Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

The movie jacket claims this film is along the lines of Michael Moore's Roger and Me and Errol Morris' The Thin Blue Line, I wouldn't go that far. This film uncovers the injustice Aileen received throughout her legal process, but it was lacking stylistically. The lighting was poor, unnecessary pauses distracted the viewer from the content of the interviews, and the editing could have been cleaner. Regardless of these stylistic faults, the film's subject matter carries the film, that and Wuornos's chillingly perceptive outbursts in court. This woman's story--told correctly--is a valuable lesson to Americans and brings to light the need to reform the criminal justice system, which for Aileen, was corrupt on every level.

Nick Broomfield, the director of 'Kurt and Courtney', offers another interesting insight to a notorious subject of a different kind. Aileen Wuornos, dubbed America's first female serial killer and a woman who killed seven men, is the topic of Broomfield's investigation. He draws attention to the circumstances surrounding the media and Hollywood deals and the characteristics of Wuornos's lawyer and a Christian woman (who adopts Aileen and becomes her spiritual mother) and exposes their agenda. Rather than give insight to the crimes itself, Broomfield reveals the sensationalism of the event, and the people involved with Aileen. This is hardly a brilliant documentary but essential viewing as we see Broomfield struggle to get his interview with Aileen where the compelling factor revolves around the circumstances of the process and people involved itself!

***1/2 out of *****!

This film, and Broomfield's follow up, should be viewed by anyone who wants to reexamine their feelings about capital punishment. Wurous is abused by everyone, obviously at least half mad, and in a state of terror at being incarcerated. A ghoulish group of hanger ons try to exploit her at every turn (interestingly, the lawyer is given a questionable reprieve in the sequel) and even grease her path to the electric chair. The system to takes a crack at exploiting her "fame."

Some dismiss Broomfield's work as egocentric and cheap shot ridden; I find it honest and actually quite compassionate. I think he was derided for presenting an unflattering portrait of the then in vogue Courtney Love. Well, looks like he was right on that one too.

This is, I think, his strongest film. But see the sequel too; one the grim jokes turn themselves inside out.

Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992) was the first film that Nick Broomfield made about America's "first female serial killer". We follow Nick Broomfield around the sleazy side of Florida (and of American culture)as he tries to learn more about Aileen Wuornos. We also learn about how everyone is out to get a piece of her fame and ride it until it's out of gas. Mr. Broomfield does everything he can to try and get an interview as well with the notorious serial killer. Will Nick Broomfield get his interview? Are people really this greedy and shallow? What drove Ms. Wuornos and why to Christian groups want her to die in IL' Sparky? Check it out!!

Not as compelling as the second film but it's still interesting. I would strongly recommend this film for documentary fans or those who enjoy Nick Broomfield's work.

Why is it that Aileen Wuornos wasn't even the biggest monster in this documentary? She killed a few men, yes, and there's no getting around that, but her attorney, Steve Glazer, and her "adopted parent" Arlene Pralle, were absolutely despicable. I can't believe I watched a documentary about a serial killer and I was angriest at the killer's attorney and new found friend.

This titillating, albeit a bit amateurish, documentary focuses on the greed surrounding Aileen Wuornos, alleged killer of seven men in Florida. You may have seen her portrayed in the movie "Monster" for which Charlize Theron was awarded an Oscar.

The two worst people in this documentary, as I mentioned, were Steve Glazer and Arlene Pralle. Steve Glazer was a musician turned lawyer and he was bad at both. Except if you're bad at music people can boo you off the stage or turn your demo off. If you're bad as a criminal defense attorney your client gets put in the electric chair as Wuornos was. Steve Glazer spent the entire documentary smiling and singing as though he didn't have a care in the world. It was all too vexing to see his smug, self-righteous, predatory face every shot with a s--- eating grin, singing a stupid song, or justifying his pathetic lawyering.

After him was Arlene Pralle. She looked like a missing member of the Manson Family. She looked utterly vapid and vacuous, and she had a voice to match. In all of her Born Again wisdom she convinced Aileen to plead no contest which was tantamount to pleading guilty. She and Steve ushered Aileen to death row as though they were doing the Lord's work. If that didn't make her repulsive enough, she also sought to make money off of Aileen like many others had. She was a horrible human being and she was too dumb to know.

We didn't get to see much of Aileen that wasn't archived footage. It would've been nice to hear her fully explain what she'd been through and what she'd done. No one will ever know the complete truth, but I'd like to hear from her a lot more than the slimy people she found herself attached to.