Monster (2003)

• Review: ** (out of ****)
• Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley
• Director: Patty Jenkins
• Screenplay: Patty Jenkins
• Length: 109 min.
• MPAA Rating: R (For strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language)

A highway hooker turns tricks into treachery as a Florida serial killer has her story told in Monster.

Charlize Theron hides heroutstanding beauty behind added pounds, fake teeth and a poorcomplexion to portray notorious serial killer Aileen Wuornos whosekilling spree targeted lecherous men all so she could support the loveof her life. Christina Ricci plays the awkward Selby whose self esteemperks up when she meets the unattractive Wuornos who dodges into a gaybar to get a few drinks before heading back out as a prostitute.

When Selby moves outthinking that Aileen will support her, Wuornos goes back toprostitution to keep her new love content. Everything goes downhillwhen a John attempts to rape her, after which she is intended to be hisnext murder victim. The scene, one of the most brutally realistic inmodern film, makes Aileen's murderous response expected, understandableand even laudable. From there, the screenplay shifts to focus on theevents that led Aileen to continue killing.

Theron plays Wuornos withan unexpected vigor. Her mannerisms, look and style blend to form theperfect character. Theron's performance easily overshadows her castmates with the exception of the experienced thesp Ricci who is easilyable to keep up.

As we see Aileen use heremotional attachment to Selby to further her deadly series, Selby onlyinstigates matters when she laments leaving home after Aileen's falsepromises to make life better for them. Wuornos, mentally unstable as she was, had an analytical mind that helped her dodge capture and fly under police radar, despite a mounting body count.

Writer and director PattyJenkins provides a colorful backdrop for the story that unfolds.However, with more attention paid to shock than to storytelling, theviolence and incredulity take the front seat while our suspension ofdisbelief is resigned only to the understanding and loathing of thefilm's main characters.

Monster is a film abouta woman who was truly barbaric in her crimes but with flawed reasoningbehind it all. Few could understand her rationale and many would neverhave taken it so far. The first time was self defense, the remainingwere despicable and unrelenting. The audience can sympathize with acharacter who does everything they can for the person they love. Theycan even understand the need to fulfill the desires of a love despitethe evident self-centeredness of those needs. But they cannotunderstand what drives someone to kill again and again.

Perhaps Aileen was notrational. Perhaps her low self-esteem led her down a path of use andabuse by someone whose own self-doubt only added fuel to the flame.Perhaps she was just a cold blooded lunatic. Monster presents all ofthese viewpoints but never forces the audience to make a decision. Theonly conclusion we're led to is that, unbalanced or not, Aileen Wuornosdid only a few good and very many bad things and paid for those deedsin the end.

-Wesley Lovell (April 1, 2004)