Films June 30, 2017
Is there room for sympathy for a killer?
In October of 2002, convicted serial killer Aileen Wuornos was executed in Florida. In April of 2003, Patty Jenkins, a first-time feature director began filming a movie about her.
Patty, at the moment, is enjoying the success of the smash hit “Wonder Woman.” But fourteen years ago, Jenkins delved into a much darker, complex character.
Here are five things you might not know about “Monster” and Aileen Wuornos.
A few months before getting on this stage, Charlize Theron was the “pretty girl.” Theron had starred in her fair share of films. But the roles were usually those of attractive women in some kind of trouble, a man’s wife.
Aileen Wuornos was not that part. For the role, Charlize gained over 30 pounds and plucked all of her eyebrows out. Jenkins had seen Charlize in “The Devil’s Advocate” on late night television and decided that she would be a good fit for Wuornos.
Selby’s name in real life was Tyria Moore. Tyria was dating Aileen in the late 1980s when her killing spree began. While the film portrays Selby as entirely unemployed, Tyria did work intermittently as a hotel maid and was employed as such at the time of their meeting.
Aileen and Tyria were involved in an accident while driving a victim’s car. While the film portrays Selby as Aileen’s loving partner, Tyria has said she stayed with Wuornos out of fear. The surety of those events is unclear but the coldness with which Selby treats Aileen at the end of the film appears to be close.
It’s much easier to find the humanity in someone when you’re speaking to them directly. Patty Jenkins had corresponded with Aileen through the mail. Aileen had a trove of letters that had been exchanged between her and her best friend.
Jenkins and Theron were given access to the letters days before Wuornos was executed. Patty said that the letters supported much of what her script already contained and allowed her and Theron to reach Aileen on a deeper personal level.
“Monster” was Charlize Theron’s first producing credit. She’s gone on to produce fifteen other titles, including the Gillian Flynn adaptation “Dark Places” and the upcoming romp in badassery “Atomic Blonde.” (Seriously watch this Atomic Blonde trailer. She kisses the Mummy. It’s lit.)
Her production company is called Denver & Delilah and inked a major deal with Universal Cable Productions for content in 2015. I guess you could call Charlize a “Girl boss.”
In 1992, born again Christian Arlene Pralle, only 6 years Wuornos’ senior, saw her picture in a newspaper. Pralle felt compelled to get involved with Wuornos and attempt to make a difference in Wuornos’ life. The woman made contact with Aileen in prison and subsequently travelled frequently to see her.
Arlene’s husband, Robert Pralle went on to adopt Aileen as well. Aileen had a son that she’d given up for adoption at the age of 14, a possible product of abuse she’d experienced.
Jenkins and Theron have moved on to other things but audiences continue to marvel at the nuance and sympathy with which they portrayed Aileen Wuornos in “Monster.”
