Top 5 Unforgettable Performance Films

I do really like this film, both as a love story between two social outcasts and in showing how a good person can cross the line and become a bad person.

Charlize Theron's portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos is undoubtedly one of the greatest performances in cinema history.
Christina Ricci is also amazing as the sweet, insecure, yet selfish and manipulative Selby. She most definitely should have been Oscar nominated for her work here.

My problem with the film is the depiction of the murders, which are shown to have happened whenever Aileen felt in fear of her life. "You really think that I'm dumb enough to get back in your car when you have a gun in there!!" she hurls at one victim. Or when Aileen felt the men were evil, she calls one of them a "child molester."
It's only in Aileen's last killing that she is shown to know that the man she is pointing her gun at is innocent. And yet in this scene, Aileen cries sorry to him!

I suppose this is what the cast and crew of Monster believe was how the murders came to be, or what they want to believe....

In truth, Aileen killed for monetary gain and to eliminate any witnesses to her crimes. She robbed all of her victims and pawned their possessions. Her reasons behind killing any of her victims (including the first one) changed every time she told them eg. her original confession vs her trial witness statements...

I give the film 4 stars.

An almost perfect film, but it loses a star for the scenes focusing on Annie Sullivan back story, which simply didn't work for me. Perhaps more mystery surrounding her past would have been better in generating more intrigue and horror... I also couldn't give the film a 5 star rating because of the over-acting of the supporting cast, though over-acting is fairy typical of old movies!
Aside from that, this is an otherwise highly intelligently written and emotionally powerful film of two of the most inspiring women in history.
Helen Keller was both deaf and blind from 19 months old and with no expectations placed on her she became feral, until Annie entered her life with limitless faith in her potential to learn, to communicate, to be civilized, to be a success... And in 1904 Keller became the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and became a world famous lecturer, author and activist.
Patty Duke who plays Keller is absolutely phenomenal in her Oscar winning role, giving one of the greatest film performances that I have ever seen. What a talent!

This film is really about having the courage to be yourself and follow your dreams. All the performances are first rate, especially Hilary Swank who gives one of the best female performances in cinema history. Chloe Sevigny as Lana is especially memorable as the girl with dreams of a better life. A truly poignant and powerful film.