about
You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.
You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.
Monster
the one line review:
no monsters, just lesbian serial killers
the overview
This film has international recognition, a bunch of awards, two fit lesbians and plenty of nipples. Can't really ask for much more.
the plot:
It's based around the true story of Aileen Wuornos (Theron), a prostitute in Daytona Beach who started killing her clients. She's had a typically hard life, parents hated her etc. and is all set to kill herself, when a chance encounter with Selby (Ricci) a naive lesbian teenager changes her fortunes. The two see more of each other, then start lesbianising each other. Aileen promises to give up hookering, but they then realise this means they'll have no money. So she goes back on the game, but she soon finds it's easier to kill the client and steal the money than suck them off for chump change.
Inevitably they end up on the run, and then get caught. Selby gets sent back to stay with her folks, and Aileen gets the chair.
the verdict:
It's a good film. It's pretty sickening, but it certainly keeps you gripped. Theron is remarkable as the prostitute turns serial killer, which is sadly let down by the choice of Ricci as Selby (aka Wednesday from The Addams Family). Perhaps this is why Theron got about a gillion best actress awards, and Ricci didn't even get nominated.
It's a little irritating in places, since Aileen's character is a confident, obnoxious, skanky prostitute. So you have to believe that Theron did a good job of portraying that. However, you also see that all Aileen ever really wanted was love, and she only starts killing people in a desperate bid to keep Selby with her. As she slips further and further into delusion things get more and more out of control until the films' inevitable climax.
It's a good film, that's well shot - it's certainly gritty, don't expect any niceties - it really portrays the life of a prostitute in all its grotesqueness.
The only problem is the film probably doesn't have much of a shelflife - if you've seen it once, you probably won't see it again.
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