Monster (2003) Rated R Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, and Bruce Dern Rating: out of

The film opens with Selby (Christina Ricci) in a gay bar, looking to meet someone. In walks Aileen (Charlize Theron), who strikes her as interesting. Initially refusing to talk to her, "Lee" (as Selby calls her) plays the hard-ass but, after a few drinks, the two strike up a full-blown relationship.

Aileen seems to find comfort in Selby and decides she should give up prostitution. When her attempts to find a straight job don't work out, Aileen returns to hooking to make ends meet. When a seemingly routine pick-up turns into a rape and beating, Aileen kills the john with a pistol she carries with her. Stealing the man's car and money, she begins her odd method of paying the bills and caring for Selby.

It's pretty obvious -- if one compares the real Aileen Wuornos' story with the film's depiction of her life -- there are some glaring differences between the truth and what's presented here. However, taken on its own merits, Monster paints a disturbing picture of the treatment of sexually abused women. Still, the main reason to see this film is Charlize Theron's performance.

Theron has received a considerable amount of press for the weight she gained (30 pounds) and the make-up used to transform her into Wuornos. All the hardware and cellulite aside, Theron's performance is the truly remarkable part of the puzzle. She becomes this character so completely that it's hard to even see Charlize Theron on-screen at all. She's got the walk, the look, and mannerisms of someone hardened by life. She is Aileen Wuornos or at least this film's representation of her. It's the single best acting job -- male or female -- I've seen all year. She deserved the Golden Globe and definitely deserves the Oscar nomination and she deserves to win. Stunning stuff and definitely the reason to see Monster.

Other than Theron, the film features a fine, if unremarkable, turn from Christina Ricci as her lover, Selby. Bruce Dern is good in his small role as her friend Tom, who is the only male character in her life who doesn't seem to harm her at all. Everyone else just kind of pales next to Charlize Theron.

The story is nothing new and, in fact, has already been made into a movie at least once. The biggest and most important reason to see Monster is Charlize Theron kissing a lifetime of fluff roles goodbye and ushering in a new phase of her career. Who said beauty is everything?

Trivia: Kane Hodder, who played Jason Voorhees in many of the Friday the 13th films, is the stunt coordinator for the film and also plays an undercover cop. (Source: The Internet Movie Database)