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…
Sample Source(s) Used
References
Barsanti, Chris. "Monster." Fimcritic.com, 2004. {Online}. Retrieved April 3, 2004, http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/2a460f93626cd4678625624c007f2b46/1876d7b6a8a1ce7388256e04007c545d?OpenDocument
Monster." Reviewed by E! {Online}. Retrieved April 3, 2004. Available: http://www.eonline.com/Facts/Movies/Reviews/0,1052,88325,00.html?seed=movfact2
Monster." Reviewed by the Contra Costa Times. March 26, 2004. {Online}Available: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/cities_neighborhoods/berkeley/8282664.htm
Related Documents
Study Document
Movie Review of Elf
In my view, Elf is the perfect movie for family fun. It is a rare Christmas comedy with a heart, a mind and a rather outlandish sense of humor. It is a great charmer. It includes some rather unexpected casting. The movie is definitely worth watching.
Star rating: 3
Star names: Mary Steenburgen, Will Ferrel, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel
Director Name: Jon Favreau
Rating: PG
Movie length: 97 minutes
The
Study Document
Film Review: Forbidden Games
Forbidden Games Film Review Most likely Paulette is more focused on her puppy because that is something that is more immediate. She is so concerned with the fact that she lost her cute puppy that she used to play and cuddle with because it was something that immediately gave her pleasure and satisfaction. In reality, she doesn't really understand that her parents are fully gone. She may be in shock, or
Study Document
Movie Review of the Tin Drum
Tin Drum 1979 Film Review: The Tin Drum (1979) The film The Tin Drum (1979) is like nothing I had ever seen before. It was loud, offensive, and in your face; yet, lightly laced with an incredible depth that reflected the sentiment of a still broken nation. In the midst of the Cold War, with Berlin still divided amongst East and West, director Volker Schlondorff created a true masterpiece in a world
Study Document
Kill a Mockingbird Movie Review
But even though the film's camera work is mainly conventional, it does feature some surreal-looking shots and sequences, e.g., Boo Radley's shadow hovering over Scout's older daredevil brother Jem, as Jem, having intruded on the Radleys, cowers on their front porch in terror. The storytelling is interesting but like the camera work, not especially unconventional on the whole. The story is told in two ways: (1) in voiceovers as Scout,
Study Document
Titanic Film Review Titanic 1997 , Directed by
Titanic Film Review Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron, uses the HMS Titanic's maiden and only voyage across the Atlantic as the backdrop for a romantic drama that explores the timeless relationship between Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Gloria Stuart as the older Rose and Kate Winslet as the younger Roser, two people from vastly different social and economic backgrounds who happened to meet
Study Document
Graduate 1967 : Film Review Although
them" style. Benjamin is seen running at top speed, full of passion as he barely makes it to the wedding in time to save Elaine from making a horrible mistake. The murmured silence of the wedding is clearly meant to exemplify the dull world Elaine will enter unless Benjamin can run fast enough. The fast pace of the film as a whole, its use of Simon & Garfunkel's witty lyrics