Posted: 01/10/2004

Monster

(2003)

by Hank Yuloff

Ms. Theron gives a tour de force in this film based on the life of a female serial killer.

Well, for this holiday season, the time of brotherhood and joy, we have seen three of the best movies that will ever make you want to grab a bottle of Southern Comfort and disappear for a lost weekend.

First there was Cold Mountain with it’s total downer ending when Jude Law finally gets back to the woman he loves, does her, then gets shot. Then there was House of Sand and Fog with its killings and murder suicide caused by a bureaucratic error.

Now, ladies and gents, I give you Monster. It is truly not one of the feel good comedies of the year 2003.

Charlize Theron stars as Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who in the 1980’s went on a robbery - killing spree to make enough money so her and her lover Selby Wall could move to a beach house in the Florida Keys.

We open with Theron sitting under a freeway overpass about to kill herself. Instead, she stumbles into a gay bar to spend her last $5. The reason, we find later, is that she thinks she blew a guy for the fiver and if she didn’t spend the money, it would be like he got it for free. At the bar she meets Selby Wall and they end up drinking all night. This chance meeting develops into a relationship that leads down the road to the seven killings for which Wuornos was executed.

The reason to see this movie is Theron’s incredible performance. I forgot she was the star and for the entire movie I had no idea who the actress was. I wondered if her teeth were naturally that bad or if the actresses’ eyes were naturally able to look that empty and desperate. Theron completely transformed herself, delving into a deep, dark place that no one should ever have to visit. It’s an odd quirk that what brought Wuornos to life and caused her to kill, was her love for another human being - something she had been denied all her life. We read that all over Theron’s face. See this movie for Theron.

Christina Ricci plays Selby Wall, an immature unloved girl who gravitates towards the stronger personality she finds in Wuornos. Kudos to her for a fine performance as well as to Bruce Dern who takes a small part (Wuornos’ friend, Thomas) and makes it intricate.

I was very impressed with the pacing, story, and photography. Director Patty Jenkins (Velocity Rules) did an excellent job.

My recommendation: rent this one when it comes out along with 2001’s tape for a couple of seedy hotel movies with strong casts and stories. But have plenty of chocolate handy.

Hank Yuloff is just now coming out of his holiday season funk. Just in time for the baseball season to begin.

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