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Preview by: Jack Foley
IT seems a long time ago since Charlize Theron won the Oscar
for Monster. Yet the actress remains
one of Hollywood's most prized assets.
Her latest film, Aeon Flux, is a futuristic thriller based on
an MTV Liquid Television cartoon series that's set 400 years in
the future, when disease has wiped out the majority of Earth's
population.
The only survivors are the residents of Bregna, a city-state
protected by a giant wall and ruled by scientists.
Thrown into this world, Theron's Aeon Flux is a secret operative/assassin
for the Monican Rebellion, an underground group led by The Handler
(Frances McDormand), who recruits Aeon to kill the government's
leader.
The film marks something of a departure for the South African-born
actress but is seen as a labour of love for all concerned.
And despite the physical demands of the role, and the action,
Theron maintains she was most drawn to it because, 'at end of
the day, it's bottom line a love story'.
"It's a human story, and the struggles and the things that
this so-called futuristic story takes place in had all the elements
of human struggle that I’m really interested in," she
elaborated in an online interview.
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"I’m not interested in
playing a robot. These are real people struggling with things
that I think a lot of people can relate to."
Fans of the MTV original may be disappointed to learn, however,
that the distinctive look of Aeon Flux has been covered up.
According to the cartoon, Aeon sets about her business wearing
only a black bikini, thigh high boots and shoulder pads but Theron
decided to add trousers to save some of her modesty.
In other recent interviews, she's quoted as saying 'when you're
playing with aspects of sexuality, certain things have to be hidden
- that's what my mother used to tell me'.
In spite of this 'disappointment', fans still have plenty to
look forward to, not least in the supporting cast, which includes
Sophie Okonedo, Pete Postlethwaite, Jonny Lee Miller, Frances
McDormand and Marton Csokas.
Theron, too, has thrown herself into the project - almost literally.
She injured her neck while rehearsing a somersault and production
had to be delayed for six weeks.
But plucky as ever, she says she used the delay to her advantage
despite finding it initially frustrating.
"There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of
a film and having to take six weeks off.
"But for me you can’t take it off, because your mind
is still completely connected to it. That was a little hard, but
in a way very good because I could utilize that time because for
three months before starting this film I focused on the physical
aspect.
"I really spent that six weeks thinking about where that
woman is going. I used it to my advantage."
The film is due for a UK release on December 30.
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