Her birthday is coming up in a few weeks, so I thought I’d go ahead and re-post this review of Charlize Theron‘s break-through movie, Monster, which originally appeared in another publication on occasion of the film’s special edition DVD release in 2004. To wit, slightly redacted:
There are cinematic breakthroughs like Hilary Swank‘s work
in Boys Don’t Cry, in which a
heretofore virtually unknown actor or actress delivers a searing, memorable
turn, and then there’s the flip-side breakthrough, in which a performer shows a
professional side of themselves — a depth and ferocity seemingly sprung from
nowhere — that very few people, if anyone at all, ever saw coming. Best
Actress Oscar winner Charlize Theron‘s revelatory performance in Monster is no doubt the latter, one of
the most jaw-dropping transformations — physically and emotionally — in modern
screen history.
in Boys Don’t Cry, in which a
heretofore virtually unknown actor or actress delivers a searing, memorable
turn, and then there’s the flip-side breakthrough, in which a performer shows a
professional side of themselves — a depth and ferocity seemingly sprung from
nowhere — that very few people, if anyone at all, ever saw coming. Best
Actress Oscar winner Charlize Theron‘s revelatory performance in Monster is no doubt the latter, one of
the most jaw-dropping transformations — physically and emotionally — in modern
screen history.
 your complete, rapt attention</b>, and for this alone it’s worth checking<br />
out if you haven’t already. While additionally buoyed by some fine supporting<br />
work from <a href=)
Christina Ricci, the greatest accomplishment of first-timewriter-director Patty Jenkins’ serial killer tale is its capturing — in disarming
ways — the reality that there is “love,” that there is some impulse for
connection, in everyone, no matter how screwed up, formally uneducated,
self-medicated and monstrous they are. (Hey, who knew Journey’s “Don’t Stop
Believin’,” used here pre-Sopranos finale, could be an anthem of the disenfranchised?)
The film’s two-disc special edition DVD release rectifies the pointlessly
rushed-out, cash-in edition from earlier, which featured only an inessential,
back-patting interview with Jenkins and composer “BT,” a DTS film mixing demo
featurette that let viewers toggle between various combinations of the audio
channels and a brief making-of featurette. That content is all replicated here,
but there’s also a welcome if not mind-blowing array of new material. First up
is a behind-the-scenes documentary that appears an extension of the first
release’s minute featurette. It includes on-set interview material with Theron
and a look at the film’s extraordinary makeup work with chief makeup artist
Toni G (what’s the deal — can no one on the production team have a full, regular
friggin’ name?). There honestly could be a bit more of substance here — this is
mainly a rah-rah affair — but it’s certainly meatier than the first apportioning.
rushed-out, cash-in edition from earlier, which featured only an inessential,
back-patting interview with Jenkins and composer “BT,” a DTS film mixing demo
featurette that let viewers toggle between various combinations of the audio
channels and a brief making-of featurette. That content is all replicated here,
but there’s also a welcome if not mind-blowing array of new material. First up
is a behind-the-scenes documentary that appears an extension of the first
release’s minute featurette. It includes on-set interview material with Theron
and a look at the film’s extraordinary makeup work with chief makeup artist
Toni G (what’s the deal — can no one on the production team have a full, regular
friggin’ name?). There honestly could be a bit more of substance here — this is
mainly a rah-rah affair — but it’s certainly meatier than the first apportioning.
There’s also a nice audio commentary track with Jenkins, Theron and producer
Clark Peterson, plus an array of deleted/extended scenes that total 16 minutes
and come with optional commentary from Jenkins. Strangely, the film mixing demo
and interview with Jenkins and BT on my disc didn’t work in the 5.1 mix, but
did in the Dolby surround mix. Take that for what it’s worth. If you have the
first edition, don’t feel too cheated — an upgrade isn’t absolutely essential — but if you
haven’t yet been scared and moved by Monster,
this is definitely the version with which to do it. B+ (Movie) B+ (Disc)
Clark Peterson, plus an array of deleted/extended scenes that total 16 minutes
and come with optional commentary from Jenkins. Strangely, the film mixing demo
and interview with Jenkins and BT on my disc didn’t work in the 5.1 mix, but
did in the Dolby surround mix. Take that for what it’s worth. If you have the
first edition, don’t feel too cheated — an upgrade isn’t absolutely essential — but if you
haven’t yet been scared and moved by Monster,
this is definitely the version with which to do it. B+ (Movie) B+ (Disc)