Absolutely Extraordinary and Stunning Performance from Charlize Theron

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2010)

Charlize Theron gives one of the greatest performances I've ever seen in this harrowing story of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who went on a killing spree and was sentenced to death for her crimes.
Don't let anyone tell you that Theron's performance was only acclaimed because she allowed herself to get "ugly" for it. The same was said of Nicole Kidman's performance in "The Hours" from the year before. Yet when a male actor (like Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull") undergoes a physical transformation for a performance, he's congratulated for his commitment to his role.
Theron's performance is riveting and devastating, and it would have been so even without the makeup. She creates a deeply complex and fascinating character, a woman we revile even as we sympathize with her. And Christina Ricci, who got almost no attention for her performance as Wuornos' young and impressionable lover, meets Theron scene for scene.
One of the most deserved Oscar wins in history.
Grade: A+