Powerful and beautiful story.

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2004)

I watched Monster, shortly after watching the documentary on Aileen Wurnos and its version of events not only sticks to the documentary's version, but it delivers Aileen's story from her side of the fence, it concentrates on her loss and deprivation of love. Her determination to find someone, anyone who could love her, how she truly deserved to be loved. The film does not focus on her childhood, skipping briefly through and it and engaging more on the events surrounding the murders, but it does depict the emotions and feelings she still has from her past, in the actions and thoughts she has later on in the movie. Throughout we get a sense that we have missed something, somewhere along the way and not knowing what it is, is more of a comfort than an annoyance. It adds to the texture of the film and only makes the viewer more inquisitive to continue watching.
At the start of the movie we see her on the brink of suicide, desperate to be released from her hooking and the cold backlash of society. She then goes to a gay bar (unintentionally) and meets Selby, a lost confused girl whose parents have sent her away due to her feelings towards girls. Even in this first encounter with Aileen we see her anger and hatred buried deep beneath the surface at first but emerging, recklessly and powerfully. As her relationship with Selby grows, so does she as a person. But as she gains love and other joys, which she has been so accustomed to live without, the harshness and reality of the world slap her in the face. We wonder whether the murders are a reflection of her search to conquer her hate. As she has the love that she longed so much for.
The first murder is portrayed completely and utterly honestly and shockingly. When I first saw this scene I actually felt myself crying, but more with anger and frustration than anything else. We see Aileen being beaten and raped, a shell with nothing inside, just a hooker. It shows us as an audience the way that most men view her. She isn't a person; she is a hooker, a piece of meat. The scene was well acted scripted and filmed. The shock and horror in Aileen's eyes when he pours the petrol over her is so terrifying to watch it's almost unbearable.
The other murders that follow are not particularly motivated by anything other than her need for money and hatred of men. But I believe that in some respects she felt attacked by the other men as well. She had been raped since the age of 8. The male authority figures in her life beat her and raped her. Even when she is older we see a policeman "helping her out" it is so awful and it opens peoples eyes to events which do take place within society even today. The authority figures we look to for help and advice can be those who turn against us and become like everyday criminals.
I think the film is beautiful, not only in its message but in the sad life of Aileen. I respect her, I respected her in the documentary. I think if she had been given just some chance, some hope from anyone then it might have altered her actions, but in a way she did prove a point and people will remember her for along time to come. The film shows a woman who society condemned without even giving her the chance. We shut out people because of skin colour, jobs, and religion and yet we do not even identify the problems within ourselves. Aileen was like any other woman trying to survive in the world and yet we blame her for murdering the people who in society today are still raping and beating and hurting innocent girls who turn to prostitution as the only way out. I loved this film so much and I loved Aileen I truly felt for her. Whilst not excusing her actions nor condoning them I understood them. I felt I understood her as a person and felt that she was so unjustly mistreated throughout her whole life.
Charlize does an amazing job at portraying Aileen, in every possible way. Her mannerisms, her voice, her actions, her laugh, her personality. Everything was polished to perfection in this outstanding performance. I was not as impressed with Christina Ricci and thought that an actress more suitable would be somebody like Juliette Lewis who is an amazing actress also. I thought Ricci looked the part but her acting has never been anything above average. Charlize really took my breath away and I was not only amazed but shocked at how similar she looked and behaved in comparison to the real Aileen Wurnos. This film I think is not to be taken lightly. It is a highly impressive, true story, which is responsible in my opinion for, opening societies eyes and impressing the reality of life for some people in the world on us all. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to be touched and impressed. 10/10 easily.