Awards Season

Nov. 28, 2011 at 3:57pm with 28 notes

My Week with Marilyn - Review

My Week with Marilyn is worth seeing for Michelle Williams’ performance but little else. The film suffers from schmaltzy writing and much of the time, the material does not merit Williams’ considerable talents. Eddie Redmayne barely registers in his role, and the conspicuous lack of chemistry between Williams and Redmayne is one of the film’s main problems. For a film that is hinged on the relationship between Marilyn Monroe and the young Colin Clarke, it is very often the least engaging aspect of the film. It is far more interesting to see Monroe grapple with her insecurities on the set of The Prince and The Showgirl, or cower in the presence of Sir Laurence Olivier, played with aplomb by Kenneth Branagh. Judi Dench and Zoe Wanamaker are delightful in their minor roles, but this really is a showcase for Michelle Williams. She sings, she wiggles, she purrs. And even if it’s not a perfect embodiment of Monroe, it still ranks as one of the performances of the year.

Ultimately, My Week with Marilyn is an all too light, fluffy film, which gives viewers only a glimpse into the world of Marilyn Monroe, but leaves us wanting a whole lot more. There’s a line in the film which states that Marilyn Monroe is a star who can’t act and Laurence Olivier is an actor who can’t be a star. After this film, Michelle Williams might just have found the secret to being both.

BEST OSCAR CHANCES:

Best Actress (Michelle Williams), Best Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)

OUTSIDE BETS:

Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay