Monster (2003)

[RichC2]

Okay... I remember hearing about this movie a while back and how over zelous Charlize Theron was about it...

Fast Forward to today, anyone else catch Ebert and Roeper's review on the damn thing? I've never seen Ebert so damn excited about a movie before - splurting out 3 huge compliments: "One of the great movie going experiences of my life." "Charlize Theron gives one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema" and finally "If Charlize Theron doesn't win the oscar, they should retire the award.". Roeper shared his enthusiasm.

So, anyone had a chance to grab a sneak peak at it?

[RyoHazuki]

We all knew Ebert was a breast fiend.

[RichC2]

We all knew Ebert was a breast fiend.

Charlize looks like Nick Nolte in the movie. I somehow have a feeling that really wasn't a factor. (Ricci also looks kind.. off) But who knows, maybe Ebert likes the man titties?

[B.S.Preston,ESQ]

i never herd of dis is it a scerry moovee or is it of da drama type moovee?

[Mr. Salty]

Originally posted by B.S.Preston,ESQ
i never herd of dis is it a scerry moovee or is it of da drama type moovee?

You might want to watch a little less Ali G.

[Spooky]

According to Yahoo!, "Monster" has Theron playing an abused young woman who has a lesbian relationship with Christina Ricci's character and murders any man who tries to rape her.

I'm guessing this is NOT a Disney film.

[LiquidSky]

Originally posted by Spooky
According to Yahoo!, "Monster" has Theron playing an abused young woman who has a lesbian relationship with Christina Ricci's character and murders any man who tries to rape her.

I'm guessing this is NOT a Disney film.

It's based on a true story about a serial killer in Florida. She would hitchhike and kill the men who picked her up.

[Meatpants]

Yes, it's the story of the woman billed as the "first female seriel killer". Here's a link to Charlize's look in the film

http://charlizeonline.com/photos/movies/monster/index.html

[Gyno Rhino]

Wow.. She really did work at it, didn't she?

[LiquidSky]

Originally posted by Meatpants
Yes, it's the story of the woman billed as the "first female seriel killer". Here's a link to Charlize's look in the film

http://charlizeonline.com/photos/movies/monster/index.html

She looks like the real woman in these photos.

[LiquidSky]

Originally posted by DonnachaOne
:rolleyes:

Why are you rolling your eyes smart-ass?

I have seen pictures of the real Aileen Wuornos and Charlize Theron is made up to look a lot like her.

[Daytripper]

Originally posted by LiquidSky
Why are you rolling your eyes smart-ass?

I have seen pictures of the real Aileen Wuornos and Charlize Theron is made up to look a lot like her.

Yeah, thanks for the stellar contribution DonnachaOne. I'm kind of curious too as to what's up with the eye rolling. I've also seen pictures of the real Aileen Wuornos and I too think Charlize resembles her.

[DonnachaOne]

Forgive me; I misread Liquid's post.

I read Liquid's post and thought he said "She looks like a real woman in these photos". I figured Liquid was simply bashing Charlize, or the all-too-perfect standard Hollywood commands for actors.

I do apologize. I also must agree on the similarity.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue28/screens.broomfield.2.jpeg http://www.tvandfilmgrrl.com/monster/images/monster4.jpg

[Giles]

I missed the Nick Broomfield's docu "Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer" earlier in the year at the SilverDoc Documentary Film Festival but I hope that after "Monsters" release Lafayette Films can release this as well.

[LiquidSky]

Originally posted by DonnachaOne
Forgive me; I misread Liquid's post.

I read Liquid's post and thought he said "She looks like a real woman in these photos". I figured Liquid was simply bashing Charlize, or the all-too-perfect standard Hollywood commands for actors.

I do apologize. I also must agree on the similarity.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue28/screens.broomfield.2.jpeg http://www.tvandfilmgrrl.com/monster/images/monster4.jpg

That's ok :)

Nope. Not bashing Charlize at all. In fact, I like her. She really does look like Aileen in the pics I have seen.

[LiquidSky]

This true story is really interesting. After Aileen was caught, a couple adopted her! I'm not really sure what happened with that.

[MrN]

I'm not gonna be able to see this for a month - damn you Ebert for raising my expectations to impossible levels!

[DVD-ho78(DTS)]

Trailer

http://www.apple.com/trailers/newmarket/monster.html

[JonTurner]

HOLY SHIT - just saw a clip on Letterman - that transformation is absolutely insane.

So glad to see the most beautiful woman in Hollywood stretchin' the old acting muscle. :up:

[FiveO]

I did some research on Wournos a few years back so I was familiar with her picture. Theron's transformation is pretty amazing considering its Hollywood.

