Review of My Week with Marilyn (2011) by Tatsuhito K — 12 Feb 2013

I've always been intrigued by Marilyn Monroe. My father was fond of her, so I had seen more than my share of her films. It's easy to get a little swept up by her innocent demeanor and the complex mysteries she left behind.

This film promised to not be the typical, run of the mill biopic we have already seen of Marilyn. It was based upon the diaries of a young Oxford graduate, attempting to get a foothold into show business, and the extraordinary week he had in Marilyn's company and temporary favor.

Marilyn's casting left me a little dissatisfied; Michelle Williams has her place, but she failed to capture Marilyn's charm, in my opinion, and only did justice to her negative traits. Oxford graduate, Colin Clark, however, played by the spellbindingly luscious Eddie Redmayne - well, he simply stole the show. I suppose it's only fitting, as it was Clark's memoirs that were being portrayed. Marilyn was simply a shade of herself in the story; a memory awash with unrequitted desires and freshly broken hearts. Yet, I still feel it was slightly unfair to cast Marilyn in such a pathetic light without a counterbalance. She came across as more than depressed and frightened. She was positively selfish, unsympathetic, and completely vapid. Her drug-induced stupors nearly cost the entire production of the film, but the flocks of people around her did little to prevent the drug abuse. This, perhaps, is painfully true, and hence uncomfortable to watch.

Many films come along that seem to "unmake" a legend; showing them at their worst and eliciting a sort of horrified disgust from the audience. I do not think that was the aim of this film, however, and so I did enjoy it for what it was meant to be - a star-struck young man's intimate encounter with an acclaimed star.

Judi Dench also deserves a mention, for her role as the wonderful Dame Sybil Thorndike. I did not think it was possible to grow any more fond of Judi Dench than I already was, but this role proved me wrong. In summation, Eddie Redmayne is simply sensational. A real find. I adored him from the moment he played Jack Builder in the BBC's Pillars of the Earth. I simply cannot wait to feast my eyes upon him in Les Miserables.