Phenomenal, deeply moving

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2004)

I read the featured review for this film and I found it to be grossly over critical and unfair. While I agree that the film shows Aileen in a victim's light, I am not convinced that this perspective is entirely unfactual. I did not know Aileen, but I find the film plausible and I guess part of me wants to believe that someone who did all those murders was doing them with the kind of rationale that was hypothesized in this movie. It makes the acts almost understandable that way.
At any rate, the story that the film does tell was deeply moving and powerful. I think that critics forget that a film says, "based" on a true story for a reason. It is not always the intention or responsibility of the director/artists to deliver the complete real story. A film like this is art, and it presents itself that way. Therefore, I think it can be seen as an important story about the human condition (regardless of actual events or facts) -love, acceptance and survival.
There are only three adequate words for Charlize Theron's performance -"OH MY GOD!" I didn't even realize who she was until the movie was almost over. I haven't seen footage of the real Aileen, so I won't evaluate the likeness or lack thereof achieved by Theron. All I can say is, I haven't seen acting that good since Cecily Tyson did Ms. Jane Pittman 20+ years ago (with the exception of maybe Pacino in Scarface, and Kingsley in Ghandi). Theron put herself in a completely different category of acting when she delivered this performance, which was absolutely unforgettable and truly scary. I was totally absorbed in her character,. The emotional depth and complexity she brought was off the charts! This film DOES NOT LACK FOCUS (as the featured reviewer claims), Theron does not overdo it, and there was plenty of stuff going on that moved the film along.
This film will stay with me for many years. It affected me deeply, and personally as a human being to be taken to a world of such pain, loneliness and hopelessness. I think its greatest achievement was that it strongly reminds us of how important real love is.
A++++++++++ Charlize and Patty. EXCELLENT JOB! You GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!!