Two years in a row where a film with the word Monster was in my top 2 of the year.

My pick the previous year was Monster's Ball. Diferent subject matter but perhaps more powerful again. Race relations film but strangely moving and sad that people get to where they get from the programming handed them from parents. It's no woner people look for various escapes. In Monster's ball you have a brilliant performance from Billy Bob Thrnton trying to escape - sort of - his KKKish father's thumb and Berry in a position that society could give a damn about.

Then with Monster the same thing. There is a lot of money spent on the reactionary system of prisons but very little spent on preventative measures to get people rom heading down these paths - the pivotal scene is when Aileen is attempting to get away from her prostitution and to get a job. It's not enough to tell prostitutes and the homeless "Well get a job" if you are not going to ALLOW then to get one.

But then after seeing what Social workers get paid even in my more socialist country Canada and seeing their workloads - it's no wonder the prevetative industry is lousy. But gee we have lots of prisons and lots of lawyers getting lots of money. It's easier to "Fry Em" than "THINK" about ways ofpreventing many crimes to start with.

But judging by President Bush's mentality (which isn't much of one) I seriously doubt anything will improve. And the sad part is he's going to be re-elected on the STRENGTH of his foreign affairs. So can't blame Bush but the majority of Americans who are stupid enough to believe what US news tells them.