My Week With Marilyn: Film Review
"My Week With Marilyn"
Arguably, one of the best films of 2011, "My Week With Marilyn" brings to life the intimate week the "third assistant director," Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) shared with the most desired woman, newly wed wife of Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott) and super starlet of the time, Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams). The pair met during the filming of Sir Laurence Olivier's (Kenneth Branagh) "The Prince and the Showgirl." "My Week With Marilyn" is a combination of Clark's two diaries written during his time working on set, and as Adrian Hodges' screenplay cleverly knits them together, Colin's surreal and fairytale-like experience is resurrected for us to delight in.
As I read Clark's diary accounts of his time working as Olivier's third assistant director before watching the film, it was particularly enlightening and delightful to recognise just how perfect Eddie Redmayne is for the part of Colin. As an "Etonian" and Cambridge graduate himself with a natural likability, Redmayne was able to portray Clark's private-schooled gentlemanly presence of politeness, charm and naivety around women flawlessly. This allows us to empathise with Colin's inexperience with women and anticipate his inevitable heartbreak after he falls in love with the most famous woman in the world. Before Marilyn comes in to his life and engulfs his every desire, Colin is infatuated with "Little Wardrobe Girl," or "Lucy" as she is referred to in the film, played by Emma Watson.
In contrast to Clark's diary, Lucy is presented as an independent, intelligent and strong young woman, ideally to fit Watson's mature personality and intellect, as opposed to the dim and lethargic girl Clark describes. I believe the choice to strengthen Lucy's character allows us to concentrate our sympathy on Colin instead of feeling sorry for Lucy when Clark focuses his attentions on Marilyn and inevitably rejects "Little Wardrobe Girl." But, Lucy ultimately gets the upper hand and refuses Colin once he realises Marilyn is so painfully unattainable and goes running back to her. Therefore the audience can relate to Colin as we are transported on an emotional journey with him through infatuation, love and heartbreak in which he is ignorant of anyone else's feelings but his own.
A running theme throughout the film is powerlessness. An inability to control is evident in most of the characters' lives: Eddie is unable to control his feelings towards Marilyn, Marilyn is hopelessly devoted to Arthur Miller and wishes for him to reciprocate her feelings, - she wants to be a traditional wife, but her lifestyle and miscarriage prevents her from achieving this, and everyone (especially Sir Lawrence Olivier) attempts somehow to control and have power over Marilyn; the most desired and famous woman in the world, yet they fail miserably.
Marilyn's charming sweetness and wit showed just how easily it was for men to fall at her feet and why Eddie was so blown away and mesmerised by her. Her vulnerability attracted men and their male instinct too, as each is eager to protect her. We can only empathise instead of pity, that if it was us confronted with our idol or ultimate crush inviting us in to their lives with flirtation and charm, the temptation would be overwhelming and to resist would be out of the question.
Michelle Williams' portrayal of the greatest bombshell of all time should undoubtedly earn her huge appraisal if not an Oscar. Williams has brilliantly recreated Marilyn's character through her physical demeanour and body language to bring back to life her captivating presence both in front and behind the camera. Adrian Hodges stressed that it was not about "impersonating the woman herself," which could have easily been achieved by hiring a look-alike, but "re-creating Marilyn's character," and this I believe has thoroughly paid off. Not only did I spend the duration of the film enthralled by Williams' acting ability, but I started to feel as if Marilyn Monroe herself was on the silver screen in front of me.
As a whole production, My Week With Marilyn has all the ingredients to be a huge success from romance to comedy to brilliant acting. But more importantly, the film revives a classic idol: a woman who has influenced eras of great artists such as Andy Warhol and musicians such as Elton John. So as a new generation is introduced to her acting ability, charm, beauty and influence on fashion, we are once again inspired by and in awe of Marilyn Monroe.
Images:
1. Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe and Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark.
2. Marilyn Monroe with newlywed husband, Arthur Miller arriving in England for the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl.
3. Marilyn on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl in the iconic white dress.
4. Emma Watson as Lucy/Little Wardrobe Girl with Eddie Redmayne.
5. Williams styled as Marilyn for the cover of Vogue (Oct'11).