Marilyn Monroe was a complicated woman. Even today, people struggle to make sense of her life and career. For many, she was merely a starlet, a famous actress and icon with the world wrapped around her finger. They believe she had the perfect life. The truth, however, is the subject of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. The story revolves around a young man named Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) who wishes to make his own way by breaking into the motion picture business, instead of riding on his father’s success. Colin ventures out to obtain a job — any job will do — with Sir Laurence Olivier’s production company in London. Colin’s timing and youthful determination lands him on the set of THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL. This is how he meets Marilyn Monroe, played by Michelle Williams.
As London prepares for the arrival of the world’s most famous woman, Sir Laurence Olivier, played by Kenneth Branagh, prepares to director and star in a film with the sexiest woman on Earth. Part of him somehow hopes for a flirtatious rejuvenation, despite being married to actress Vivien Leigh of GONE WITH THE WIND, played by Julia Ormond, and Marilyn being on her third marriage, this time to the accomplished playwright Arthur Miller, played by Dougray Scott.
Directed by Simon Curtis, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN is his feature theatrical feature film. Curtis was worked primarily as a producer, and as director of multiple television series and made-for-TV movies. While this may sound like a warning sign for a mediocre movie, the rule does not apply in this case. The film may have a subtle element of melodrama, but is overwhelmingly insightful and uplifting in a non-sappy sort of way.
How does a virtual nobody like Colin Clark fit into the legendary story of Marilyn Monroe? The screenplay is based on the diaries written by Clark during his time with Marilyn, on and off the set of THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL, at the time titled THE SLEEPING PRINCE. Colin Clark wrote two books about Marilyn Monroe; “The Prince, The Showgirl and Me” and “My Week With Marilyn.” The interesting dynamic of the relationship between Colin and Marilyn is that, despite her incredible success, talent and fame, she still thought of herself as a regular, flawed person. She was a frightened woman, nervous and paranoid of being abandoned.
These traits come from Marilyn’s troubled and frankly sad childhood. Marilyn was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Rather, she worked very hard for her success, which occurred over time, not overnight. Beginning life as Norma Jean, she invented the persona of Marilyn Monroe, but she would continue to struggle with this throughout her unfortunately short life. Marilyn found it difficult coping with the constant attention as Marilyn, feeling like her own true identity was being held captive beneath the overpowering persona of her own invention. Colin comes into play soon after meeting Marilyn. She seems him as a kindred spirit, a regular guy. She could trust Colin and open up to him. What happens between them is left for you to experience in the film, but it’s the basis of support that triggers their unlikely bond.
Michelle Williams is breathtaking. Not only does she portray Marilyn with stunningly accurate beauty – in appearance, voice and mannerisms – but she captures the conflict so well. Williams’ has tapped into the psyche of Marilyn, allowing MY WEEK WITH MARILYN to humanize the woman Colin calls “a Greek goddess.” Branagh is stellar as Sir Laurence Olivier, a role meant for him alone to play. Branagh gives Olivier a frustrated hilarity, with class and manners, but also shows the temperamental perfectionist behind the camera.
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN chronicles many previously unrecognized elements of cinema from that long gone era. The trials and tribulations between Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe working together on a film was a fragile balancing act, bringing two eras of filmmaking together, illuminating the inevitable death of the ways things have been, ushering in the new era of Method acting and the new Hollywood star.
Aside from Williams’ and Branagh’s potentially Oscar-worthy performances, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN also serves up inspired supporting performances from Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike and Emma Watson as Lucy, the young wardrobe worker on set with whom Colin has a romantic interest. In addition to the acting, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN features a soundtrack for the music lover at heart. Conrad Pope provided the rich orchestral original score, while the film also features fabulous pieces of the era from Dean Martin and Nat King Cole. Most impressive is Michelle Williams doing her own singing when Marilyn performs… a treat in and of itself, especially during the “Old Black Magic” performance during the end credits.
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN is an enjoyable, well-made movie for anyone who is familiar with the icon and the era to enjoy, but I highly recommend the film to those less familiar with Marilyn, or those who perhaps only see her as the persona and nothing more. For those, the film should hopefully be an eye-opening thrill and a testament to the artist more than her creation alone.
