Mona Lisa had nothing on Marilyn Monroe (or at least Michelle Williams). And it’s infectious too; I could not stop grinning the entire film.
But Simon Curtis’ My Week With Marilyn goes far beyond that beguiling smile, delving into the enigmatic world of a Hollywood legend struggling with the side effects of fame.
Based on Colin Clark’s 2000 memoir, we watch the good-English-boy (a charming Eddie Redmayne) embark on his first job as third director’s assistant on Sir Laurence Olivier’s (Kenneth Branagh) The Prince and the Showgirl.
But his prospects brighten when the stunning Marilyn Monroe unexpectedly takes a shine to him, casting him as confidante and playmate whens she feels abandoned by new husband Arthur Miller.
Through his eyes we see past those curves, the blonde locks, sequins and flirtation, to the insecure, broken girl who, like all of us, “just wants to be loved”.
We see liquor and drugs, erratic mood swings and frustrating behaviour, yet we are still captivated by her vulnerability, and a deeply human need for reassurance.
Williams is nothing short of brilliant; I was half in love myself.
She performs wonderfully as a great actress, and as poor actress, but she most convincingly acts as a real person with real feelings, not just a blonde bombshell.
For while she winks for the boys and flirts with the cameras, she acknowledges ‘Marilyn Monroe’ is merely a sparkling façade.
“Shall I be her?” Marilyn heartbreakingly asks Colin, before posing convincingly for a crowd of awed fans.
While at points a little exasperating – Colin’s blind devotion as Marilyn exploits his puppy-dog loyalty, Olivier’s sometimes unfair frustration when she struggles with lines, or the demeanour of Marilyn herself (often more than a little spacey) – these are relatively minor trifles.
Put simply, I cannot recommend this film more; a charming balance of sentimentality, humour, pain and love, and well-handled portrait of a fascinating woman.
Brilliantly performed, relatable and downright gorgeous, my 99 minutes with Marilyn was simply not enough.
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