> REVIEW
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My Week With Marilyn (2011)
Some like it hot…
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By Matt Arnoldi | November 2011
DIRECTOR: Simon Curtis
WRITER(s): Adrian Hodges/Colin Clark (source)
Based on the diaries of Colin Clark, My Week With Marilyn, follows the the young would-be filmmaker and son of art historian Kenneth Clark, who in the 1950’s got the kind of big break the rest of us could only dream of.
He got the chance to work on the film The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) being shot in Britain and funded by the newly formed company Marilyn Monroe Productions. The film, a skittish comedy of manners, was to be directed by its leading revered British star Sir Laurence Olivier (played here by Kenneth Branagh) alongside aforementioned Hollywood A-list star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) who was looking to partner respected acting talents like Olivier who she hoped she could learn from.
Diarist Clark (Eddie Redmayne), third assistant director, was thrilled to have a film job. Although being employed to assist director Olivier, it soon became apparent the film would be beset by problems. Olivier and Monroe famously didn’t see eye to eye, Monroe’s confidence swiftly being undermined by the impatient Olivier. Monroe sought assistance from acting coach Paula Strasberg (Zoe Wanamaker), while legendary actress Dame Sybil Thorndike (Judi Dench) tried to offer helpful acting hints and Clark became mediator between Monroe and Olivier.
Clark details in his diary ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ the problems on set and in his second diary ‘My Week With Marilyn’ a famous few days when Marilyn escaped the clutches of producer Milton Greene, to go off with a wide-eyed and dewy Clark who by now had become besotted with Monroe.
What can be said of Simon Curtis’ My Week With Marilyn? It comes with an impressive cast and a simply breathtaking performance from Michelle Williams. She nails Monroe to the extent that it’s like watching the Hollywood bombshell all over again complete with her coquettishness, charms and her insecurities.
Branagh paints a kind picture of the vituperative Olivier suggesting any transgressions on his part were born out of exasperation with the hopelessly delayed production schedule, but also shows the generosity shown by Olivier towards Monroe by the end.
Redmayne meanwhile plays Clark with infectious enthusiasm and a willingness to please that probably would have been Clark all over, a film fan working as he was in a dream job on a major Hollywood film.
In the cameo roles, Emma Watson doesn’t have a lot to do as a costume assistant and Dench and Wanamaker are good in their respective roles as calming influences on set.
Sadly Colin Clark, diarist and source for the film died aged70 in2002. His books have been praised for what many feel is an illuminating view of a supposed dalliance he and Marilyn shared. Some have suggested he was somewhat out of his depth, and given neither he nor Monroe are alive to either question or corroborate what is contained in the diaries, we have no notion of whether Clark may have embellished what took place. That said, the problems on set were corroborated by many there at the time and some may feel Clark had no reason to lie.
Simon Curtis has conjured a wonderful film, depicting a beautiful bygone era, giving a revealing insight behind the scenes of the film and the make-up of Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. Here we’ve got the fragility of her childhood (growing up in an orphanage), reminiscences of her mother (who she sadly was able to spend little time with), mention of her first and arguably only true love Joe DiMaggio and a glimpse of her doomed efforts to settle down with playwright Arthur Miller.
Most importantly there’s the view of Monroe being misunderstood by a cavalier Laurence Olivier who suggests at one point he just wants her to read the lines. Monroe, trying to be the revered actress she always longed to be, falls back on Paula, and even calls for method mentor and husband Lee (Strasberg) saying she can’t just deliver the lines without knowing the character’s motivation behind saying them. Olivier may have despaired but arguably never was a truer word said about good acting skills.
Ultimately, aside from the sweet good-natured dalliance with Clark, it’s the insight into the psyche of Monroe that one takes away as the true triumph of the film. Generously provided by the exquisite skill of Michelle Williams and brought to the screen lovingly by cinematographer Ben Smithard and director Curtis. Oscar season starts here.
Script…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Adrian Hodges successfully adapts Colin Clark’s book(s) into a funny, illuminating
and poignant film narrative. 4
Direction………………………………………………………………………………………..
Curtis oversees the action with pace and attention to detail, even if you do feel
he is being a tad to kind to the two protagonists whose behaviour might have
been given an optimistic sheen here. 4
Verdict…………………………………………………………………………………………..
A beautiful peek behind the curtain, My Week With Marilyn packs Hollywood
starlets, passion, vulnerability and a performance by Michelle Williams’ that has
to be seen to be believed. 4
