the years, 'Sleepy Hollow' 1999, 'Prozac Nation' 2001.
This film was written and directed by Patty Jenkins who has also written and directed 'Just Drive' 2001 and 'Velocity Rules' 2001.
Where Can I buy it?
Available on DVD at Amazon New for £3.97 or New and Used from £2.02.
Pictures of Monster (DVD)
Aileen
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
![Monster [2003] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78491272.jpg "Monster [2003] [DVD]")
Nov 16th, 2006
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