Movie and Movie Review

¶ … MONSTER with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci

MONSTER" starring Charlize Theron is worth seeing if for no other reason than the compelling acting and tremendous transformation the lead actress underwent to play Aileen Wuornons, a well-known Floridian serial killer. The movie is compelling, detailing the life of a woman who never experienced love, and subsequently turned to hate and murder for comfort. "MONSTER" successfully tells a story. It tells the story of a woman ravaged by violent acts and abuse, who turns to murder as a means to make things right with the world. Aggressive and somewhat brutal, the movie was not written for the feint of heart. Rather this movie compels audiences to acknowledge that desperate times often due result in desperate measures.

The movie, though fictional, is based on the real life story of Ms. Wuornos, who was convicted of murdering six men during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Aileen had to turn to a life of prostitution in central Florida as a means to support herself when just barely entering her teen years. At one point, after being raped and tortured by a client, she goes on a killing spree. Turning on her attacker, she proceeds to subsequently continue killing the men that cross her path the wrong way. The film does a remarkable job of portraying a love starved, desperate woman pitted against society. In the movie the main character is also faced with betrayal from her partner, Selby Wall (Played by Christina Ricci).

The movie accurately portrays the true demoralizing experiences this woman must have experienced, and the bizarre relationship she shared with her lesbian lover, who ultimately ends up betraying her and turning her in.

The movie is rated a B+ by the Contra Costa Times, and a B- by Entertainment Online, or E!. The movie received good marks in part due to the engrossing performance of the main actress. To make the transformation into Wuornos successful, Theron was required to don "waxy-looking, spotted skin, stringy hair, prominent upper teeth and blazing dark eyes" (Barsanti, 2004). The main actress also gained thirty pounds to make her figure resemble more closely that of real life killer Wuornos.

Most interesting about the movie is the dramatic transformation the lead actress went through to play Aileen. Charlize Theron is virtually unrecognizable in the movie. E! criticizes the movie only slightly, stating that Ricci fails to elicit any real emotion from her role as Charlize's lover. The main character however, portrays a very realistic and convincing picture of the serial killer she portrays. The movie has also been described as somewhat "heavy-handed" and too narrative, instead of filled with cinematic "insight."

Monster is worth seeing if for nothing else than to witness the dramatic transformation and effort the main character went through to play Aileen. Charlize is convincing in her role. The movie provides a realistic portrait of the ravages that a life of hatred, violence and absence of love might result it. The movie is somewhat disturbing to watch, there are a number of violent and graphic scenes including the rape and abuse of the character Aileen that forces her to turn to a life of murder. The movie takes on an overall angry personality, but this is justified based on the content and purpose of the movie.

Chris Barsanti of Film Critic.com claims that the movie is worthy of three stars. Though it may not be a movie worthy of best picture, it is worthy of at least significant consideration. According to Barsanti, the film has a purpose, and that purpose is to "tell a story" not shock audiences. To this extent, the film succeeds. It is able to rely the incredible tragedy that can result when a child is brutalized during childhood, and subsequently grows up unloved and disregarded. Audiences will walk away with a true idea of how someone could turn to a life of abuse, after having been abused themselves for so many years. The audience also walks away with a sense of familiarity with Wuornos, and the desperation that must have lead her to her rampages and ultimate demise.