Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992)

I must confess that I'm sort of addicted to Nick Broomfield's documentaries, where, he never takes no for an answer and his relentless pursuit of subjects whether paid or not. If they are paid, and wont grant an interview, he throws such a guilt trip on them as he does with Arlene, one of Aileen Wuorno's friend. A testimonial for his stubborn pursuit, is the list of calls that were not returned or shunned as the end credits roll! This adds a certain humor to the otherwise drab movie meant for intellectuals and not for people who watch imbecile animation movies. The only one that comes close to Nick Broomfield is Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" but Wallace, is chasing con artists and broiler room operators and not serial killers. I have seen "Monster" and the other "Wuornos" Doc. from Broomfield. Suffice to say it makes a riveting piece of a movie. Since we know the subject of the movie has been found guilty by a jury and the only question remains, is how she could have avoided the death penalty? The most chilling scene is the rundown of an execution in an actual chambers.It's obvious that she hated males of certain age, who resembled her father and self defense could not have been the motive for seven murders! I think she would have been serving life, if she was represented by some one like F. Lee Bailey, which brings up the crucial question that public defenders are not in the same league as private lawyers. This movie shows that there is legal system but no justice when pedophiles are free and a serial killer is executed.

This film, and Broomfield's follow up, should be viewed by anyone who wants to reexamine their feelings about capital punishment. Wurous is abused by everyone, obviously at least half mad, and in a state of terror at being incarcerated. A ghoulish group of hanger ons try to exploit her at every turn (interestingly, the lawyer is given a questionable reprieve in the sequel) and even grease her path to the electric chair. The system to takes a crack at exploiting her "fame." Some dismiss Broomfield's work as egocentric and cheap shot ridden; I find it honest and actually quite compassionate. I think he was derided for presenting an unflattering portrait of the then in vogue Courtney Love. Well, looks like he was right on that one too. This is, I think, his strongest film. But see the sequel too; one the grim jokes turn themselves inside out.

(spoilers ahead)I decided to check out this doc months after seeing Monster, the film adaptation with Charlize Theron in her Oscar winning turn as Aileen Wuornos (the first female serial killer in American history, and to be put on death row in Florida no less). When it was over, I wondered what Wuornos would have thought of the more recent film, or if she would've allowed it, after the media frenzy that came down on her for her crimes; she despised a little-seen TV movie about herself called Overkill. But here, on a different level of dramatic intensity than Monster, Broomfield does an even more competent and fascinating job at looking at what happened to this woman, and the people who were around her before, during, and after her trial(s). It's actually quite entertaining, with the personalities that are introduced and (sometimes) interviewed, with Wuornos' interview, as was Heston's in Bowling for Columbine, kept as the finale after a couple of mis-steps involving money, scheduling, and police interference. A viewer, as was the case with me, might not be entirely sure that Wuornos killed those people in self defense, or the film might make their once judgment confirmed. But if the film succeeds it's because Broomfield gets the sides of the story that count, or at least a chunk of the personalities (sometimes the lack of which adds to the 'hmm' element) such as her musician lawyer Steve, 'foster mother' Arleen, the sole interview with a Florida police officer, a writer on her case, and crucial footage from the court room. Some scenes in the film lead to nowhere (i.e. a visit to a bar, which is featured more or less in Monster), and it's frustrating that Broomfield couldn't get more footage than he ended up with. However, if you find true-crime documentaries, and the cold details within, as or more absorbing that watching professional, Hollywood productions, this is a good film to look to. A-

"Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer" is a disturbing documentary in which no one comes out in a positive light: not the police, not the lawyers, not the judges, not the media, certainly not Aileen Wuornos and not even the filmmakers.This documentary by Nick Broomfield is unfocused, and the filmmaker and his small crew are often part of the saga. It paints a rather grim picture, where police are more concerned about possible movie deals than arresting the right person (although they did have the right person, almost by accident), where lawyers are slime buckets even when masquerading as laid back rejects from the '60s and '70s "flower power" era, and where people who claim to be spiritual and doing "God's work" come out looking no less mercenary or self-serving than anyone else (well, except maybe the killer and the sleazy lawyer).Filmmaker Broomfield doesn't give us nearly as many facts as you might expect - and in this case, even wish for - in a documentary of this type. Much of the film consists of him traipsing around with his small film crew, trying to convince somebody to talk to him. He seems often to miss the point, and doesn't ask the most relevant or probing questions. I never could decide, while watching this film, how much of that was on purpose, for effect, and how much was just him not doing a very good job. It does add to the overall dark impression in the film, that few people really know the truth, know what's going on, and that fewer still care... Interesting in places, disturbing in others, downright scary if you come out of this believing this is how the criminal justice system works (or not) in this country, Broomfield's film is certainly thought provoking, if somewhat confused and lacking focus.