Rent Monster (2003)

A visceral, graphic & distressing film with a monumental performance by Theron - Monster review by TB

The story of Aileen Wuornos is one which varies depending on who tells it. To some, she is a total & remorseless monster, evil to her very core & those individuals cheered when she was executed. To others, she was almost a hero-figure: a prostitute who turned the tables on the men who exploited her for sex. And for many, including me, she was the product of one of the most horrific, evil & upsetting upbringings/childhoods you could possibly imagine, resulting in her becoming the mentally scarred & exploited woman who killed at first in self-defence, but then took out her anger on the men who used her.

Following on from the critically acclaimed & impactful Nick Broomfield documentary Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, Patty Jenkins contacted Wuornos & wrote her life story. In another stroke of genius casting, Charlize Theron was chosen to become Wuornos, become literally being the case. What they have created is a film so visceral & powerful, it literally grabs you by the throat & drags you into this world of hell.

Theron is absolutely sensational. Roger Ebert called her performance "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema." This is a Daniel Day-Lewis level performance, Theron not only physically transforming herself with prostheses, but also immersing herself in every detail of Wuornos's life. When you look at Theron & Wuornos side by side, you simply cannot tell the difference. That is the level we are at. Few actors ever reach this level, and her performance left me in awe.

But don't for a second think that Christina Ricci is sidelined as Wuornos's lover Selby Wall. Ricci has imbued Wall with a childlike naivety & mischief, which also hides a highly damaged & scared woman. And the tragedy that unfolds in their lives is all the more sad because in some small way, you do feel that constant feeling of "If only..." If only the pair of them could drag themselves out of this situation, get some stability in their lives & find peace, they could be happy. But of course, you also know that that will never happen.

The other massive praise I give this film is in its total "take the gloves off & get honest" approach, none more so than the scene where Aileen is attacked by a John, starting off the devastating spiral of violence. The level of sexual violence is unbearable, so much so that I actually cannot watch it without wincing. No punches are pulled: this is the life & risks that every prostitute has to deal with every time they get into a car with a stranger. This is no Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman callgirl scenario, this is real & graphic.

The script is excellent, as is the direction. Wuornos is never sensationalised & the film also makes clear that as her violence spirals, the killings never provide enjoyment for her, more a brief moment of feeling that she has fought back for one second against a world which has done nothing but abuse & exploit her.

The ending also gives no easy answers: sure, Aileen is arrested & sentenced to multiple death penalties. But as I finished the film, I just felt an overwhelming sadness that a woman who, from a very young age was sexually & physically abused by almost everyone who should have been protecting her, was effectively turned into this "monster" who more than anything was just angry at the hell she was born into.

And it is only by sheer luck that we as the viewer were not thrown into that sort of life...

A monster with some redeeming qualities - Monster review by PT

Okay nobody can argue that the crimes of Aileen Wournos were not heinous, period. The director Patty Jenkins has made a film that tries to imagine the circumstances that led this woman to take the step into the void of inhumanity.

Charlize Theron captures this journey brilliantly, giving a stupendous Oscar winning performance as the explosive, reckless, crazy and murderous Aileen. Conversely, capturing her redeeming features of love, hope and compassion equally brilliantly.

Theron plays the part so well I really felt for the character, given her horrendous past, and the scene in the courtroom when she motions through tears to her girlfriend that its okay I found particularly moving.

This is a great character based film.

good - Monster review by CP Customer

excellent film