Greatest Performance Ever? Absolutely!

Rating: Null/10 (6 July 2004)

Charlize Theron's performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos is the greatest acting job in the history of film. Even though every aspect of Monster is deeply moving, powerful, and touching, Charlize Theron is the most important piece of the film to discuss. She brilliantly plays the damaged and lost Aileen who strikes back at a society who never gave her a chance to live happily and successfully. Roger Ebert said in his review on the Ebert and Roeper television show that Charlize embodies Aileen Wuornos, but I will add that her performance is so outstanding and remarkable it's as if the film makers brought Wuornos from the dead and had her play herself. Charlize is not in the film being an actress named Charlize Theron, but she has literally become Aileen Wuornos. Theron is great because she knew and understood this tragic woman completely. It will be difficult to watch other films without comparing the performances of others to Charlize Theron's in Monster because she has accomplished what nobody else has in acting; both in movie history and current film. Acting students will be studying this performance for many years and they will learn much from it.
Monster is disturbing and upsetting, but Charlize Theron's part as Aileen Wuornos must be seen. She's truly fantastic.