My Week with Marilyn

Great performances make for an entertaining film


An entertaining and jaunty effort which takes a while to get into its stride, but once it does it offers an insightful look at the world of celebrity. Williams holds her own opposite a wealth of acting royalty, but overall the film still feels a little too slight.

The hype...
The word 'icon' is thrown around far too readily these days, but there is no denying that it applies to Marilyn Monroe. Michelle Williams takes on the huge task of bringing the stunning blonde to the screen, and we're hoping for an enjoyable look at her stay in the UK. Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench lead a cast of British heavyweights in supporting roles. 

The story...
It's the summer of 1956 and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) is one of the most recognisable faces in the world. The actress arrives in the UK with her new husband, celebrated playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), to work on the film 'The Prince and the Showgirl, which is to be directed by legendary stage actor Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh).

Tension between the director and star are running high, especially as Olivier is also appearing in the film and has cast Monroe in the role that his wife, Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond), once played. Support initially comes from the kind words of Dame Sybil Thorndike (Judi Dench), and then later from an unlikely source.

23-year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) is desperate to make a name for himself in the movie industry. Starting as a 3rd assistant director, Colin soon finds himself spending time with Monroe and trying to protect her from the vultures circling outside, as well as the demons within.

It all culminates in a magical week that Clark recounts years later.

The breakdown...
Still garnering a formidable reaction from her fans, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most enduring icons of the silver screen.

Stepping into her shoes is a difficult task, and one that Michelle Williams initially fails. At first it seems like a series of attempts at poor recreations of real-life events, inhabited by a scrapbook character pieced together from videos and interviews that reveal very little in terms of character. However, once we get to the more subdued moments, Williams delivers a more approachable take on Monroe, showing a vulnerability that makes us care about her.

Kenneth Branagh hams it up a storm, but knows exactly what he is doing with his Olivier. And the sheer warmth given off by Dame Judi Dench should be bottled up and sold for a healthy profit, it's a perfect tonic for the awkward early interactions.

Eddie Redmayne is dependent on all these recognisable elements to work, and they do just that for the most part. The one weak area is a flat sub-plot involving Emma Watson as a love-interest, which  feels entirely unnecessary.

Credit to Williams for sticking with the title role. She wins you over with great skill, and is worth the acclaim she is getting at the moment. It could even lead her all the way to the Oscars. 

The verdict...
Great performances make for an entertaining look at a bygone age, and succeed in relating the world of celebrity to a modern audience. Those familiar with Monroe, or some of the other main players, might feel short-changed, but there is something quite engaging for a more general audience.

Rating: 3/5


‘My Week with Marilyn’ is due to be released in the UK on 25th November. Certificate: 15.