Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci star in the crime drama "Monster", the story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute turned serial killer who killed six men and was later executed in Florida. Theron stars as Wuornos, and Ricci as Selby Wall, Wuornos's friend/girlfriend. Aileen decides to quit prostitution and find a proper job, only to find that her lack of education, people skills, and good looks keep her from finding anything. She returns to prostitution to keep Selby and herself from starving. When one customer attempts to rape her, she murders him, and takes all his money, thus beginning her murder spree. While "Monster" wasn't the most uplifting film of the year, it was remarkable for how it was able to give the audience an understanding of Aileen's psyche. Having been mistreated and abused in younger years, she became more and more cynical of the world, and particularly of men (which is where her attraction to Selby develops). Feelings of sympathy towards a serial killer don't come often, but the film manages to invoke them. Above all, Theron gives arguably one of the most astounding performances of modern cinema, and she was award the Academy Award for Best Actress. Turning a beautiful leading lady into a decidedly unattractive murderer isn't always a safe gamble, but the results are astounding in this case. 6 out of 10 stars.
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