Monster

Charlize Theron delivers a knockout cast-against-type performance in this gritty drama based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos a down and out prostitute who was sentenced to death after killing six men between 1989 and 1990. Christina Ricci co-stars as Selby Wall a lesbian runaway who forms a romantic bond with Wuornos. Inspired by her love (even though she is not gay strictly speaking) Wuornos tries to get a real job but after meeting with a string of humiliating failures she returns to work as a hitchhiking hooker killing her first victim in self-defence after he rapes and beats her. Eventually robbing and murdering her clients becomes almost second nature and by the end Wuornos even slays a man who was totally innocent (Scott Wilson). Therons portrayal of this dangerous yet sympathetic character ranks with some of the greatest performances in cinema. Under heavy makeup extra weight and a snarling countenance she proves herself a fearless formidable talent completely unrecognisable from the glamorous beauty of such films as THE ITALIAN JOB (2003) and THE DEVILS ADVOCATE (1997). First-time director Jenkins proves herself with this fluid and engrossing work capturing a lot of sordid detail that other movies exploring this milieu might miss she also wrote the script based on actual conversations and prison letters from Wuornos. The moody paranoia-enhancing soundtrack is by electronica maestro BT.