Director: Nick BroomfieldStarring: Aileen Wuornos, Steve Glazer, Arlene Pralle
More Info: IMDB
Plot: Filmed after Wuornos was imprisoned but before she was put to death, the documentary highlights the media blitz surrounding her case, culminating in interviews with Wuornos as well as her lawyer, her lover and her adoptive mother.
My Rating: 7/10
Would I watch it again? Possibly
Billed as "America's First Female Serial Killer", Aileen Wuornos killed seven men in Florida during a one year period stretching from 1989-1990. She was arrested on January 9, 1991 and executed on October 9, 2002.
The Killer...Director Broomfield sets out to interview Wuornos but she's got two gatekeepers that want $25k before they make that happen...in Aileen's best interest, you see. The gatekeepers are Arlene Pralle, a born again christian who has legally adopted Aileen (after her arrest, mind you, and she did it because god told her to) and Steve Glazer, an utter douchebag, skeezy lawyer that served as Aileen's attorney and Pralle's agent.
The Lawyer...Both of these characters are ugly and despicable. Aileen Wuornos is ugly and despicable. I can't recall anyone in this film that's no ugly and despicable. Hell, even the director has moments of douchbaggery. It's only toward the end do I actually feel for the guy because he's been clearly lied to and deceived by Pralle and Glazer AND Broomfield had already given them $10k as a down payment for Wuornos' interview. It's interesting to see Broomfield struggle and fight throughout the film to get something he can use to put this documentary together.
His other client (Wuornos' jesus freak adopted mother)We only really get some basic facts about Wuornos, her lover, the killings and the subsequent arrest and trials. I felt cheated as I wanted to know so much more about Wuornos; where she came from, her motives for the murders, etc. But then I was reminded of the film's title. It's not so much about her life before the arrest but about the insanity and media circus that came after with absolutely everyone around Wuornos wanting a piece of her in order to gain them wealth or fame. From the cops to the lawyer to her lover to her newly adopted bugnuts religiously fanatical mother. It's revolting. If Wuornos hadn't murdered seven people you'd feel sorry for her.
And Her Lover (now there's a sex tape I never want to see)What we're left with is a cast of characters that are repulsive, trashy and deserve the embarrassment they receive from this picture. Broomfield may or may not be included among them depending on his motives for making this film, of which I'm still not 100% sure.
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