I'm really looking forward to this one...only place in MN thats its playing is in the Twin Cities...limited engagement :(

Should be worth my time though. Looks very good.

[Rypro 525]

Anyone see this yet? When does this open nationwide? I am kind of looking forward to this one, but don't know when it gets out of the La, NY area. Also there's a rumor that Christina Ricci does a nude scene, any truth to that?

[Sunday Morning]

I saw it. I really liked it. Charlize gave a phenomenal performance.
Ricci on the other hand wasn't that good. But she did look nice in that tight shirt.
The film is a pretty good character study, more so than a typical horror film. It explores some disturbing themes.

[hahn]

Originally posted by RyoHazuki
We all knew Ebert was a breast fiend.

Isn't Ebert gay?

Well, I'm REALLY looking forward to this movie. I've been reading a lot lately about psychology and I'm interested in seeing the events that lead to her transformation into a serial killer. I fully believe that people don' t simply turn into 'Monsters' unless they are driven to do so by forces in life that are beyond our own control.

[movieking]

I saw it. I really liked it, and Theron, aside from the amazing physical transformation, does an outstanding job. I agree with Ebert, WHO IS NOT GAY, that she deserves an Oscar nod for her work.

[bjh_18]

I just got back from watching it and Charlize Theron does an outstanding job. I've always been a big fan of hers and I always thought that she had a lot more acting ability than her roles so far have given her room for. She deserves not only a nomination from the academy, but she deserves the best actress award hands down. I also thought that Christina Ricci did quite well, not good enough for an Oscar nod, but still its one of the best performances, if not the best, that I've ever seen her give. The movie itself is good, but certainly not a best picture contender in my opinion. The acting is what really stands out in this one.

[QuiGonJosh]

Man...I really wanna see this movie...looks great...probably have to wait for DVD though...

[ruk]

same here,

[goatboy]

I saw this a week ago...Ebert is right...it really is something to behold. Theron loses herself in the role...I literally had to keep telling myself that she was inside the nasty, muletted, chubby exterior somewhere. She deserves the Oscar...no question about it!

[devilpants]

Originally posted by hahn
Isn't Ebert gay?

Nope. Roger's married to a black woman. Two big thumbs up! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[QuikSilver]

When does this movie come out nationwide?

[Tarnower]

Yeah, really? Are they ever gonna release this thing nationally? It's got buzz now. Strike while the iron is hot.

[jayson1017]

So I hear Theron's performance is supposed to be the greatest female performance on celluloid in the history of cinema. I'm definitely watching the movie to see her acting, to see how it ranks up with Maria Falconetti in Passion of Joan of Arc. Hopefully it'll be just as great.

[jayson1017]

For those interested in the real story behind Aileen Wuornos, check out this link:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/wuornos/1.html

[Rypro 525]

damn, even though this weekend is the official wide opening of the film, its only gonna be in about 100 theaters, most likely art houses only.

[jayson1017]

Its playing in 8 locations in the Chicago area. But not matter, I'm going to watch the Battle of Algiers tommorrow on the big screen (yippee!).

[quashmonger]

Rather boring flick. Theron is good -- Ricci is middling -- story is OK for about the first half. Overall, good, but nothing extremely special. I guess too much hype had me expecting a better flick.

[Corvin]

I found this to be a generally well-made film; great acting, of course (personally, I think it's a shame Ricci isn't getting more credit), and solid direction. I thought some parts were very compelling, but as a whole, the movie lacked the emotional "oomph" that I had thought it was going to possess.

Still, worthy of a trip to the theater, if you ask me.

[LivingINClip]

If I can find this anywhere, I'd love to see it. I am generally interested in serial killers and am curious how they treated the case in this film.

[Al Padrino]

The theatres in my city suck so I doubt we'll get this (and if we do, it won't be for a while). Because of this, I found a copy of it online, downloaded it and just got done watching it this afternoon.

Overall, a very well-done movie. There are times when you feel like you're watching Lifetime (after all, most of the male characters in this movie end up dead after a few minutes), but I think the acting is just great.

I myself wasn't too familiar with Theron (her appearance OR acting credits) so when I did see a picture of her on last week's EW (where ironically I first heard of the movie, but somehow overlooked on the cover initially) I was amazed. The physical transformation is just incredible and you'd swear you were looking at two different people.

The story can be a little stagnant at times, but the acting is just so incredible from the two leads that this is one you'll wanna check out.

[rabbit77]

This movie was really good. Yup, if Theron doesn't win best actress it'd be a travesty. The movie itself reminded me of Boys Don't Cry which I thought was really good, but would have no intention of ever seeing it again.

In Ebert's review: And note that there is only one moment in the movie where she seems relaxed and at peace with herself; you will know the scene, and it will explain itself.
I did make note of it, but I'm not so sure... was it at the top of the ferris wheel?

