Monster

Genre: crime drama 

With: Charlize Theron (Aileen Wuornos), Christina Ricci (Selby Wall), Bruce Dern (Thomas), Annie Corley (Donna Tentler), Lee Tergesen (Vincent Corey)

Director: Patty Jenkins

Release: 2003

Studio: Media 8 Entertainment, Newmarket Films et al.

Rating: 18 A

MBiS score: 8.0/10

‟Yeah, I had a lot of dreams. And I guess you can call me a real romantic…”

QuickView

Story-line: somewhere in Florida, a sad young woman contemplating suicide enters a bar and makes herself a new friend. Is this her chance to start over, to finally lead a happy life?

Pluses: an Oscar-winning performance by Charlize Theron in an unglamorous role, superb acting by Christina Ricci, disciplined direction, faultless technicals, a tough screenplay based on real events.

Minuses: the movie’s gravity may put you off at first but you will feel its power once the characters’ motivations are fully revealed in the third act.

Comments: a lean, sincere and violent drama about one socially-challenged woman tormented by her emotions, a haunting past and misunderstandings around her. Be warned… the film’s ending is a stunner.    

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