My Week With Marilyn
My Week With Marilyn rm– If you grew up in the 50s, you no doubt recall the actress Marilyn Monroe as the ultimate sex symbol. If you know anything about her life you probably know that she was married at least three times to husbands including Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. She was rumored to have had an affair with JFK and she died of an apparent accidental overdose of barbiturates although it may have been a suicide. It is also known that she was in psychiatric treatment with the well-known Los Angeles psychoanalyst Ralph Greenson and apparently had a very strong attachment to him. This movie has very little to do with any of these things but nevertheless presents a very realistic picture a beautiful young Monroe (Michelle Williams) who while very talented and able to project her personality effectively on the silver screen, is a very immature and troubled young women. It is based on the diary of Colin Clark who at the time was a 3rd assistant director (meaning a gofor) working for actor and director Lawrence Olivier on the set of the movie The Prince and The Show Girl being filmed in England in 1957. Clark (Eddie Redmayne) who ultimately became a successful filmmaker is shown in his apprentice first job as he develops a short lived relationship with Monroe where she reveals her insecurities, childlike and yet remarkably seductive qualities. All this is in the atmosphere of being surrounded by Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), Vivian Leigh (Julia Ormond) who was Oliviers’ wife and a movie star and other experienced actors and actresses who were there to make this movie. Director Simon Curtis tells this beautiful, fanciful yet apparently true story in a relatively succinct manner (99 minutes). Williams has captured the essence of Monroe in a very accomplished performance. She may very well may get those prize winning nominations by the film industry who love it when silver screen legends are brought back to life. Redmayne is quite believable as the young man who cannot resist the playful charms of Monroe who desperately needs reassurance that she is loveable. Branagh who is an Englishman and Shakespearean actor himself fits very well in the Olivier part and is the perfect supporting actor for this movie. A good job is done by all for a very delightful movie experience.(2011)
Category: 4 Stars, Drama | Tags: 2011, Colin Clark, Edie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Lawrence Olivier, Lulia Ormond, Marilyn Monroe, Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn, Simon Curtis, The Prince and the Show Girl, Vivian Leigh One comment »
January 1st, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Dear Michael:
You should read Donald H. Wolfe’s incredibly well documented, “The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe” (1998) which I believe will, substantially, alter your understanding of MM’s relationships with men of power, and of her death. There is ample evidence that her overdose was neither accidental nor suicide. You will also find his documentation of the Greensons’ membership in the communist party, of particular interest. Surprisingly, the book has not been exploited by “conspiracy theorists” of any political persuasion.
Bob DeS
Philadelphia PA