Quick Review: My Week With Marilyn (2011)

January 14, 2014 / Leave a Comment

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
JANUARY 14, 2014

Michelle Williams wholeheartedly pulls off the role of Marilyn Monroe in “My Week With Marilyn” capturing not only the bubbly on-screen beauty that we knew and loved but the innocent and mysterious side of her character as well. Williams has never been more attractive and wholly engulfed in a role than she was with Marilyn, bringing the icon to life in a way I never thought possible. The rest of the cast supports her perfectly, with Eddie Redmayne becoming a steadily solid performer and Dominic Cooper continuing his unmatched acting prowess. There is a sense of boyhood reminiscence in this film that latches you to Redmayne’s character, Colin, as he works with Marilyn on the film set and slowly becomes her confidant as they run around the countryside together, making the audience feel what it must have felt like to be that close to Marilyn Monroe. This film was a complete surprise and represents the perfect dramatic, period piece, bringing to life not only Marilyn but Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branaugh) and the entire feel of that era. Not since Marilyn Monroe, herself has there been a more endearing portrayal of her, bringing to life the attracting effect that she had/has over people and begging the question of whether she was knowingly leading these men on as almost a predator, or simply trying to live her life, somewhat absent-minded and drug inducing carefree.