[Patman]

I wish I knew when this film will make it to Atlanta...

[Al Padrino]

Rabbit, that could very well be it since there was a previous explanation of how she wussed out on going on one earlier in her life and here, she had no hesitation because she was with Selby.

[Giles]

on a sidenote Nick Broomfield's docu "Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer" began it's national theatrcial rollout last Friday as well.

[sundog]

While Theron and Ricci were interesting enough to hold the film together, I was hardly enthralled by their performances. In fact, none of the film held much resonance for me. I could tell what scenes were supposed to convey: the tragic, the absurd, the bittersweet, the brutality, etc., but it all seemed like lip-service.

And after seeing Monster, any interest in seeing the Broomfield documentary is gone. I'm just not interested in this story any more.

off-topic
Originally posted by jayson1017
. . . I'm going to watch the Battle of Algiers tommorrow on the big screen (yippee!).

Make it to the Music Box Saturday? I checked out the late show that day. Extraordinary movie.

[FiveO]

Saw this last night in Minneapolis.

Wonderful film with Theron giving a performance well worthy of the oscar. Her facial expressions and movements were exactly like Wournos.


Definitely worth seeing, especially if you know anything about the story of Wournos as I do. Did some research on her back in college.

[jayson1017]

I have choice between watching Monster or The Battle of Algiers today. I'm going with Battle of Algiers. Can't wait!

[Patman]

I found the intentional/unintentional humor in the film a little distracting given the character study at play in the film.

Theron does lose herself in this role of (probably) her life because she disappears and all you see is Wuornos, who has many sides of inner conflict (of hurt, pain, childhood emotional trauma, delusion, low self-esteem, self-loathing) on full display, and the screenplay probably makes Wuornos more sympathetic than you'd normally consider for a serial killer.

The character of Selby was very frustrating because she's basically a useless person in this film.

Theron's performance is the high point of the film, but it doesn't have the narrative urgency it should have given the subject matter and the crimes involved, and the psychological study of how things got out of hand for Wuornos.

Theron is a lock for a Best Actress Oscar nod because I doubt there is another as courageous lead actress performance this year in any other film I've seen in 2003.

[Patman]

Here's my quick-n-dirty review of "Monster":

I found the channelling of serial killer Aileen Wuornos by Charlize Theron to be spot on in a very impressive performance (where she not only transforms her body/face, but also her mannerisms and speech pattern to inhabit the character without pulling any punches), but the story lacked narrative urgency, and just bops along as "a day in the life of Aileen Wuornos" type of film, but keeps the viewer 2 steps removed from getting really involved in either of the main 2 characters (Wuornos and Selby). Even when you see how the murders go down, the impact of the events don't really resonate or horrify, perhaps it's because the screenplay does its darnedest to make Wuornos's action more forgiveable and sympathetic than they truly deserve.

I give the film 2.75 stars or a grade of B-.

I give Charlize's portrayal 4 stars or a grade of A.

[clarkkent]

Ill go with Pat on this. My sentiments exactly. I will add that as much as I enjoyed her portrayal of Lee, I found it extremely hard to focus on her, mainly because of how awful looking I found her to be. I was cringing most of the movie just at the sight of her face.

[Tarnower]

This finally opened down here in Palm Beach. As impressed as I was with Theron's performance I as just as unimpressed with the film itself. The movie feels incomplete and one-note. Once she is apprehended, the whole film from that point on feels very rushed. A more focused screenplay would have certainly helped.

With that said, I do have to agree with Roger Ebert that Charlize Theron's performance is one of the most impressive I have ever seen any actress give. It is more an "embodiment" than a performance. I can't imagine any other actress in this role. A major powerhouse performance!

While Theron is a lock for a Best Actress Oscar nomination, I do not think she will actually win the Oscar. I stated in a different thread that the Best Actress award will go to Diane Keaton in "Something's Gotta Give." It's ludicrous to compare the two performances, but I just don't see Hollywood giving a major Oscar to a film that is this unpleasant, seedy and generally repellant. It also helps that Keaton gives one of the finest performances by an older actress in recent memory. It helps that Keaton's movie is absolutely terrific and intelligently written. It's a great role and giving an award to her performance and character will surely make a lot of Academy voters feel awfully good about themselves.

It's a shame that some real landmark acting achievements have gone down this shunned path in Oscar history. It kind of reminds me of instances like Dustin Hoffman being overlooked for his seedy, gritty, in-your-face performance as Ratso Rizzo in "Midnight Cowboy" and Sean Penn as the death row inmate scumbag in "Dead Man Walking." Both were career performances that were overlooked in large part to their characters being almost completely socially unredeemable and much too hard to stomach. With the Academy's age demographics starting to get younger, maybe this new generation of Academy voters will not follow in those footsteps.

