My Week With Marilyn – Review

Film, Reviews, Theatrical Reviews, Top Story

Williams is as captivating as Marilyn herself

She may be a celebrated actress, but when it was announced that Blue Valentine star Michelle Williams would play Marilyn Monroe, it seems everyone had an opinion. The two starlets may not look identical, but they have experienced similar off-screen tragedies. It’s still difficult to see the smaller-framed Williams as the curvy icon the first time she appears onscreen in My Week With Marilyn, but the beauty of her performance is in the complexity of the character she portrays; much deeper than what is seen on the surface.

My Week With Marilyn is taken from two books written by Colin Clark about his brief time with her. Played by Eddie Redmayne, the majority of the film is told from Colin’s point of view. Colin will do anything to break into the movie business and he leaves his parents’ home for the first time and makes the journey alone to London. He plops himself down upon the couch of Laurence Olivier Productions and refuses to leave until he is given a job on a film, regardless how miniscule. Sir Laurence Olivier himself (played by Kenneth Branagh) surrenders and hires Colin as a third assistant director on his newest production The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe. 

The Prince and the Showgirl is to be the first movie produced by Monroe, and she arrives in London with her husband Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott) with hopes of elevating her superstardom to a more respected level. Accompanied on set by her devoted acting coach Paula Strasburg (Zoe Wanamaker), Marilyn constantly appears nervous, needy, and unsure of her acting abilities. Much to Olivier’s frustration, Strasburg caters to Marilyn’s every whim, no matter if it holds up production or not. Whatever Strasburg is doing must be working though and it is hard for anyone to deny that Marilyn is captivating when onscreen. “With tits like that, you make allowances”, is commented as Olivier and the production staff watch the dailies.

But Marilyn’s offscreen behavior hints at something more devastating going on behind that incredible beauty, as we all know. When Arthur Miller leaves the UK to attend to his children back in America, Marilyn is left alone with her inner demons and immediately summons Colin to comfort her. The third assistant director, who is nothing more than a glorified gofer and in the midst of a budding romance with costume mistress Lucy (Emma Watson), is suddenly invited into the private life of the world’s biggest star. Slowly Marilyn begins to trust Colin, her adventurous side takes him on several day trips around England, and her vulnerable side lets Colin see just how fragile Norma Jean really is.

Once the initial shock wears off of another actress playing Marilyn Monroe, Michelle Wiliiams nails the part. She has the mannerisms down pat, from the famous wiggle walk to the breathy voice, and she knows how to turn it off with the flick of a switch, just like Marilyn herself, and becomes the frightened little girl Norma Jean. Her performance has already been talked about as Oscar worthy, and it’s deserved. It also wouldn’t be surprising if Branagh got a nomination for his spot on Laurence Olivier, complete with Shakespeare quoting anger at Marilyn’s flightiness. Although he gives the narrative of the story, as Colin, Redmayne shrinks into the background when sharing screen time with the more experienced actors. But that’s really the point.

Director Simon Curtis (who brought us the Emmy winning miniseries Cranford) has a wide angle lens on the entire story, giving us a voyeuristic look into the life of this complex woman. Its a very brief look though, but gives us an interesting glimpse into the life of one of the biggest stars the world has ever seen. My Week With Marilyn is as captivating as Marilyn herself.


Director: Simon Curtis
Notable Cast: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, Zoe Wanamaker
Writer(s): Adrian Hodges, based on the books by Colin Clark

Jenny is proud to be the First Lady of Inside Pulse Movies. She gives female and mommy perspective, and has two kids who help with rating family movies. (If they don't like 'em, what's the point?) She prefers horror movies to chick flicks, and she can easily hang with the guys as long as there are several frou-frou girlie drinks to be had.