The nature of a splendid female in her drama that gets so despised is what basically attracts men. The nature of men to bounce around women is the what basically attracts women. In “My Week with Marilyn” we see many of the former in Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) and little bit of the latter in our main man Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne). When Marilyn Monroe was in England for the movie “The Prince and the Showgirl” to be acted/directed by Sir Laurence Olivier, a young man with dreams in his eyes and passion to be behind the camera becomes the third assistant director. In simple words, he is the bitch to every one and that is how you start your career in the showbiz. That is Colin Clark. This is the movie about him seeing the most beautiful, fascinating and understandably complex young girl.
I have not seen any of the films of Marilyn Monroe but one cannot erase their first encounter through images. That devilish blonde hair and the inviting lips with the rightly placed mole on her face would melt any one. Regardless of her being no part for that face of course apart from greatly taking care of her, she is much more than the image. From what I can learn, she embodied everything a man would lust for, love for and to comfort for. She embodied the extremity of woman in all forms and characteristics and that made her the most biggest star in the world in her times and remain so even now as an icon.
Directed by Simon Curtis, the film does the ultimate justice to her. The monumental task falls on Michelle Williams who has come a long way from when I saw her in the soap operatic television teen drama Dawson’s Creek. After that she dazzled in so many complex characters and come out with more than flying colours. Her portrayal of desperate young girl trying to find her dog in “Wendy and Lucy” and in one of the most saddest and brilliant tragedy of marriage on screen in “Blue Valentine”. Despite my unawareness of the mannerisms Monroe had in real life and in the films, as I saw Williams portray her and the deepness of this confused yet pristine personality told that this could only be her.
Alongside Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, the young man Colin Clark becomes the eye for the audience. He takes the gasps along with us and brings to the front of this voluptuous woman that melts hearts as she walks, stares, moves and even when she simply stands. Even in her most utterly depressing state of mind, she is charming in her own way. Despite her little girl seeking in need of attention, she takes all in and somehow knows the players who get in are always aware of the predicament. That happens in several times for Colin Clark, who gets constantly told by others to not get in deep. But the human heart does not obey words of others let alone their own.
Colin Clark as many men in her life becomes residue of several hearts she flung around and becomes ashes of those happy days. Michelle Williams is so good in bringing that woman to the screen that we cannot even help ourselves in allowing her to be that way. But before we put the judging cap, there are facets to this magical gal who mesmerized single handedly the wide audience. She annoys Laurence Olivier by not showing up on time, forgetting lines and questioning his directorial skills through her acting coach Paula (Zoe Wanamaker) but Laurence in his private conversation with Colin says how utterly blown away he is by her elegance, charm and of course acting skills. Laurence himself is in the phase of losing himself to the age and wonders whether Monroe can rejuvenate him by just being alongside him.
There is Judi Dench as the most understanding, kind and splendid human being in Dame Sybil Thorndike. She is generous and how magnificently she supports Monroe when Olivier asks her to apologize to Sybil because of her not being punctual. May be Sybil saw herself in this young girl who is surrounded constantly by people and men. The fame is a pleasure and pain. On one end Marilyn enjoys showing off to the crowd but at the same time she is driven away by that to seclusion and ultimately to self loneliness. She yearns for attention and love but could not make up her mind. Even Colin who would love to be with her might be startled and drifted off by the insane fame that followed this great beauty. “My Week with Marilyn” does not take that for granted and shines insight into this complex being. And in Michelle Williams Simon Curtis gets the best he could ask for and we do take sides with Marilyn because she demands it and you cannot help it.
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