My Week With Marilyn
Director: Simon Curtis.
Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench.
Reviewed by Danielle Muir.
[rating:4/5]
“When Marilyn gets it right, you just don’t want to look at anyone else.”
Buxom, blonde and frisky. Addicted, insecure and volatile. The most famous woman in the world. A scared little girl. If My Week With Marilyn truly is derived from fact, then this is an accurate portrayal of the world’s most iconic bombshell.
Bright young thing Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) weasels himself into the latest Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) production The Sleeping Prince (later to be known as The Prince and the Showgirl) as a Third Assistant Director. Whilst in the midst of fetching coffees and scripts, he finds himself drawing closer to the films female lead Marilyn Monroe. The production hits snags with Monroe’s constant tardiness and line botches, and frustrated Olivier is nearing the end of his tether. Despite grumblings from her minders and crew, smitten Clark and Monroe embark on a whirlwind affair as he attempts to hold the crumbling pieces of her soul together.
Bravo. Bravo to all involved. This is a poignant, charming, beautiful and sensitive love story that will make you chuckle, weep and marvel. From their honey-golden toned escapades in the woods to the dark and intense mood scenes, everything breathes gorgeousness like the bombshell herself.
This is Michelle Williams’ movie. Everybody knows that. It’s probably a large portion of the reason why you have heard of this film in the first place. Because it takes guts to portray such a legendary icon, and more than pure talent to pull it off. To quote a rather terrible reality show, she’s got the x-factor. Fragile like a porcelain doll, Monroe craves compliments and reinforcement from anyone, preferably males. But when she’s elated, it’s infectious. Transferring that kind of joy or sorrow straight into the hearts of the audience, as she did with mine, is a gift. She is heartbreaking.
Redmayne is lovely as pure and untainted Clark, and whilst an unconventional choice, plays it with intelligence. Kenneth Branagh (who seems to play the man I love to hate a lot) is a fine choice for acting heavyweight Olivier. You’re irritated by his selfishness, but sympathetic towards his ailing production. Emma Watson is slightly underwhelming as his initial love interest Lucy, who inevitably getspushed by the wayside. She quite simply didn’t have enough material to show off her chops, but serves to provide the one hurt caused by all-pleasing Colin. Special mentions to the divine Judi Dench who also is slightly forgotten and Zoe Wanamaker as the closest thing to family Marilyn has. Quite frankly there are NO bad performances.
Another quite incredible facet of My Week With Marilyn is that it goes for exactly the right amount of time. At approximately one and a half hours, it doesn’t drag its feet or squander time. The story is wrapped up neatly and if anything, you want it extended just to see more Marilyn. Another rarity in Hollywood these days. The issues are minor, with a few awkward edits at the beginning (in that I actually noticed them), and a few under fleshed characters.
My Week With Marilyn is an absolute gem. I chuckled, wept and marvelled. And I’ll tell you what. When Michelle gets it right, you just don’t want to look at anyone else.
ENDS
