Synopsis
“Monster” (2003) is a gripping biographic crime drama that explores Aileen Wuornos’s life, staring with her execution in 2002 for the murder of seven men. This is Patty Jenkins first directorial work. The film does not use the term ‘monster’ in the traditional sense to refer to a beast or something sinister like in horror movies. The film rather aims to provide viewers with an in-depth psychological profile of a woman whose life was marked by violence, tragedy and desperation. While the title provokes Wuornos’s view of society, it challenges the audience to explore the stark realities of the world and see beyond that superficial label.
This film is set in Florida in the 1980s. The opening scene focuses on Aileen (Charlize Theron) at her lowest period. She is broke, homeless and even contemplating suicide beneath an overpass. The life takes a turn when she meets Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), a young woman who is sent to stay with her relatives in Florida to escape the scandal concerning her sexuality. Selby’s vacation gets a drastic twits when she becomes infatuated with Aileen’s rough edges. Aileen, on the other hand, is desperate for love and human connection which is a dynamic that allows them to draw close together.
Aileen, preceded by a sexually sordid past, becomes embroiled in a hot romance with Selby while desperately seeking to foster a future with him. But Aileen soon finds age old social barriers standing tall in her way. After facing unspeakable trauma at the hands of an abusive client, Aileen murders him, claiming it was in self-defense. This shocking act catalyzes a new era for Aileen; she begins luring men to rob and kill them under the guise of sex. With time, her motives become harder to discern: was it to escape a lifetime of trauma, a world that has ruthlessly ravaged her, a need to fulfill financial obligations, or cold-blooded vengeance?
As more victims are added to the ever growing list, Aileen and Selby’s already shaky relationship hits rock bottom. Selby feels the weight of changed opinions as she grows more empathetic to Aileen’s radical changes and decides to pull away. Once the police start circling, she begins to testify against Aileen. In a spine-chilling yet anticlimactic conclusion, Aileen assumes all responsibility for the execution-style killings in a desperate attempt to protect Selby from the legal ramifications.
The film concludes with Aileen sentenced to death. The last scenes and her moments in the jail cell entail the feelings of sorrow while capturing the sense of inevitability, making viewers constantly wonder how someone like Aileen, who is deeply flawed but also human, is bound to meet such an end.
Cast & Crew
Charlize Theron (Aileen Wuornos): Theron completely transformed herself for the role, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress. She put on more than 30 pounds, used prosthetic teeth, and with her style of movement and speech, adopted Wuornos’s mannerisms. Merely losing weight and gaining it does not flaunt a performance, this one does. Her portrayal captures the pain, fury, and vulnerability of a woman shattered by life.
Christina Ricci (Selby Wall): Ricci portrays the character of Tyria Moore, Wuornos’s girlfriend, but in a more dramatized way. Her performance is unadorned but powerful. She is both Aileen’s stabilizer and an image of what is sickening about the turn of events in their relationship.
Bruce Dern (Thomas): In a minor but deeply evocative part, Dern is one of the few people who actually shows some warmth to Aileen and is sympathetic. His performance is not long but you remember it.
Director – Patty Jenkins: In Jenkins’ first feature-length film, she weaves a rich tale of Aileen’s life, committing the feat of character development in a remarkable manner. She gives Aileen depth and sympathy while avoiding romanticizing her crimes and presenting a complex and empathetic figure who exists in a brutal, unforgiving world.
Cinematographer – Steven Bernstein: The cinematography is strikingly aligned with Aileen’s world เถ เย A heavy sense of Aileen’s reality echoed in seedy motels, smoky bars, and desolate highways. The visual tone of the film correspond with its narrative’s themes of isolation and abandonment.
Music – BT (Brian Transeau): The score is understated and maintains a melancholic tone, creating an atmosphere that captures the film’s essence. Music plays a crucial supporting role, particularly in the emotionally impactful final scenes.
IMDb Ratings
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
“Monster” holds a solid rating on IMDb which emphasizes its critical acclaim as well as widespread acclaim. The film earns praise due to its skillful narrative, direction, and Theron’s remarkable performance which many believe to be benchmark of her career. Critics praised the film’s attempt to explore the horror of Aileen’s crimes Bonnie’s psyche and backstory construction instead of presenting her as a soulless murderer. The film positions Aileen as a deeply traumatized and abused person, shaped by an unforgiving world.
Throughout her career, Theron has never ceased to bring unexpected levels of boldness in her performances and her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in “Monster” is a prime example. For this specific role, Theron went as far as winning an Academy Award for Best Actress alongside a Golden Globe, a Golden Globe, and countless other awards. Furthermore, her authentic self portrayal made praise worthy of empathy, portraying a character who would usually be but unloved condemned by many.
In business decision making, there are many opposing sides that clash on different topics. In Selby Wall’s case, he is a fictionalized character, unlike real people he did not undergo dramatization in the film he starred in. There are endless debates whether certain character occurring or events happening in the film should be called artistic license or simply a glorified lie. Restlessly reinventing violent cruel realities will always portray ‘respect’ but in the predetermined boundaries.
When worrying about the human side of normal emotions, decisions get tougher. Some audiences believe “Monster” is a fierce grammar reminder of the heart, whilst others claim it to be way too controversial, emotional and heavy for a story centered around a death sentenced serial killer. Indestructible stranger bound emotionless simply festers the desire to praise or dispel, creating a constant swing within praiseless moral boundaries. It is within this ongoing struggle where the flicker of moral comfort contradicting the praise displayed on flash ratings holds ground to rest.
Standing tall above all the attributes to “Monster”, the film is unbeatable in not only showcasing deep dialectic arguments at the lower side of the humane experience but also easily understanding empathy. When the biopic along with true crime genres are considered, the true masterpiece “Monster” comes to mind without ever being placed in modern classics.
Conclusion
While “Monster” is by no means an easy watch for the average viewer, it best serves those interested in the psychology of true crime, particularly when it comes to trauma and violence. This film captures the harsh reality of justice, morality, and monstrosity that one attempts so hard not to confront. Drawing on Theron’s legendary acting, Jenkins’ direction places the film above mere biography or sensationalism, instead depicting a painful portrait of neglect and desperation.
“Monster” does try to explain the deep context from which Wuornos’ actions stemmed from, which is the abuse, neglect, and marginalized existence that makes up the reality for far too many people living in today’s world. With that, “Monster” allows the audience to appreciate the balance between crime and the human that drives that unexplainable phenomenon, urging for better social conditions that shed light on such tragedies.
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