CHARLIZE THERON's performance is a performance for the ages

Rating: 10/10 (6 December 2003)

Saw MONSTER at Palm Springs AFI showings.
MONSTER title refers to an amusement park ride called THE MONSTER.
It's early DEC and I haven't seen all the movies yet, but I can't see any one topping CHARLIZE THERON's performance. This is a performance for the ages, Theron totally embodies Aileen...appearance, clothes, gait...these are easy (yet not often done right)*, but to get into a personality is not.
Theron's performance will be archived for study by all in the film industry. Few can go to such a dark place. PERKINS knew of what she was directing; Theron knew where she was going.
There will always be controversy about AILEEN's guilt reference her history of abuse. What is interesting about this story (if the movie is true) is that Aileen's killing spree only occurs when she has a sense of love in her life and someone to live for. She killed for money to support her only love. That's what the story is about as portrayed in the movie; the killer is humanized, a bad intersection of emotions, but a powerful story that is not melodramatic.

*I saw two movies this year where the heroines had a difficult backstory that would have drained most people and yet these gals look gorgeous. Don't people know that stress and strain can be seen in most people's faces? Look around...most people can look nice but the difficulties surrounding them just drain all the beauty out of them.