While I think Theron's performance is most definitely deserving of the Best Actress Oscar, I would be very surprised if she actually did win it. Look for Diane Keaton's name to be read on Oscar night.

[Patman]

Well, there is the Hilary Swank factor where the Academy as a whole will give the Oscar to someone whose performance totally embodies the character they are playing, and on that note, Theron would get the nod over Keaton.

[tboogie]

I saw this film last night, and I was very moved by Theron's performance. I really felt sorry for this woman. I agree that the story could have been beefed up a bit, but Theron made up for the script problems. She should recieve at least a nomination for Best Actress; it will be a shame if she doesn't win though. Diane Keaton has played the same part in most of her films. Theron definitely catapulted her career with this role.

[andyh]

I've had Nick Broomfield's excellent documentary on Lee Wuornos on video for many years now.

I urge you - catch the NB true-life documentary any way you can. Not only will it show you the real Aileen Wuornos (unforgettable), but you'll come across at least three other, absolutely memorable characters .. Lee's useless singing, joint-smoking lawyer, her lesbian girlfriend, and the woman who 'adopts' Lee once she's in prison - who, to be honest, is as mad as a bagful of cats.

I'll watch Monster when it makes it over here to the UK, although I don't expect to walk out with a smile on my face ... btw, from the pics I've seen Theron looks like she's got the Wuornos 'look' absolutely bang on.

[Patman]

I saw "Inside The Actors Studio with James Lipton" this Sunday that featured Charlize. She's had an interesting past, being raised in South Africa, English is her second language, and she still speaks Afrikaan with her mother when they are alone. Her mother was in attendance, and looks pretty good for her age. Her first name came from her father's name "Charles". Her last name is pronounced "Thair-in" not "Thair-on". In her native language, it's pronounced something close to "throne".

Lipton even had Charlize talk a little about her father being an alcoholic and when she was 15, he came home pretty drunk and unruly, and her mother killed him in Charlize's presence. The event was ruled to be in self-defense. Her mother re-built the family business (in construction, IIRC) in 5 years afterwards and was an inspiration to Charlize.

The LOL moment was when she was discussion how a character evolves or is created while on the set, and she got to talking about some of the physical characteristic she gave to Wuornos by relaxing her knees to use her semi-double-jointedness to give her this strange way of standing/posturing when she was Wuornos, and then went on to discuss how she pulled up her jeans real high up, camel-toe and all, for the rest of the look (besides the facial makeup to get her to look as she did in the film). She had to wear dark colored contacts, and had to have a thin layer of latex applied to her face, with facial tattooing done on the latex to get that ruddy look of the skin on her face.

Charlize has now appeared in 23 films in 8 years. And she's not just a pretty face.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Originally posted by quashmonger
Rather boring flick. Theron is good -- Ricci is middling -- story is OK for about the first half. Overall, good, but nothing extremely special. I guess too much hype had me expecting a better flick.

Totally agree.

I think Charlize Theron is absolutely amazing in this. The first half is really good but then it kind of falls off.

Still well worth seeing though.

*** out of ****

[Rypro 525]

it apparently opens wide today, but its still not in my area, hopefully, once this gets an oscar nomination or 2, then it'll get a wider release.

[MrN]

Saw this film today. And Theron is absolutely electrifying from the first close-up. It wasn't just the make-up but her language and body mannerisms. I used to live in FL and used to see people dressed and acted like this all the time.

As for the rest of the film - there's some problems. Its incredibly hard to sympathize with a character commiting random acts of violence with the pathos relegated to dialogue - because we don't know if she's lying or not for one thing. Also, the Ricci character was very blah and even her motivations are suspect - she knew this woman was a killer but hung around longer than I expected.

Other problems in my book are editing that gives no indication of how much time is passing between scenes and an at times over blown score.

Congrats to Theron on her Golden Globe.


6/10.

[Jackskeleton]

Hee hee, Yeah, being in florida for a while I've noticed the samething with the way she acted as some residents acting like.

As for the time passing.. well I would say that being in florida in general you see no time change really because there isn't much of a weather change or enviromental change. Fall isn't the same and the such so seasons changing means very little in florida and you can't really tell other then the amount of showers.

Theron really deserved that globe and she is a sure in for actress come oscar time.

[LiquidSky]

Saw the film yesterday. Film: ***/****, Theron's performance: ****/****.

I believe Theron or Naomi Watts (21 Grams) should win the best actress Oscar this year.

[Red Dog]

Finally watched this yesterday. Very overated. Not much story, and I didn't feel any sympathy for either woman. Maybe it was just so unsettling seeing Charlize ugly herself up so much. ;)