Devastating

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2004)

What an astonishing film. Charlize Theron gives the best performance of her career, clearly the best performance of the year, AND one of the best performances I've ever seen. The swagger she effects to hide her lack of self-confidence and self-loathing for not being better than who she was, her vulnerability with Ricci's character, and her raw, naked, feral rage - all are pitch perfect, and displayed in scenes of undeniable power. Ricci is also excellent in a crucial role as a needy person, also starved for love and identity, to whom Wuornos turns for possibly the only source of love she ever finds in her life. It was also good to see Bruce Dern again in a small role. But this movie ultimately belongs to Theron, and her performance is indelible.