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Plot – Colin Clark (Redmayne) wants to work in movies. Able to get a job working for Laurence Olivier (Branagh) he finds his first experience to be working as a director's assistant on The Prince and the Showgirl with the legendary Marilyn Monroe (Williams). When she takes a shine to him they embark on a romance. Based on Clark's own memoirs the validity of his claims have been questioned.
There is one reason why you should watch this film. And that reason is Michelle Williams. Williams gives a stunning, really quite heartbreaking turn as the screen goddess that was Marilyn. Her performance, along with the knowledge of the problems Monroe was suffering and her eventual demise means that I found the film to be really quite poignant and moving. It's hard to think of many people in history who would seem like a tougher role to take on. Few people who are as recognised and beloved across the whole world. It was a brave decision by Williams to take it on as you can imagine it could easily have gone very wrong. And if it had she would most likely have been destroyed by the critics. But she is simply breathtaking. So much so you almost forget at times this isn't the actual Marilyn you're watching.
Eschewing a mere impersonation she successfully captures numerous facets of Marilyn. She captures the screen Marilyn, with the immense magnetism and charm that has arguably never been matched. She gives us the public Marilyn with all of her humour, giggling and poses as she plays up to her fans and admirers. She gives us the Marilyn that her co-workers on his movies knew; the challenging and infuriating presence who proved to be a real task. And finally she gives us the Marilyn that was hidden from the world, that no-one knew about others than those closest to her; the emotionally damaged, sad, drug addicted little girl whose mum never loved her and who always feared being abandoned. If only this troubled soul had got the help she required, or had enough people around her who really cared as opposed to those who seem to use her and tell her what to do for their own personal gain. People all too happy to just try and let her fix her problems with pills and alcohol so long as their golden goose keeps producing.
Sadly outside of her staggering performance much of the rest of the film comes across as just a bit bland. Not bad per se, just nothing to really get excited about. It's a really quite typically British film. The acting throughout is impressive, and it's period trappings do look very attractive but too much of it is just rather predictable. The score for instance which while nice is exactly what you'd expect if you see what I mean. There is very little to surprise you. And tonally the film feels just a little off at times as we are presented with this mix of twee, light-hearted British period drama alongside the darker elements that creep in due to Monroe's collapsing psyche.
As I said the acting on the whole is impressive though I have to admit to not being overly amazed by Kenneth Brannagh's performance as Laurence Olivier. I thought it was good and all but didn't see what many others obviously did considering his numerous nominations and wins for the performance. Though that may just be due to Williams stealing most of my attention anytime they are on screen together, a feat which befell many a co-star of the actual Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps on a repeat viewing I will be able to appreciate his contribution more. Oh and I do have one minor complaint regarding the cast however, though it's not down to poor acting. Dame Judi Dench is her usual warm and delightful self as Sybil Thorndike, and as a result it's just a shame how little she actually features.
Eddie Redmayne does quite an admirable job with Colin Clark, considering he is by far the least interesting of the characters on show. He brings a bit of a charm to the role of this young, inexperienced man whose schoolboy crush on the world's biggest star turns into something only dreams are made of. Indeed when concentrating on the relationship between them the film can at times take on a somewhat dream like state. Their time together seems to be shot with a softer tone than the rest of the film, and with Williams capturing some of Monroe's apparent ethereal glow it feels like a fantasy. And depending on who you listen to it may well all be a fantasy. Sweeping the question of truth aside it is a rather sweet coming of age tale of a young boy who falls in love with the ultimate sex symbol. Of course the young Colin Clark is living his (any just about every guy's) fantasy but Marilyn gets a lot out of it as well, providing her with some solace and peace from her marriage problems and her clashes with Olivier, and allowing her to feel like a little girl and to feel loved.
Though I have to say I found myself longing to see more of the events on The Prince and the Showgirl set as opposed to the romance of a sort that blooms between Monroe and Eddie Redmayne's Clark. While it is quite sweet, and on occasion touching it just doesn't have the spark that the antics on set have. The scenes between Williams' Monroe and Brannagh's increasingly frustrated Olivier are good fun, and deliver pretty much 100% of the laughs to be found here. Mostly as a result of some great lines from Branagh - "Marilyn, my darling, you are an angel and I kiss the hem of your garment but why can't you get here on time for the love of F**K?!!!" and "I think directing a movie is the best job ever created, but Marilyn has cured me of ever wanting to do it again."
It's just a real shame that Williams' performance is almost wasted in a way by not featuring in a better film. I don't think you'll find many actresses able to do justice to Marilyn, as a result it's a shame she wasn't given a better story to perform in. Given all the fascinating films that could be made about her it's a shame she is only given the chance to portray Miss Monroe in this one week of her life. While it's highly unlikely I hope someone else out there has the ambition of making a Marilyn flick but just felt no-one could bring her to life on screen, and that perhaps they see this film and cast Michelle Williams again as Marilyn in another, completely separate film.
Conclusion – A nice film which would ultimately have proved completely forgettable if not for Michelle Williams providing one of the most incredible performances I've seen an actress give in a long time. And for her alone I would recommend this film to people as I believe she deserves to be seen.
