Sorry, this movie sucks

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This movie affected me on so many levels. It was so brilliantly done. The performances were intense and so believable I found myself crying in parts. What is a sign of brilliant acting is the fact that Charlize Theron succeeded in making us sympathize with her character despite the fact her character was a cold blooded killer. In fact in the attempted rape scene where she retaliates and murders the man I was silently cheering. To say Charlize Theron deserved that Academy Award is an understatement her performance is so flawlessly brilliant that she's barely recognizable as the blonde beauty she is in real life. This movie is frighteningly brutal in it's honesty. I cannot recommend it enough!

I am too late on the scene to review this movie. Just watched and I am torn apart in the shades a person can have. There is no doubt that the performances by actors have been excellent. The most painful aspect of this movie is that the world pushed her towards being a monster. With no one to look out for her since she was a child, her transformation into this cold killer seemed so natural and heart wrenching. It was difficult to see when she really tried reaching out and got indifference from the world. Amazing portrayal by Charlize Theron with so many contrasting layers of emotions - vulnerability, helplessness, aggression, child-like happiness when with Shelby, cold-bloodedness!! Hats off to her!

Here we have the Oscar-winning "Monster", an American biopic movie from 2003 that will have its 15th anniversary next year. These 105 minutes are the most known work by writer and director Patty Jenkins, which may change when her new Wonder Woman movie will finally come out. And it is also the career-defining performance by South African actress Charlize Theron. In here she plays Aileen Wuornos a prostitute and serial killer who had her very own way of dealing with clients. And while I am sure that a lot was added in this film for drama purposes, I am perfectly fine with it as it makes the entire film more interesting. I am honestly personally not too sure if Wuornos' life or character justify a biopic, but the way things looked here, it is okay. Was she really driven by inner demons/forces to kill these men the way it is depicted during the last killing scene? Was she really that upset by authority and rejection as we see during her job interview? Did she really hate men as much as it was depicted in here? I don't know. But regardless of what the true answers to these questions may be, it all works pretty well in this movie.As for Theron, she dominated the awards season with her portrayal here and a lot of this may have to do with how she went for ugliness. Theron known as one of the most stunning women/actresses on the planet looks homely here from start to finish. So the make-up sure helped her a lot in her ambitions. And what also helped was the fact that Theron's character was depicted as a human being with feelings and emotions despite the horrible acts she committed on these many occasions. That final murder scene I already mentioned and also of course her relationship with Ricci's character show that very well. Eventually, she is the one who may have been cured if her girlfriend loved her as much as she loved her too, but this was not the case. Anyway, all in all, I personally found nothing really too memorable here apart from Theron's performance and I guess many thought the same as the film received not too much recognition at awards ceremonies beyond that, for example no Best Picture or writing nominations at the Oscars. With Theron, a nomination may have been enough, but I am also okay with the win I guess, even if I'd never consider it one of the greatest Best Actress winners / female performances. From 2003 for example, it is certainly not on par with Scarlett Johansson in "Lost in Translation". That's why seeing "Monster" once is enough. But seeing it once is also very much recommended. Thumbs up. Final note: Bruce Dern is a much better actor than what he was allowed to show us here. Extremely underused.

Monster (2003): Dir: Patty Jenkins / Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Annie Corley, Pruitt Taylor Vince: Shocking true story about society's damage. Charlize Theron plays Aileen Wuornos who was sentenced to death in 2002 for the murder of seven males. Her background indicates that her damaged self esteem turned her to prostitution until she met a lesbian played by Christina Ricci. Theron shoots her first taker with his own gun after being raped. Compelling but often repetitious with an ending that should render thought. Insightful directing by Patty Jenkins who drives the social commentary home. Theron delivers a knockout performance as a woman driven to madness. She encounters a variety of males including a cop, but her story isn't a happy one. Ricci is superb as the wandering lesbian who is staying with relatives. Her parents resent her choice of sexuality, and her hookup with Aileen can only lead to trouble. Supporting roles are unfortunately not as broad. Bruce Dern appears but more of him would have been better. Also appearing is Annie Corley. Great makeup job on Theron to complete the transformation. Pruitt Taylor Vince plays a nervous and shy stuttering dote whom Theron gives a hand job to. Depressing film that will not appeal to everyone but it does present stern lessons about that monster called society. Score: 7 / 10