Tyler B
You'll hate to love Aileen Wuornos in this grunge like depiction.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/28/24
Full Review
Veronica T
Charlize Theron does a good job at showing the tragic true story of Aileen Wuornos who was a prostitute turned serial killer. Written and directed by Patty Jenkins, the movie gives us a dark portrayal of the already dark and disturbing life of Aileen Wuornos. The film takes you through Aileen’s past and shows you the events and actions that led her down a path of violence and ultimately the murders she committed. Charlize Theron even won an Academy Award for her role. But I personally think that any strong female actress collaborating with Director Patty Jenkins is a winning combination.
I think the cinematography and style choices were very intentional. All of it contributes to compelling storytelling without excusing or condoning Aileen’s behavior and actions. The movie has a dark gritty style and reflects how Aileen sees and experiences the world around her. It is full of duller, more muted colors and shaky camerawork adding to the visual immersion of the movie. Even the costume and makeup helped convey the descent into violence and helped to really transform Charlize into Aileen Wuornos.
Some may find the film spends a lot of time on the toxic relationship with Christina Ricci’s character, Selby Wall. And due to the time spent on that relationship, the film can seem slow at times but it is slow at points to help establish the psychological state of Aileen which is such a driving reason for her murders. It can make it more of a difficult film to watch but I think it is well worth it.
While Monster is a dark film and may be tough for some to watch, I do think it is a movie I ended up really liking and would be one I would recommend my friends to watch. It shows a lot of complexity and poses questions of morality to the audience and leaves a lingering feeling within you after its already finished.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
10/22/24
Full Review
Steven E
A Harrowing Descent: A Review of Monster
Basic Info:
Aileen Wuornos, an infamous serial killer who was put to death in 2002, is the subject of the biographical drama Monster (2003), which was directed by Patty Jenkins. Charlize Theron, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for the part, plays Wuornos in the movie. Jenkins wrote the screenplay, and Christina Ricci plays Wuornos' lover, Selby Wall, in a fictionalized version of Tyria Moore. Mark Damon, Donald Kushner, and Clark Peterson produced Monster, which provides a personal yet unsettling glimpse inside a broken woman's mind.
Story Description:
The film follows the tragic journey of Aileen Wuornos, a Florida street prostitute who resorts to murder after years of mistreatment and exploitation. Aileen and Selby start dating after meeting at a bar at the start of the novel. Aileen first attempts to quit prostitution because she is desperate for love and security, but things soon go out of hand. She kills in self-defense because of her encounters with aggressive customers, but as her mental health worsens, the killings become more planned. Monster raises issues regarding the distinction between victim and offender by delving into Aileen's unstable mental state, her vulnerable moments, and her eventual descent into darkness.
Production Highlights:
Monster is sharp and sympathetic, providing a complex depiction of Aileen Wuornos without exaggerating her transgressions. The brutal, unvarnished tone of the movie reflects Aileen's hard reality. The documentary-like ambiance created by cinematographer Steven Bernstein's use of handheld cameras and organic lighting puts the audience uncomfortably near to Aileen's collapsing life.
The film revolves around Charlize Theron's transformational performance. Her physical transformation and emotionally charged portrayal of a severely damaged lady allow her to fully immerse herself in the character. By depicting Aileen as both a cold-blooded murderer and a person shattered by years of abuse and neglect, Theron's acting achieves a delicate balance. Strong support is also given by Christina Ricci, who plays the part of Selby's emotional reliance and naivete, which gives the story more nuance.
Although Monster is a very well-made movie, it can be challenging to watch at times due to its somber subject matter and unapologetic depiction of violence. The tempo may seem slow to some viewers, especially in the movie's more subdued scenes. Nonetheless, a more thorough examination of Aileen's emotional state and the destructive dynamics of her relationship with Selby is made possible by the careful pacing.
Overall Recommendation:
Monster is an eerie and provocative movie that doesn't provide simple solutions. It is a profound character study of a lady who has been driven to the brink rather than a conventional criminal thriller. In addition to being a compelling meditation on trauma, desperation, and the human cost of violence, this picture is worth seeing just for Theron's outstanding performance. For those who enjoy psychological dramas, true crime stories, or films that challenge viewers' humanity, I heartily suggest it.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Monster is a somber yet gripping depiction of a lady whose life was characterized by violence and sorrow. Charlize Theron's performance, which defined her career, and Patty Jenkins' directing combine to make a film that is both unsettling and emotionally impactful. Viewers are forced to face up to difficult realities regarding how society treats the weak and how trauma may turn into something hideous. Although Monster is a difficult movie to see, it is unquestionably strong and has an impact that lasts long after the credits have rolled.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/16/24
Full Review
Evan H
The film Monster directed by Patty Jenkins starring Charlize Theron as the real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Aileen Wuornos was a street prostitute in Florida who killed seven of her clients and robbed them from 1989-1990. Monster is a biographical crime drama that explores the life of Aileen Wuornos with her lover Selby Wall (based on Tyria Moore) played by Christina Ricci. The film is known for Charlize Theron’s transformative appearance and performance as Wuornos, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Charlize Theron does a fantastic job acting and the make-up crew did an even better job at transforming her into Aileen Wuornos. Even though the film was critically acclaimed and won a fair share of awards, mostly for Theron’s performance, I didn’t care for the film and most likely would not have watched it all the way through if it wasn’t necessary for my film class.
