Friday, December 2, 2011

My Week With Marilyn: A Young Man's Delight

Michelle Williams is no Marilyn. But neither is any other contemporary actress. It's difficult to think of anyone who could capture that intoxicating mix of voluptuous, vulnerable va-va-va-voom.

Still Williams does a fine job of bringing Marilyn to life (yes, Oscar buzz has begun) and the fact that she doesn't steal every scene, as Monroe did, is right for this movie.

It's about a young man, played to perfection by Eddie Redmayne, who enjoys a week with Marilyn during the filming of "The Prince and the Showgirl," in 1957.

This is a coming-of-age, first-love movie and rightfully belongs to Redmayne.
Kenneth Branagh, as Sir Laurence Olivier, who starred with Monroe in the "Prince," is wonderfully snooty and punctilious. His precise acting style and overbearing narcissism contrast sharply and beautifully with Monroe's insecurities and messy natural talent.

The movie is a feast for the eyes and also provides food for thought.

(How's that for two cliches in one sentence!)

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