"The drama's uncompromising nature and, above all, Charlize Theron's powerful, physically astonishing performance should attract the kind of critical attention necessary to mine the specialized niche." David Rooney VARIETY "Its series of weak excuses and cliched insights illuminate nothing, and the movie ends up little more than a lesbian slasher flick." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS "Constantly, almost pathologically, making excuses and rationalizations for the brutal murderess." Eugene Novikov FILM BLATHER

"An okay movie made nearly great by one great thing: the bravura, mercilessly watchable performance of Charlize Theron." Michael O'Sullivan WASHINGTON POST "Just give Theron the Oscar now. ... Rarely has an actor been given such an opportunity to play so far against type and rarely has she succeeded so well." Steve Rhodes STEVE RHODES' INTERNET REVIEWS "Charlize Theron pours herself into the body and mind of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkins' devastating directing debut." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM

"Theron sacrifices her body, her image, and her soul to give what may be the most stunning transformation ever to take place in any movie." Joshua Tyler CINEMABLEND.COM "Wuornos was a far more complex creature than most accounts of her will allow, and Patty Jenkins' tough and tender movie has caught the contradictions of a woman stranded between unwarranted hope and unavoidable despair." Ella Taylor LA WEEKLY "Like most serial killer stories, Monster isn't easy to watch. Thanks to Theron and the rock-steady work of those around her, it's equally difficult to forget." Rob Vaux FLIPSIDE MOVIE EMPORIUM

The Awards

Charlize Theron

Aileen Wuornos

ACADEMY AWARDS GOLDEN GLOBES IFP SPIRIT AWARDS IFP SPIRIT AWARDS SCREEN ACTORS GUILD CRITICS CHOICE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW ONLINE FILM CRITICS SOCIETY CNN RADIO MOVIE AWARDS CNN RADIO MOVIE AWARDS SEATTLE FILM CRITICS GOLDEN SATELITE AWARD SAN FRANCISCO CRITICS NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE SOUTH EASTERN FILM CRITICS LAS VEGAS FILM CRITICS SOCIETY DALLAS/FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS

Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Patty Jenkins Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Christina Ricci Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron Charlize Theron

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Best Actress Best Actress in a Drama Best First Feature Best Lead Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress Breakthrough Performance Best Actress Best Actress Best Supporting Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress Best Actress