The film is hard to watch, Aileen is a disgusting character who’s not only physical appearance is difficult to look at for several hours but her actions and the way she speaks is grotesque. Sure, this could be how Patty Jenkins wanted the film to be, and it really defines the title of the film Monster, but it is not enjoyable to view. Aileen is clearly a sociopath who justified her actions in a sick, mostly untrue way. Christina Ricci’s character Selby is just an annoying, dumb little brat who complains and cry’s as she encourages her lover Aileen to continue killing. Overall, I give the film a 5.4/10 and that is mostly due to Charlize Theron’s incredible acting. Charlize portrays a Monster and makes the film better than it truly is. I do not recommend watching the film unless you are a big fan of Charlize Theron or want to feel disturbed for several hours.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
10/09/24
Full Review
Miranda L
An exploration of what unescapable circumstances can do to a woman.
Written and directed by Patty Jenkins, Monster is a biographical crime drama that depicts the real-life story of serial-killer Aileen Wuornos. The film was produced by Charlize Theron, Donald Kushner, Brad Wyman, Mark Damon, and Clark Peterson. Theron stars in the film as Wuornos (Lee) alongside Christina Ricci, who plays her girlfriend Selby Wall, a character based on Wuornos’s girlfriend Tyria Moore.
Monster tells the story of Lee’s and her troubled life, providing a glimpse of her tumultuous upbringing which led her to prostitution, before shifting focus to her relationship with Selby. Shortly after meeting Selby, Lee is brutally beaten, tied up, raped and sodomized by a client who she murders. Looking for stability and love, Lee tries to quit prostituting while also supporting herself and Selby. Lee, unable to find work elsewhere, eventually falls back into prostitution where she continues killing men. Lee’s life starts to spiral out of control as Selby learns of her crimes and Lee tries to cover her tracks, earn a living, and maintain her relationship with Selby.
For her performance, Theron was nominated for and won several awards, having won the Academy Award for Best Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, and a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role among several others. Jenkins received several nominations and wins as well, notably winning the Independent Spirt Award for Best First Screenplay.
The cinematography for the film, led by Steven Bernstein, highlighted the bleakness, chaos and danger felt by Lee throughout her experiences. The muted colors along with close-up footage of Theron in various vulnerable scenarios emphasize feelings of despair and loneliness. Shadowy scenes, in bars and along roadsides looking for male clients, conveyed feelings of danger and angst mirroring the world Lee inhabits to survive. Tracking shots of the city, of cars and pedestrians that lack rhythm or smoothness, convey her feelings of chaos as she starts losing control. The chaos too can be seen in close-up shots that capture Theron’s raw and explosive emotion.
This film portrays not just the story of Wuornos’s violent crimes, but the story of abuse, poverty, and trauma that shaped her into a killer. Theron’s performance was transformative and riveting, and haunting. Ricci’s Selby plays off of this with her immaturity, with her naïve desire to be cared for and loved at the expense of doing what is right. While I couldn’t root for this couple, I was engrossed in their dynamic. And while I couldn’t root for Lee, I could sympathize with her experience that led her to become a monster. I highly recommend this film for its superb acting, directing and cinematography, and for its exploration of what unescapable circumstances can do to a woman.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/09/24
Full Review
B K
The 2003 film, Monster, written and directed by Patty Jenkins, is a fierce peek into the violent and disturbing world of Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron: who won numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role). Charlize’s outstanding performance and physical transformation as the real-life serial killer is the overall highlight of the film.
The biographical crime drama’s insight into Aileen Wuornos, who donated hundreds of personal letters to Patty Jenkins for insight after her death, unfolds quickly in the opening collage of dramatic scenes. Aileen’s abusive and lonely childhood is showcased from the start, allowing the audience to adopt an attempt at empathy for her future choices. Although Aileen became a monster in real-life, Charlize Theron’s impersonation of her personal struggles, uneducated point of view, and relentless will to survive manages to win the audience’s hearts.
Aileen’s newfound love, Selby Walls (Christina Ricci), adds a new dimension to the main character by providing a glimpse of sensitivity and love in the tragic circumstances of the story. Christina generates an excellent and believable performance as the naïve and socially confused Selby. One of my favorite techniques of the film is the exceptional use of music highlighting the importance of their developing love story. The film’s use of two great songs like ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ and ‘Crimson and Clover’ in key moments of the growing love fit like an exclamation point at the end of a scream. Both actresses harness the personalities of these two real-life characters and attempt to distract the viewer from the violence in between scenes. The use of time, mixed with the combination of love and violence keeps the story moving and the audience’s attention. However, I never got the feeling that the film attempted anything too impressive visually. The story itself was an incredibly interesting subject, the acting was magnificent, the pop-up addition of actors like Bruce Dern and Scott Wilson were fun, but the director’s basic storyboard and visual progression felt somehow unsatisfying.
The dramatic unfolding of two woman struggling to make money and live freely overpowers the real story of the chaotic and sad world Aileen had created for herself. The empathy that the film conjures up for Aileen is easily based on the unthinkable experiences she had to live through, however, I think there was more mental instability than depicted in the film. Overall, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to someone who wants to feel depressed by the sad realities of the world. The story and acting save the film, but the missed opportunities are lost. I would say it is an average and enjoyable film, to watch once.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/08/24
Full Review
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