After a horrific childhood and an adult life as a hitchhiking hooker, Aileen Wournos (Theron) still hasn't given up on finding love, getting a real job and settling down. But love arrives in the unexpected form of Selby Wall (Ricci), a young woman rebelling against her conservative family. After getting used to the idea of loving a woman, Aileen begins to look for work, but she doesn't exactly have the right experience to be, say, a legal secretary! In desperation she hits the streets again, and in fear and frustration she kills one of her johns, starting a chain of events that we know doesn't have a happy ending.

This is a fascinating story--creepy and dramatic, then suddenly heartbreaking as it reaches its emotionally devastating climax. Theron gets so deep into the role that it takes our breath away, and not just because of her shocking physical transformation from statuesque supermodel to pudgy streetwalker. It's a gutsy performance that exposes Aileen's inner soul, which isn't nearly as black as we think it'll be. Ricci is a bit more problematic, as if she struggled to find Selby's essence; and we never quite get a grip on her or her motivation either. But even this adds to the unsettling atmosphere in a seriously evocative, unforgettable film that works both as a tragic personal story and as an examination of the ugly truth behind the American Dream. There are no easy answers here--Jenkins tells the story without simplistic moralising, never wallowing in sentiment or making Wuornos the movie villain we need her to be. This is inventive, clever, complex filmmaking that's exponentially eerie when combined with Broomfield's documentaries. Not just as a tabloid story, but as a look into our own souls.

john, net: "Surprisingly good performance from Theron & I think also Ricci, but does not compare to the nuanced & generally subtle performance from Naomi Watts in 21 Grams. While a few think Watts's character went over the top a couple of times, it was understandable, unlike Theron's character who was of course psychotic & one-note. That is not Theron's fault, but there was a little too much strutting, posing & imitating. I make the comparison because these are the two contenders for best actress & Watts is merely continuing her acting as Ms Range, as Inarritu calls her. Perhaps Theron will also follow-up with great performances as Watts did after Mulholland Drive. But of course Theron is the surprise this year." (16.Jan.04)