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Year of release
2011
2011
Directed by
Simon Curtis
Simon Curtis
Written by
Adrian Hodges (script)
Colin Clark (story)
Adrian Hodges (script)
Colin Clark (story)
Starring
Michelle Williams
Kenneth Branagh
Eddie Redmayne
Michelle Williams
Kenneth Branagh
Eddie Redmayne
My Week with Marilyn
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Plot – Colin Clark (Redmayne) wants to work in movies. Able to get a job working for Laurence Olivier (Branagh) he finds his first experience to be working as a director's assistant on The Prince and the Showgirl with the legendary Marilyn Monroe (Williams). When she takes a shine to him they embark on a romance. Based on Clark's own memoirs the validity of his claims have been questioned.
There is one reason why you should watch this film. And that reason is Michelle Williams. Williams gives a stunning, really quite heartbreaking turn as the screen goddess that was Marilyn. Her performance, along with the knowledge of the problems Monroe was suffering and her eventual demise means that I found the film to be really quite poignant and moving. It's hard to think of many people in history who would seem like a tougher role to take on. Few people who are as recognised and beloved across the whole world. It was a brave decision by Williams to take it on as you can imagine it could easily have gone very wrong. And if it had she would most likely have been destroyed by the critics. But she is simply breathtaking. So much so you almost forget at times this isn't the actual Marilyn you're watching.
Eschewing a mere impersonation she successfully captures numerous facets of Marilyn. She captures the screen Marilyn, with the immense magnetism and charm that has arguably never been matched. She gives us the public Marilyn with all of her humour, giggling and poses as she plays up to her fans and admirers. She gives us the Marilyn that her co-workers on his movies knew; the challenging and infuriating presence who proved to be a real task. And finally she gives us the Marilyn that was hidden from the world, that no-one knew about others than those closest to her; the emotionally damaged, sad, drug addicted little girl whose mum never loved her and who always feared being abandoned. If only this troubled soul had got the help she required, or had enough people around her who really cared as opposed to those who seem to use her and tell her what to do for their own personal gain. People all too happy to just try and let her fix her problems with pills and alcohol so long as their golden goose keeps producing.
Sadly outside of her staggering performance much of the rest of the film comes across as just a bit bland. Not bad per se, just nothing to really get excited about. It's a really quite typically British film. The acting throughout is impressive, and it's period trappings do look very attractive but too much of it is just rather predictable. The score for instance which while nice is exactly what you'd expect if you see what I mean. There is very little to surprise you. And tonally the film feels just a little off at times as we are presented with this mix of twee, light-hearted British period drama alongside the darker elements that creep in due to Monroe's collapsing psyche.
As I said the acting on the whole is impressive though I have to admit to not being overly amazed by Kenneth Brannagh's performance as Laurence Olivier. I thought it was good and all but didn't see what many others obviously did considering his numerous nominations and wins for the performance. Though that may just be due to Williams stealing most of my attention anytime they are on screen together, a feat which befell many a co-star of the actual Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps on a repeat viewing I will be able to appreciate his contribution more. Oh and I do have one minor complaint regarding the cast however, though it's not down to poor acting. Dame Judi Dench is her usual warm and delightful self as Sybil Thorndike, and as a result it's just a shame how little she actually features.
Eddie Redmayne does quite an admirable job with Colin Clark, considering he is by far the least interesting of the characters on show. He brings a bit of a charm to the role of this young, inexperienced man whose schoolboy crush on the world's biggest star turns into something only dreams are made of. Indeed when concentrating on the relationship between them the film can at times take on a somewhat dream like state. Their time together seems to be shot with a softer tone than the rest of the film, and with Williams capturing some of Monroe's apparent ethereal glow it feels like a fantasy. And depending on who you listen to it may well all be a fantasy. Sweeping the question of truth aside it is a rather sweet coming of age tale of a young boy who falls in love with the ultimate sex symbol. Of course the young Colin Clark is living his (any just about every guy's) fantasy but Marilyn gets a lot out of it as well, providing her with some solace and peace from her marriage problems and her clashes with Olivier, and allowing her to feel like a little girl and to feel loved.
Though I have to say I found myself longing to see more of the events on The Prince and the Showgirl set as opposed to the romance of a sort that blooms between Monroe and Eddie Redmayne's Clark. While it is quite sweet, and on occasion touching it just doesn't have the spark that the antics on set have. The scenes between Williams' Monroe and Brannagh's increasingly frustrated Olivier are good fun, and deliver pretty much 100% of the laughs to be found here. Mostly as a result of some great lines from Branagh - "Marilyn, my darling, you are an angel and I kiss the hem of your garment but why can't you get here on time for the love of F**K?!!!" and "I think directing a movie is the best job ever created, but Marilyn has cured me of ever wanting to do it again."
It's just a real shame that Williams' performance is almost wasted in a way by not featuring in a better film. I don't think you'll find many actresses able to do justice to Marilyn, as a result it's a shame she wasn't given a better story to perform in. Given all the fascinating films that could be made about her it's a shame she is only given the chance to portray Miss Monroe in this one week of her life. While it's highly unlikely I hope someone else out there has the ambition of making a Marilyn flick but just felt no-one could bring her to life on screen, and that perhaps they see this film and cast Michelle Williams again as Marilyn in another, completely separate film.
Conclusion – A nice film which would ultimately have proved completely forgettable if not for Michelle Williams providing one of the most incredible performances I've seen an actress give in a long time. And for her alone I would recommend this film to people as I believe she deserves to be seen.