enlightenment

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2005)

I would have to say at first I crinkled my nose at the DVD box that my wife brought home. Heh. I had heard of the movie but unfortunately missed the end of the Oscars. I tossed the box to the side until we had time to watch it. So I didn't know Aileen's story or the ending.
I have watched it several times since. I have been enlightened to the cruelty of society, myself and others included. One chance, one person who looked beyond themselves could have made this a story of a person who fell in love, pulled themselves from the depths of despair only to find the touch, the love, the tenderness that had been lacking for so long.
I've read the reviews all over the Net. Film critics seemed divided on one web site. Making fun of Charlize Theron, calling Aileen despicable, faulting the film for not fitting cookie cutter models. I feel that some people, maybe most, just don't get it. Of course she murdered, and that cannot be forgiven and she paid the price society dealt. Which brings me back to society. It most certainly didn't help.
We all need to open our eyes and try a little harder in our hectic, busy, "I don't have time" lives to every once in a while provide support to those that may need our help. Sometimes, like Aileen, they even ask for help. I'm not perfect, I work downtown and see plenty of people that need and ask for help. I can recognize that some are schemers. I intend to help those I can from now on, and not only by giving them some change, but by offering some words of encouragement. Yes maybe its too small to help much. But what if we all had this attitude, and helped even a little.
Some may still fall through the system, but as a society, can we not evolve to saving and helping all? Aileen was on the edge and because of her mental health problem, fell over the edge. The victims are many and I feel for the seven men and if I may say so, pray for all of us so that this may never happen again.
Gee if you read this comment, thank you. I guess I'd have to say that this film Monster has forever changed me and I am still dealing with the meanings of this film.
Thank you for your time.