Special Features (8)

The Special Features have been expanded for this Special Edition DVD with all the features appearing on the "Bonus Disc" except the commentary. Let's take a look at each feature in detail.

Monster Trailers

Three trailers are included. The "Theatrical Trailer" is the one seen in US movie houses and is just average. The "Special Edition Trailer" is essentially an advertisement for the DVD but includes some glimpses of behind the scenes stuff. The best of the lot is the "International Trailer", which progresses to a crescendo instead of jumping around as trailers are known to do.

Featurette: The Vision and the Journey (25:26)

This "making of" piece (which is actually titled Monster: The Vision and the Journey) features the principals discussing their approach to the making of the film.  It is divided into five parts so let's look at each in the order they appear.

Authenticity

Here Jenkins and her charges talk about the little things they did to lend an authentic touch to the production. Jenkins and Theron traveled to Michigan where Wuornos' best friend Dawn Botkins allowed the pair to read her correspondence with Aileen. Also discussed is the filming on location in Florida which included a trip to the "Last Resort" bar where Wuornos was captured. Finally, makeup artist Toni G demonstrates "live" the techniques she used to help Theron "get ugly" in order to play the weathered Wuornos. Ironically, a witness in a police report filed in the seventies once described Wuornos as "attractive", but by the time of her arrest in 1990 years of living outside in the elements and alcohol abuse had taken their toll.

Finding Her Voice

This section consists mostly of Theron discussing the techniques she used to "find" Wuornos on the way to her Oscar-winning portrayal.

Choices

The scene where Lee confesses her crimes to Selby is dissected by showing various takes Theron did before finally hitting on just the right tone. It is interesting to watch her ad-libs and the gradually increasing intensity level.

Her Sliver of Light

The hope that Wuornos had in spite of her depressing situation is the theme of this section and indeed it seems to be (at least in Jenkins' mind) the backbone of the film.  Much of the content here is devoted to a Christina Ricci interview interspersed with clips of Jenkins and Theron praising the young star.

The Truth We See

Discusses the factual considerations of a film that is "based on a true story". Also included is a section on Theron's emotional journey during the more difficult scenes.

Overall, a well done feature that movie fans and students of film will no doubt appreciate.

Extended and Deleted Scenes

True DVD fans will sink their teeth into this feature that was no where to be found in the first release. The scenes are:

Dream Sequence

My personal favorite, this deleted scene would have appeared after Lee falls asleep (it is a dream sequence after all) at Selby's place on the night they met. Suffice it to say it involves a tantalizing mix of large quantities of food and Christina Ricci, an interesting combination to be sure.

Welcome to My World

This is an extended version of the scene were Lee confesses her many crimes to Selby and ends with a Robert De Niro style "moment" courtesy of Theron.

Newsflash

A brief deleted scene in which Lee sees a television news piece about her exploits.

Job Interview

A humorous montage of the ad-libs Theron did when Lee applied for a job but minus the voiceover.

Bus Station

An extended version of the "goodbye" scene.

Monster Surrounded

There is no way around it-this is merely an advertisement for the soundtrack CD.

Interview With Patty Jenkins and BT (15:43)

Click on this item and you will find it is actually entitled, Monster: Evolution of the Score. Here Jenkins and composer BT talk about their approach to the soundtrack. This will probably be more information than most DVD fans need, but it is interesting just the same.

Film Mixing Demo (2:07)

This is one of those features that is supposed to give you the feeling of being in the director's chair but really ends up being pointless due to clumsy implementation.

Previews

Trailers for the films; Head in the Clouds, P.S., Rosenstrasse, Standed, The Forgotten and Trapped.

Commentary by Patty Jenkins, Charlize Theron and Clark Peterson (main disc)

This enjoyable commentary is filled with much laughter and occasional blue language sprinkled with a little understandable backslapping. Director Jenkins is the dominant conversationalist, but Theron and Peterson (who served as co-producers) lend their fair share of anecdotes to this "pedal to the metal"  roundtable.

In the final analysis, the Special Features here grade above average but a notch or two below what would be needed to rival the very best out there. However, this is an improvement over the initial release with the featurette and commentary making it worth the price of admission.

Next: Conclusion

Go To Main Talent Video/Audio Special Features Conclusion

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