Here's yet another British film aimed squarely at the US market (like The Queen and the awful The Iron Lady). It's all well-acted (by Brit character actors) and pleasant enough. Personally, I couldn't buy the constant sympathy for Marilyn Monroe - people who are unreliable druggies are not beautiful or lovely, just annoying and let everyone down. Also, one wonders if Olivier et al actually said the lines they speak here (buy luckily they are all dead so cannot sue!). This film makes me want to watch The Prince and The Showgirl though...... But really, I suspect this whole film and the book is based on is all some old posh bloke's wish fulfillment fantasy: he wrote it when he was in his 60s. It always happens - look at artists and other writers. Dirty Old Man Syndrome. Nothing more..........I am also getting more and more irritated at how the British film industry seems to have its snout permanently stuck up America's blowhole. Why do all British people in movies either have to be VERY upper class - utter toffs - or criminals and bad guys: if black people got that treatment it'd be called racist! Having said all that, I give this movie 3 and a half - for some nice acting and funny lines. Just do't take it too seriously or think it is fact: ditto for The Queen. The Iron Lady, Hollywood war movies and other figments of the imagination.
You can't believe that it is Marilyn but as a film in itself it is quite interesting. A bit like Notting Hill in that it is about celebrity meets ordinary guy. The acting is OK and the film flows well, I think Eddie Redmayne kept it together and kept the film entertaining.
Not sure why all the negative comments about Michelle Williams' portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, I thought it showed all the different aspects of her character, insecure but still quite manipulative. Eddie Redmayne plays Eddie Redmayne and Kenneth Branagh is very good as Laurence Oliver. I think the whole story has to be taken with a pinch of salt, it is one person's view of what happened that cannot be verified by anybody else. I enjoyed it but mainly as an interesting look at film making at that time.
Nominated this week for several BAFTA’s My Week with Marilyn tells the story of the relationship between British actor Sir Laurence Olivier and American star Marilyn Munroe as they filmed The Prince and the Showgirl a 1957 movie filmed in England.
The story is based on the true story of Colin Clark, younger brother of prolific political writer Alan Clark, who like his older brother kept a diary in which he describes an intimate and one of a kind week spent almost alone with Marilyn in a holiday cottage.
Impressively portrayed by Michelle Williams Marilyn is as seductive and enchanting as you would expect her to be; Williams is easily the star of the piece, as she must be in order to pull off such an iconic role. Although the platinum blonde hair and pouting red lips add to the visage what is more potent is the way in which she embodies the sexuality, gentleness and fear that Munroe has become so known for; you find yourself leaving the theatre seeing Munroe not simply as a 1950’s sex object but as a deep and troubled person, so excellently portrayed that you find yourself longing to reach out and comfort her.
The movie is incredibly entertaining and moving, almost overwhelmingly so, it gives a touching insight into the truth behind the screen icon that was Munroe; it is subtle and coy, insinuating sexuality without depicting definite images of sex. It gave me a whole new outlook on the physicality of Munroe, a woman whose body was and has been lusted for almost unconditionally, who in fact lacked the confidence and self esteem to truly be the sexual predator she was sometimes made out to be.
A sweet, charming and moving picture.