Movie Review: My Week With Marilyn

Sir Laurence Olivier is making a movie in London in 1957. Young Colin Clark, an eager film student, wants to be involved and he navigates himself a job on the set. When film star Marilyn Monroe (real name Norma Jeane Mortenson) arrives for the start of shooting, all of London is excited to see the blonde bombshell, while Olivier is struggling to meet her many demands and acting ineptness, and Colin is intrigued by her. Colin’s intrigue is met when Marilyn Monroe invites him into her inner world where she struggles with her fame, her beauty and her desire to be a great actress. How 23-year-old Clark takes it upon himself to free the troubled star from her demons, despite Olivier’s warning against rescuing her.

“My Week With Marilyn“ is a 2011 British biographical film which stars Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Dougray Scott, Judi Dench and Emma Watson which depicts the making of the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl, which starred Marilyn Monroe (Williams) and Laurence Olivier (Branagh). The film focuses on the week in which Monroe spent time being escorted around Britain by Clark (Redmayne), after her husband, Arthur Miller (Scott), left the country.

Here’s a clip from the film “The Prince and the Showgirl” where “My Week With Marilyn” is based:

My Week with Marilyn is based on Colin Clark’s books “The Prince, The Showgirl and Me” and “My Week with Marilyn“; two diary accounts, which document his time on the set of the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirland the time he spent with Marilyn Monroe.

The movie recreates the 1950s era of Hollywood film making and gives the viewers a peek into the life of the troubled actress who is considered one of the most beautiful woman in the world. Although Michelle Williams gave an excellent performance as Marilyn Monroe, in my own opinion, physically, Michelle doesn’t resemble that much to Marilyn Monroe. Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench moves me with their brilliant performances. My biggest disappointment was Emma Watson playing a bit role for the movie. It seems starring in blockbuster movie franchise Harry Potter is not enough to land a good role to relaunch her as a grown-up actress.

But since the movie focuses on Marilyn Monroe, Michelle Williams captures the magnetism and vulnerability of Marilyn Monroe. I specifically loved the part where she’s tap dancing and how she reacts whenever a group of fans mobs her. Although I’ve only known Marilyn Monroe as a Hollywood bombshell, I never realized how troubled she was and how bad she is as an actress. It was hard to imagine how a beautiful woman adored by millions is too insecure of herself.

Here’s a clip I found in Youtube where one scene from the movie “The Prince and The Showgirl” synced Michelle Williams and Marilyn Monroe’s dialogue:

Although I didn’t expect that the movie will showcase the bad side of Marilyn Monroe, I was hoping her biography focuses on other aspects of her life – and not just that one week, although that one week was enough to see the real Marilyn Monroe. I’d love to see a more extensive autobiography of Marilyn Monroe from her childhood to her last days. And I feel bad that Marilyn Monroe was a walking disaster and nobody gets to rescue her from all her insecurities.

Acting-wise, “My Week With Marilyn” is a must-see. You will also love how they managed to recreate everything from make-up to costumes to cinematography.

“My Week With Marilyn” opens in theaters February 29  until to March 06 exclusively at Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma. In connection with the theatrical run of “My Week With Marilyn,” Ayala Malls Cinemas launched a raffle promo where you can win to their “Exclusive Deals: Win a Trip to Boracay for 2” promo. Click here to know more about the contest.