Director: Simon Curtis
Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh
‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’
“My Week with Marilyn” is directed by Simon Curtis. Its script is written by Adrian Hodges and based off two books by Colin Clark. The film stars Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Ormond, Kenneth Branagh, and Emma Watson. Its plot follows Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), an employee of Sir Laurence Olivier’s (Kenneth Branagh), who documents the tense interaction between Olivier and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) during production of “The Prince and the Showgirl”. The film however mainly focuses on the week that Marilyn (Williams) spent with Clark (Redmayne), when her husband Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), left the country.
Simon Curtis directs this film with undeniable style and substance. It is shot in a highly beautiful part of England. Excellent cinematography at times enhances the film to unexpectedly high levels. The scenes are resilient and some of the costume design really stands out. Curtis captures the feel of England in the late 50’s brilliantly. He balances subtle humor with great emotional moments towards perfection. While this is a very simple film, it is directed magnificently with an entertaining and engaging pace.
All the performances from this wonderful cast are fantastic. Michelle Williams delivers a marvelous performance as Marilyn. She captures the vulnerability and self-destruction that Monroe went through in her days as a star. Williams deserves recognition for her performance and will most likely be nominated for an Academy Award come award season. Eddie Redmayne is innocent and honest as Colin Clark. He proves his character’s love for Monroe in this film and is a talented new actor that is surely going to make it big someday. Kenneth Branagh is excellent as Sir Laurence Olivier. He represents a natural actor doing his best. The rest of the cast including Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, Toby Jones, and Judi Dench are good in their small, yet effective roles.
The script written by Adrian Hodges is passable enough for adapting two books. Even if it lacks depth and doesn’t benefit the film, the screenplay represents efficient work.
“My Week with Marilyn” is in conclusion a good film. It features excellent performances, great pacing, and brilliant direction. While it lacks depth in terms of writing, it is still an entertaining experience at the movies. Recommended for anyone interested in Marilyn Monroe and her rise to stardom.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
You must be logged in to post a comment.