Media 8 Entertainment 2003, Color, Rated R 1 Hr 49 min   Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (16:9 Enh) English Dolby Digital 5.1   Starring Charlize Theron, Cristina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corlie, Scott Wilson Directed by Patti Jenkins   DVD Release Date 6/1/04     0 5 Entertainment Video Audio Extras Violence Yes Sex Explicit Language Bad

"Monster"

Synopsis

Plot Overview

Eileen Wuornos (Theron) was molested as a child, beaten by her father, and was a prostitute since she was 13 years old (nice life, huh).

She meets a young lesbian named Selby Wall (Ricci) and becomes very attached to her, willing to do anything to please her and keep her as a lover.

When one of her tricks becomes violent, she takes his gun and kills him.

Although she tries to stop selling her body and get a regular job, she is rejected everywhere she applies.

Now she goes back to prostituting herself, but starts to psychologically come apart. Using the gun she took from the man she killed, she goes on a rampage, killing one man after another.

Finally, Aileen is taken into custody, charged as a serial killer, and sentenced to death in 1992 (executed in 2002).

Commentary

The movie is very difficult to watch, both because the story is so horrific, and also because Charlize Theron's acting is as good as any that has ever been accomplished in the history of motion pictures. She probably deserved 2 Oscars for this performance. Theron could go down in the archives as one of the best actresses who ever lived, based just on this film. Wow, what a job she did!

In any case, the events told here are for the most part true. What is upsetting is that these crimes are not the worst that have happened or are happening or will happen. People do terrible things, and Wuornos is probably somewhere in the middle of what humans do to each other.

Extras

These include the Director Interview, DTS Mixing Featurette, Scene Selections, and Trailers.

 - John E. Johnson, Jr. -

Warner Brothers 2003, Color, Rated R 2 Hr 18 min   Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16:9 Enh) English Dolby Digital 5.1 French, Spanish   Starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney Directed by Clint Eastwood   DVD Release Date 6/15/04     0 5 Entertainment Video Audio Extras NA Violence Yes Sex MIld Language Bad

"Mystic River"

Synopsis

Plot Overview

Jimmy Markum (Penn), Dave Boyle (Robbins), and Sean Devine (Bacon) are three kids growing up in 1950's Boston, Massachusetts.

One day, someone posing as a policeman stops while the boys are playing, and tells Dave to get in the car. A minister is in the car too.

It turns out that the two men are pedophiles, and they molest Dave in a basement until he escapes. It changes his life.

Move ahead to the current time. Dave does odd jobs and is married to Celeste (Harden). Jimmy works as a convenience store manager, married to Annabeth (Linney), and Sean is a Police Detective.

Jimmy's daughter Katie is murdered, and the police are having a hard time finding the killer. Jimmy can't wait for the police, so he starts his own investigation. Celeste is suspicious of Dave because he came home the night of the murder with blood on his hands, claiming he was mugged.

Jimmy and his buddies know what they must do.

Commentary

The film is based on the book by the same name. It moves a little too slowly though, and should have been edited to less than 2 hours in length. The only thing that really keeps the interest going is the stellar cast. Other than that, it could easily just have been a made-for-TV Sunday Night Movie.

Extras

There are no extras.

 - John E. Johnson, Jr. -

 

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