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Topic: Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster' (Read 552 times)

Rhune
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Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
« on: Dec 31^st, 2003, 9:46pm »

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Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
By David Germain
Associated Press
Monday, December 29, 2003 Posted: 4:45 PM EST (2145 GMT)

(AP) -- With "Monster," Charlize Theron becomes queen of the self-effacing starlets, eclipsing Nicole Kidman in last year's "The Hours," in which she concealed herself behind a prosthetic schnoz to simulate plain-Jane author Virginia Woolf.

It certainly wasn't the nose that earned Kidman the best-actress Academy Award, though. And it's not the splotchy makeup, protruding false teeth, dark contact lenses and extra 30 pounds Theron packed on that could make her a front-runner for the current Oscar season.

Theron gives a revelatory performance in "Monster" as prostitute-turned-serial-killer Aileen Wuornos, who was executed in 2002 for the slayings of several of her johns.

Until now, Theron has given some decent performances, often in bad movies, with "The Cider House Rules" arguably her best showcase. But she's mostly coasted on her striking looks, without giving a clear clue to how deep the serious thespian in her really runs.

"Monster" obscures Theron's beauty but reveals a fearless actress who comes about as close to a descent into hell as a cinematic fiction can take a performer. Theron is a herky-jerky dynamo of rage, despair, longing, false cockiness and misplaced hope amid a last desperate stab at love with a woman (Christina Ricci) she meets at a gay bar.

Always in motion as Wuornos, Theron moves with an awkward fluidity, as though her body were one big, nervous tic. Her voice is like a thousand others you've heard in dive bars: Loud, boastful, angling for attention, straining to be heard above the indifferent hubbub.

Writer-director Patty Jenkins makes a bold, sure-handed film debut, giving Theron's Wuornos enough slack to elicit twinges of empathy even as her actions provoke deep horror.

The result is much like Robert Blake's pitiful "In Cold Blood" killer: Repugnance for these murderers cannot help but mix with pathos amid the glimpses both films provide into their tormented souls.

"Monster" opens with Wuornos contemplating suicide after a life of physical abuse and neglect and a lowest-of-the-low existence turning tricks for scummy men who pick her up hitchhiking.

The film only hints at Wuornos' harsh upbringing, which her attorneys said included sexual abuse as a child. But a powerful scene in which she recollects her siblings' shabby renunciation of her goes far to establish the character's heartache.

When Wuornos decides to give the world one last chance to toss her a bone, lesbian wallflower Selby Wall (Ricci) approaches her at the gay bar, where Wuornos has taken refuge to spend her last $5 on cheap beer.

Selby is a lost sheep trying to escape a domineering family, and she latches onto Wuornos as a potential savior, provider and soul mate. Wuornos, so long accustomed to rejection, eagerly assumes the role, her infatuation with Selby driving her to justify killing and robbing her tricks to support them both.

Bruce Dern co-stars as Wuornos' one true pal, a scruffy Vietnam vet and drinking buddy who accepts her as a kindred crushed soul.

Ricci infuses a cloying neediness in Selby that makes a fine dramatic counterpoint to Theron's brash bravado. And Selby's feigned ignorance of her lover's killing spree establishes an air of complicity that suggests Wuornos is not the only monster in this little domestic unit.

"Monster," a Newmarket Films release, is rated R and runs 109 minutes.

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lakelady
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Re: Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
« Reply #1 on: Jan 1^st, 2004, 2:38am »

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http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808491138&cf=pstills

WOW. Did not even recognize her. Would love to see this. Even though it goes against any genre I enjoy. I am not into dark melodrama. But I've always liked her and even liked Cider House Rules.

Took me awhile, but I figured out what the synopsis of this movie reminded me of. The movie Barfly from 1987 with Mickey Roarke and Faye Dunaway. Very dark and depressing.

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1800032061&intl =us

« Last Edit: Jan 1^st, 2004, 2:49am by lakelady »

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Dameon Alexander
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Re: Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
« Reply #2 on: Jan 9^th, 2004, 3:58am »

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Did anybody else see the interview last night with her on 20/20? She is an absolutely amazing person who has overcome a lot in her life. Her father was an alchoholic and he attacked her and her mother one night with a shotgun. Her mother pulled a handgun and killed him. While I could tell that she has had trouble with it in the past, she's a strong person and has moved past it to greater things. She really appreciates what she has in life and seems truely happy. It was a wonderful story and if they show it again you need to watch it.

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radiogurl
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Re: Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
« Reply #3 on: Jan 22^nd, 2004, 7:49pm »

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I was lucky enough to see "Monster" on the weekend while visiting Toronto.

I guess you could say you know an actress has done a good job when she can evoke sympathy playing a serial killer.

I was familiar with the story of Aileen Wuornos if from nothing else than from watching shows like "Dateline". From what I've read, it wasn't the producer's intent to try and make people feel sorry for her. After all, she did murder 7 men... but when you see what her life was like and how desperately she wanted to be a better person and make changes, well, it's sad to think that no one gave her a chance.

The most gripping scene in the movie is when she has to kill a man who actually wants to help her. I won't divulge any more, but I'll just say it made me cry.

Ricci is good as her lover Selby. I was reading a review by Roger Ebert where it said a lot of critics had panned Ricci's performance, but he felt that she was playing a terribly naive girl with an idealized view of the world and that needed to be taken into account.

Hands down, Theron will win the Best Actress Oscar for this role.

I give Monster Cool

clappers.

~radiogurl~

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You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
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luci
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Re: Review: Theron fearless in 'Monster'
« Reply #4 on: Jan 25^th, 2004, 11:19pm »

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Yes, Dameon we saw her interview on 20/20. Very interesting indeed.
She is one beautiful young woman! Reminds us of Grace Kelly.
WE also are familiar with the story, as one of the stars from "Designing Women" played Aileen in a tv movie. Darn, I just can't recall her name. I think her last name isShort, am I correct, can place her face, just can't come up with her name.

Anyway, tonight at the Golden Globe Award Show, Charlize took home the award for her performance. Cool

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