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Monster

6.6

29,970

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Original title

Monster

Year

2003

Running time

110 min.

Country

United States

Director

Patty Jenkins

Screenwriter

Patty Jenkins

Cast

Music

Cinematography

Steven Bernstein

Producer

Newmarket, Media 8 Entertainment, DEJ Productions

Genre

Drama | Crime. Prostitution. Serial Killers. Gay & Lesbian. 1980s. 1990s. Based on a true story

Synopsis

A dark tale based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos, one of America's first female serial killers. Wuornos had a difficult and cruel childhood plagued by abuse and drug use in Michigan. She became a prostitute by the age of thirteen, the same year she became pregnant. She eventually moved to Florida where she began earning a living as a highway prostitute--servicing the desires of semi-truck drivers. The tale focuses on the nine month period between 1989 and 1990, during which Wuornos had a lesbian relationship with a woman named Selby. And during that very same time, she also began murdering her clientèle in order to get money without using sex. This turned the tables on a rather common phenomenon of female highway prostitutes being the victims of serial killers--instead Wuornos, herself, carried out the deeds of a cold-blooded killer.

Awards: 2004: Berlin Film Festival : Silver Bear - Best Actress (Charlize Theron)

2003: Oscar: Best Actress (Charlize Theron)

2003: Golden Globe: Best Actress of Drama (Charlize Theron)

2003: New York Film Critics Circle: Nominated for Best Actress (Charlize Theron)

2003: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Nominated for Best Supp. Actress (Theron)

2004: Nominated for BAFTA Awards: Best Actress (Charlize Theron)

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Critics' reviews

"There's Theron, like a force of nature, compelling us to go beyond TV-movie supposition and look Wuornos straight in the eye. Her raw and riveting performance makes Monster an experience you won't forget."

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"Digging deep down, Theron and the movie give us empty lives, desperate romance and murderous rage. They bring a monster to life."

Michael Wilmington: Chicago Tribune
"Phony choppers and a startling resemblance to Jon Voight aren't enough to transform Theron into Wuornos, and I didn't buy either the performance or the character for a second."

Manohla Dargis: Los Angeles Times
"In her feature-film debut, writer-director Patty Jenkins combines the gritty, claustrophobic neo-realism of 'Dahmer' with the unlikely gutter romanticism of 'Boys Don't Cry' (...) a haunting portrait"

Nathan Rabin: AV Club
Theron is nearly unrecognizable in the role. She's also astonishingly good. Obscuring the movie star has liberated the actress."

Carla Meyer: SFGATE
"A compelling, thought-provoking, and unsettling drama."

James Berardinelli: ReelViews
"Patty Jenkins's movie has a tough, illusionless clarity coupled with a gripping sense of drama. It's the work of a natural film-maker. (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian

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Ranking Lists Position

26 Movies with a Great Female Lead (82)
33 My Top 10 Movies from 2003 (72)
87 My Favorite Biopics/Biographical Movies (27)

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Monster

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