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She may have been the most popular girl in Hollywood, but it’s no big secret that Marilyn Monroe was difficult to work with. Her mood swings and insecurities made her appearance on set unpredictable—and, when she did show up, she rarely remembered her lines. So not only was she the thief of many hearts, but she was also the bane of many directors’ existence—as director Simon Curtis shows in his behind-the-scenes biopic, My Week with Marilyn.
The story is told through the eyes of Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), an eager young film buff who’s thrilled to get his first job in film working for Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). The film, called The Sleeping Prince (later released as The Prince and the Showgirl), is a noteworthy one—mostly because it will bring Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) to England for the first time.
Even before production begins, every member of the cast and crew is smitten by Marilyn and her legendary charm—none more than Olivier himself—but they soon discover the challenges of working with her. And as her behavior becomes more and more erratic, she decides that the only one she can trust on set is Colin, the lowly third assistant director.
My Week with Marilyn offers an intriguing look behind the scenes of a classic film that featured a pair of film legends. But as Colin is welcomed into Marilyn’s inner circle, the film becomes more than just a delightfully dishy peek as the making of one of the Hollywood icon’s films; it becomes the thoughtful study of a troubled character. The film goes beyond the platinum blonde hair, the sexy, breathless voice, and the scandalous affairs to show Norma Jeane Baker, the scared, insecure little girl who just wanted someone (anyone) to love her.
Though she’s already garnered a pair of Oscar nods, Michelle Williams is at her best as Monroe. Differences in physique aside, she manages to transform herself into the legendary starlet, skillfully navigating her wild mood swings while depicting both the actress’s debilitating anxieties and her undeniable charm. Her performance captures all of the struggles, the fears, and the challenges of a life in the spotlight, leaving audiences with a sense that, somewhere in the experience, they got to meet the real Marilyn.
The rest of the cast, meanwhile, is every bit as lovable—from Judi Dench as the adorable Dame Sybil Thorndike to Redmayne as the love struck young assistant. And it’s no real surprise that Branagh is fantastic as Marilyn’s admirer turned adversary—the legendary performer who’s increasingly frustrated (and perhaps more than just a little frightened) by this up-and-coming young superstar, with her eager entourage and her bizarre new methods (not to mention her exasperatingly unprofessional on-set manner). In playing Olivier, he strikes the perfect balance between refined, classically-trained professional and aggravated filmmaker.
If you’re a classic film fanatic, you definitely won’t want to miss this dream-like character study of a Hollywood legend. You’ll enjoy every revelation, every little cameo, every moment of insecurity. But the noteworthy performances and captivating characters make it worthwhile for a wider audience as well.
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