My thoughts on 'MY WEEK WITH MARILYN':
Before I start I should probably state that I am someone who nears on obsession with Marilyn Monroe. I have read her autobiography countless times and before watching the film I had read Colin's diary....well, I read the DIARY part. The diary is a very honest account of a young lad's time working on a film. After the diary has finished, he sees a gap, a few days where he didn't write entries, and low and behold then tells us of an intimate week with the most famous and sought after woman on the planet. I ask, was she dead by the time he slipped this section in? It upsets me that since her death, people seem to want to capitalize on her fame in any way possible.
The story was fabricated and cut. Colin, in his diary states that he didn't even find Marilyn attractive. And why, I ask, was Colin's gay rendezvous with an actor cut out completely?
The book suggests that Marilyn didn't even know Colin's name. I just question how likely it is that a closeness with the 3rd Assistant Director could even be possible.
Performance-wise, I felt it varied. Dame Judi Dench was fabulous (but Dame Sibul is just so Goddamn likable in the book that you cannot help but fall in love with her). Kenneth Branagh has a very tricky task. Olivier was famed for behaving disgustingly towards Marilyn on set (I guess, not un-provoked giving the stress he was under with Marilyn's lateness and the presence of Paula Strasberg on set) and yet in the film you were almost totally on Olivier's side. Not because of Williams being frustrating, simply because of Kenneth's likability.
Michelle Williams had moments of sheer perfection as Marilyn Monroe but the opening and closing song and dance sequences were TERRIBLE. Her diction and vocal choices as Marilyn when speaking were near perfect but I felt in general she totally lacked that magic and sparkle and her eyes were almost dead (and not in good way). I always imagined Marilyn's eyes to tell a Million stories not just self pity or drugged up sleepiness. I realize I am incredibly protective of Marilyn (and totally jealous of Williams' opportunity) so I imagine my views may be somewhat biased.
Eddie Redmayne as Colin was pretty flawless and totally fitted my image and imagination of the young boy (despite storylines being twisted and changed). The jealousy of Vivien Leigh was almost entirely made up. An OBVIOUS and TYPICAL choice to pin women agaisnt each other. I don't understand why they made Marilyn out to be constantly beautiful when the reality is that with no make up and a lot of drugs and a sour attitude, none of the men on set found her attractive (until the rushes were viewed) ESPECIALLY Sir Laurence.
Emma Watson was believable if a little self-centered. (Another fabricated story line - in reality, Colin went off her because she wasn't easy and ended up with a blow job off an older man). I was upset that Plod didn't have more humour, he's such a joyous man in the book and as for Dominic Cooper, well if he felt the need to give up acting, I can't say I'd lose a tear....