At A Glance There are many who think that when it comes to accounting for some peoples behaviour, circumstances play no part. These same people also believe that when it comes to breaking the law, circumstance should play no part in determining their punishment. I guess we can all be thankful that no matter how many people cry 'bloody do-gooders' and blame some court verdicts on 'smart' lawyers, in general everyone gets a fair go under our present legal system. Of course, you'll always have the 'rednecks' calling for a return of the death penalty or bringing back corporal punishment such as using the cane on offenders, as long as it's never them on the receiving end. Take the case of Aileen Wuornos, executed for the murder of seven men she killed while working as a roadside prostitute in Florida. One could argue that if she had given herself up when the first incident happened, when she murdered Richard Mallory in woods at Ormond Beach, Florida, her circumstances may have played a big part in the courts verdict. She could have argued that on the night she was happy to have sex for money but not to be beaten unconcious, tied up and raped brutally with a bottle. She could have argued that she somehow managed [in a state of total terror and fearing for her life] to free herself, and then shot and killed her 'john' in self defence. She could have brought up her childhood years which were filled with abuse and in relation to that night in 1989, there would have been ample physical evidence to support her story. But Wuornos chose not to go to the police. Wuornos may have considered it, but knowing the treatment she had already received, thought that as a prostitute, who would really believe her. Wuornos chose another path. One which would not accept her circumstance but rather would seal her fate as a serial killer. During her long years incarcerated on death row Wuornos began writing to her childhood best friend. The woman was in constant contact with her and was the person Wuornos chose to spend her final hours with before her execution. Writer and Director Patty Jenkins had befriended both women, gained their trust and convinced them of her integrity.
"In the last years of her life, nearing execution, Aileen had become an incredible eloquent writer and would write these long letters filled with memories about things that had happened to her," Monsters director & writer Patty Jenkins said. "Some of these things were childhood memories and were just heartbreaking, and had a big influence on the voiceovers in the film because of the way she could talk about these horrors with a kind of detachment, like she was telling a story about something else that was happening." What Jenkins has pieced is a remarkable story of just one year in the life of Aileen Wuornos, a year in which she killed seven men and was charged with the death of six of her victims. Just as remarkable is the amazing transformation of accomplished actress Charlize Theron into an incredible likeness the person who was headlined in newspapers as America's first female serial killer. And if you think the two photos above aren't convincing enough, wait till you see Theron on screen. The transformation came about thanks to a determination by the actress to do great justice to the role and the help of make-up artist Toni G. But first, did Theron have any reservations about the role prior to shooting?
"First, you freak out! The greatest responsibility is that this is someone’s life and they’re not here anymore and you have to try to translate that experience for people and honor it in a truthful way. A week away from shooting, I really started panicking," the Theron recalls. "I was praying I could crawl into this woman’s skin—so the performance wouldn’t be these conscious decisions. And I was just experiencing lots of emotions; there were lots of 3AM phone calls to Patty. But, if you’re lucky, those decisions do become unconscious because you’ve done your homework and foundation work." That homework included picking up on the way Wuornos spoke. "She would use ‘all that jazz’ all the time," says Theron. "And she’d also switch words around in certain expressions, and I started doing that." There was also a need for the actress to put on a little weight. Theron actually added 25 - 30 lbs as she beefed up for the role. Producer Mark Damon compares Theron's amazing physical transformation with that of Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull and Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot. "There are many actors who are willing to gain weight or change their appearance for a role," he said, "but ultimately it’s the performance, not the physical transformation, that’s memorable." The credit for much of her physical appearance goes [as already noted] to make-up artist Toni G. That meant long hours studying photos of Wuornos and comparing them to the lead artist. Tony decided she needed the talents of Art Sakamoto. Art constructed two sets of teeth for Theron to use during the shoot."The teeth were the most constricting structure we designed because Charlize had to learn to speak with them, just as someone would have to adjust their speech if they were wearing a retainer or dentures; there’s different space for your tongue to articulate properly," explains Toni G. "But Charlize was able to use that for the performance. In the end, I think they aided in her speech pattern, and even during rehearsal, she’d want her teeth." Theron who was assisted by famed dialect coach Brooks Baldwin and wore contact lenses as well as false teeth says she "“could leave the contact lenses and teeth in and makeup on for sixteen hours and never found it distracting." But there's still the makeup of Toni G which took between one and a half and two hours each day. "I basically painted her face the way I would a prosthetic piece," Toni G explained. "Her face, her neck, her hands, everything had at least a light coat on it. And I hand painted the capillaries and additional shading to get the emphasis where I wanted, such as deepening her nasal folds." The freckles, the reddish skin and the sun damage was recreated using a splattering effect with an airbrush. While Toni's makeup work is superb, she was impressed with Thuron's work on the shoot saying, "She literally gave me goosebumps her performance is so good and so true." The 'icing on the cake', the ultimate reward for everyone involved in "Monster" was when the announcement came at the 2004 Academy Awards that Charlize Theron had taken the Oscar for Best Actress in a Lead Role. That day, the 29th of February 2004 was the day Aileen Wuornos would have celebrated her 48th birthday, had she not been executed. For More On Aileen Wuornos [and other crimes] Visit This Killer Site Just click on the logo to visit this killer site which features stories on all the serial killers and more. Download Free Charlize Theron Wallpapers At These Two sites Just click on either of the logo's above to visit these great sites which feature Charlize Theron. Cast & Crew Bytes "Monster" was directed and written by Patty Jenkins ["Just Drive" and "Velocity Rules"], the producers include Mark Damon ["The Choir Boys", "Das Boot", "The Jungle Book" and "The Musketeer"] and ["Barb Wire", "Big City Blues", "Love & Sex" and "Mambo Café"] with cinematography under the direction of Steven Bernstein ["Jade", "Bulletproof", "The Waterboy" and "Sacry Movie 2"] and original soundtrack music by BT ["Go", "Driven", "The Fast and The Furious" and "The Core"]. The film was cast by Ferne Cassel ["Major League II", "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls", "Love Stinks" and "The Forsaken"] and the production designed by Edward T McAvoy ["Wild Things", "Ghost World", "Sorority Boys" and "The United States of Leland"]
"Monster" stars Charlize Theron ["That Thing You Do!", "Mighty Joe Young", "Reindeer Games" and "Curse of the Jade Scorpion"] and co-stars Christina Ricci ["Mermaids", "Casper", "200 Cigarettes", "Sleepy Hollow" and "The Gathering"], Lee Tergesen ["Mind Benders", "Point Break", "The Shot" and "Shaft"], Annie Corley ["Malcolm X", "The Bridges of Madison County", "The Cider House Rules" and "21 Grams"], Pruitt Taylor Vince ["Mississippi Burning" "Wild At Heart", "China Moon" and "Trapped"], Scott Wilson ["In the Heat of the Night ", "Clay Pigeons" and "The Last Samurai"] and Bruce Dern ["Wild River", "The Wild Angels", "World Gone Wild" and "Wild Bill"] as Thomas. The Story

