My Week With Marilyn tells the story of the iconic 1950s siren of stage, song and screen, Marilyn Monroe, and the one film she made outside the US. The platinum blonde hair and cherry red lips are a delight on screen, as is the story of this complicated woman and her time in the English countryside while she shoots her latest film.
Director Simon Curtis brings this the story to life, working from a script by Adrian Hodges and based on the true-life accounts by Colin Clark, as recorded in his books ‘The Prince, The Showgirl and Me’ and ‘My Week With Marilyn’.
Michelle Williams plays Marilyn and the movie follows her time in England as she shoots the 1957 film, The Prince And The Showgirl. While on set Marilyn struggles to work at the ‘professional actor’ pace set by actor and director Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). Their relationship is further strained by Laurence (and the crew’s) frustration at Marilyn’s poor work ethic.
However, what the film is really about are the experiences of a young man, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne). Fresh out of university, Colin is eager to get into the film industry. He gets his chance as 3rd assistant director on The Prince And The Showgirl, basically the ‘go-to’ guy for anything required by the director or leading cast. However, despite his lowly position he finds himself befriending the vulnerable and delicate actress, Marilyn. The movie explored their short relationship, as well as how others around them react to this. In the time that they take to make this movie, it is clear what a profound effect Marilyn must have had on those around her.
The plot of this film is relatively simple, but the performance of the cast, in particular Michelle Williams, is exquisite (she won a Golden Globe as well as scoring Oscar and BAFTA nominations). The portrayal of Marilyn has so many subtleties to it, it really is a pleasure to watch. Williams does a great job of feigning a sort of innocence, while all the while you can’t help but feel that Marilyn knows that she has a powerful effect on those around her, and can choose to use or dispose of her company.
Colin easily falls under her spell and soon drops everything to be at her side whenever she calls. As pathetic as this is, it is also endearing, as the young man becomes clearly besotted with the affable Monroe. Their relationship grows (to him at least) from on-set comforts to tours of the countryside and days by the river. However this is not without detriment to his other relationships, such as his love interest (Emma Watson) and his work colleagues.
My Week With Marilyn is beautifully shot, and captures the British-ness of the setting in the most sublime way. Both the city of London and the countryside are a delight on screen. The musical score is certainly subtle, but this is certainly no negative, and it sparkles on occasion when Marilyn sings a cappella (both in the bath and on-set!). As mentioned, the cast do a wonderful job and it’s Williams’ performance as the misunderstood screen icon, as well as Redmayne’s portrayal of the greenhorn on-set that make this film really enjoyable.
Overall Verdict: My Week With Marilyn is a great film, and although is a pretty straightforward viewing, it is still wholly enjoyable. It’s the truest compliment to the director, producers and cast that the audience falls for the film is exactly how the characters in the film are enchanted by the presence of Marilyn.
Reviewer: Kevin van der Ham