A Film That Truly Has Aged Like a Fine Wine
Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second
MOVIE REVIEW
Monster
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Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Year Released: 2003, Second Sight Blu-Ray 2022
Runtime: 1h 49m
Director(s): Patty Jenkins
Writer(s): Patty Jenkins
Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern
Where To Watch: Region B Blu-ray available https://secondsightfilms.co.uk/
I remember watching this film years ago, I also remember just hope bad the experience was. It was on a standard studio DVD and fullscreen at that (I only remember that because I still own the DVD.) However, the experience itself stuck out to me as a horrible transfer; being shot on film, I expected something far better. Sure, you have the standard film grain, but beyond that, it was a painful watch. It felt like watching something on a CRT TV from the 90s.
So when I had the opportunity to screen Second Sight’s blu-ray, I jumped at the chance, and wow. What a stunning experience. While you still had the film grain (thankfully), the rest of the film was presented in a way that a film of this stature deserves. This is one of the few films I can remember watching for a second time and possibly being more interested than the first time. After watching this the first time, I tackled the 1001 MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, which had two separate documentaries on Aileen Wuornos (who Charlize Theron plays in the film), and learned so much more about the character.
The film aged wonderfully, Theron’s performance opposite Christina Ricci (who also delivered an excellent performance) was awe-inspiring. Watching the story unfold gives you a feeling of sympathy for a character who can be a genuinely terrible person. I always found it interesting that you could have two polar opposite feelings in the film.
Second Sight offers a limited edition version packed with all sorts of incredible extras, physically and on the disc itself.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
– Audio Commentary with Writer / Director Patty Jenkins, Actor / Producer Charlize Theron and Producer Clark Peterson
– Making a Murderer: a new interview with Director Patty Jenkins
– Producing a Monster: a new interview with Producer Brad Wyman
– Light From Within: a new interview with DoP Steven Bernstein
– Monster: The Vision and Journey
– Based on a True Story: The Making of Monster
– Deleted and Extended Scenes with Director Commentary
– Monster: Evolution of the Score
– Original Trailer
– English subtitles for the hearing impaired
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
– Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Daniel Benneworth-Gray
– Soft cover book with new essays by Anton Bitel, Hannah Strong & Shelagh Rowan-Legg
– Six collectors’ art cards
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What she did in this role… pure magic. I loved this movie from start to finish. How it was filmed, the gritty of the charaters, and the effort put in my the cast.. just perfection.
I havent seen this movie and years but I remember being in awe of the acting and I think it is time for a revisit
Sounds interesting definitely worth watching