"Will chill your blood and worm its way into your psyche for a longer stay than you may wish." Jean Lowerison SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN

On a wet night, Aileen Wuornos wanders into a Florida bar. Wuornos, a hooker who works the roadside, has reached the bottom of the barrel emotionally. All she wants is a drink and to be left alone. Then she meets Selby Wall, a young girl who is struggling to find herself. Selby Wall's parents have sent her to stay with an Aunt, hoping the change will cure her, rid her of her homosexual tendencies. Somehow these two loners connect. With no where to go, Wuornos accepts Walls invitation to stay at her place with reservations. After all, Wuornos has already made it clear that she is straight. While initially there is no sexual connection, Wuornos soon finds herself falling in love with Wall. Bouyed emotionally by her love for Selby and a genuine desire to to extract herself from working as a prostitute Wuornos tries to find a regular job, but without any qualifications, she soon discovers how cruel life can be. While leaving an interview, she is recognized by a local patrolman, handcuffed and taken in to custody. She is genuinely alarmed until she remembers their last encounter. He has no intention of arresting her, he just wants a good blow job and Wuornos is good at that. Unable to provide for her lover with a regular job and income, Wuornos is forced to go back to the one thing she does best, picking up and servicing 'johns' who cruise the local roads. Aileen's life changes that night when she is taken into the woods, beaten unconcious, tied-up and then brutally raped. Desperate to escape, she manages to free herself and in a traumatized state kills her 'John' and then robs him. It is the start of a brutal killing spree which will eventually lead to Aileen Wuornos being charged with the murder of seven men and her execution in the electric chair after a number of appeals and twelve years on death row. The Verdict "It's a film which demands to be seen and it should be, if only for Charlize Theron's incredible Oscar winning performance in the role of Aileen Wuornos. It's the saving grace for "Monster" because everything else including Bruce Dern and Christina Ricci is lack lustre. Unconvincing, violent, overwraught production. Never the less worth seeing for the way Theron is transformed into an incredible likeness of this brutal killer. Charlize Theron is "Monster". A memorable performance from a memorable actress. From farm girl, to model, to award winning actress. Bravo Ms Theron. Recommended to those who wish to see a classy performance." The Cast

Charlize Theron Christina Ricci Bruce Dern Lee Tergesen Annie Corley Pruitt Taylor Vince Marco St John Marc Macaulay Scott Wilson Rus Blackwell Tim Ware Stephan Jones Brett Rice Kaitlin Riley Cree Ivey Catherine Mangan Magdelena Manville T. Robert Pigott Romonda Shaver Glenn R Wilder

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Aileen Wuornos Selby Thomas Vincent Corey Donna Gene/Stuttering "John" Evan/Undercover "John" Will/Daddy "John" Horton/Last "John" Cop Chuck Lawyer Charles Teenage Aileen 7-Year-Old Aileen Justy Bar Lap Girl Bartender Employment Agent Restaurant Manager

The Crew Directed & Written by Patty Jenkins Produced by Mark Damon/Donald Kushner/Clark Peterson/Charlize Theron and Brad Wyman Original Music by BT Cinematography by Steven Bernstein Film Editing by Arthur Coburn and Jane Kurson Casting by Ferne Cassel Production Design by Edward T McAvoy Art Direction by Orvis Rigsby Costume Design by Rhona Meyers Run Time 109 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Newmarket Film Group - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved