Monster (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Patty Jenkins

Writer (WGA):

Patty Jenkins (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Based on a true story

Plot:

Based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer.

Plot Keywords:

Killer | Prostitute | Florida | Lesbian | Female Serial Killer

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 16 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Charlize Theron	...	Aileen
Christina Ricci	...	Selby
Bruce Dern	...	Thomas
Lee Tergesen	...	Vincent Corey
Annie Corley	...	Donna
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Gene / Stuttering "John"
Marco St. John	...	Evan / Undercover "John"
Marc Macaulay	...	Will / Daddy "John"
Scott Wilson	...	Horton / Last "John"
Rus Blackwell	...	Cop
Tim Ware	...	Chuck
Stephan Jones	...	Lawyer
Brett Rice	...	Charles
Kaitlin Riley	...	Teenage Aileen
Cree Ivey	...	7-Year-Old Aileen

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Casselberry, Florida, USA

Company:

Media 8 Entertainment

Trivia:

Patty Jenkins wrote the screenplay in only 7 weeks, while the production itself only took 2 months to be set up.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the roller rink, when Lee and Selby are about to kiss, Selby's hands move from Lee's shoulder to her bicep several times between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Aileen: I always wanted to be in the movies...

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

Soundtrack:

Crimson and Clover

Theron's Performance Makes It Worth A Look

This was not an easy movie to like but I was so enthralled at Charlize Theron's makeover and performance that it took center stage over the story.

Theron's physical transformation from the incredibly beautiful woman she is to hard-and-rough looking serial killer Aileen Wournos was just amazing. More than that, I appreciated her effort here, not just with all the makeup but all the mannerisms, the way she walked, moved her head, speech inflection....everything. She was worth the price of the film and I felt the same way after the second viewing months later.

The story is a sordid one, filled with a lot of f-words, so be ready for that if you haven't seen it and wondered about the language. It's very rough. It also includes a lesbian relationship between the two main characters, a relationship I have yet to find that anyone found appealing, frankly.

I may not be able to recommend the movie for its story but if you want to see an actress really step out of her element and give a great performance, check it out. My guess is that you'll either really like this film or hate it.