Movie review
"My Week with Marilyn," directed by Simon Curtis and starring Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne and Judi Dench, is an utterly charming film that tells the story of a week in Marilyn Monroe's life, while she was making the film "The Prince and the Showgirl," in London. "Marilyn" is playing at several Seattle area theaters.
Seattle Times movie critic
/ MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) in "My Week with Marilyn."
Movie review 
'My Week with Marilyn,' with Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Dominic Cooper, Philip Jackson, Emma Watson, Judi Dench. Directed by Simon Curtis, from a screenplay by Adrian Hodges, based on the diaries of Colin Clark. 99 minutes. Rated R for some language. Several theaters.
'My Week with Marilyn,' with Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Dominic Cooper, Philip Jackson, Emma Watson, Judi Dench. Directed by Simon Curtis, from a screenplay by Adrian Hodges, based on the diaries of Colin Clark. 99 minutes. Rated R for some language. Several theaters.Marilyn Monroe had a voice that sounded like Champagne bubbles, a walk famously described by Jack Lemmon in "Some Like It Hot" as "like Jell-O on springs," and a smile that could melt sorbet. In the utterly charming new movie "My Week with Marilyn," Michelle Williams channels all of these in the kind of star turn that looks effortless; she floats through the movie, perfectly capturing Monroe's way of rhythmically whispering through a song, looking softly frightened when uncertain, and not strolling so much as delicately oozing across the floor. She's mesmerizing — just like the original.
Directed by Simon Curtis (whose background is primarily in British theater and television), "My Week with Marilyn" is based on a true story from the summer of 1956. Monroe and her new husband, playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), came to England for the actress to star in the comic film "The Prince and the Showgirl," directed by and co-starring Sir Lawrence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). Determined to prove herself as an actress, Monroe arrived nervously armed with her Method acting coach Paula Strasberg (Zoë Wanamaker) — and, unfortunately, the prescription medications and alcohol to which she was already addicted. The cast and crew were dismayed by her erratic behavior, except for the 23-year-old third assistant director, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who saw only an irresistible, vulnerable creature, and who became Monroe's unexpected companion for a tumultuous, magical week. (The film is based on the real-life Clark's memoirs.)
Filmed in creamy sunshine — though Williams seems to create her own spotlight, and move at her own speed — and handsomely designed, "My Week with Marilyn" is a delightful trifle, dwelling more on its title character's joys than her sorrows. It's over quickly, just as you're still admiring Branagh's closelipped way with a line; Julia Ormond's sweetly melancholy Vivien Leigh (seeing dailies with Olivier — to whom she was married at the time — she's moved, sadly, by Marilyn's beauty); Emma Watson as an ever-so-slightly jaded young wardrobe girl; and Judi Dench as legendary actress Dame Sybil Thorndike, presented here as the kindest and gentlest of colleagues. ("First love is such sweet despair," she murmurs to Colin, understanding all.)
Did everything really happen quite this way, on that movie set long ago? Who knows, but it's lovely to think so.
Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com
The Seattle Times
Directed by Simon Curtis (whose background is primarily in British theater and television), "My Week with Marilyn" is based on a true story from the summer of 1956. Monroe and her new husband, playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), came to England for the actress to star in the comic film "The Prince and the Showgirl," directed by and co-starring Sir Lawrence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). Determined to prove herself as an actress, Monroe arrived nervously armed with her Method acting coach Paula Strasberg (Zoë Wanamaker) — and, unfortunately, the prescription medications and alcohol to which she was already addicted. The cast and crew were dismayed by her erratic behavior, except for the 23-year-old third assistant director, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who saw only an irresistible, vulnerable creature, and who became Monroe's unexpected companion for a tumultuous, magical week. (The film is based on the real-life Clark's memoirs.)
Filmed in creamy sunshine — though Williams seems to create her own spotlight, and move at her own speed — and handsomely designed, "My Week with Marilyn" is a delightful trifle, dwelling more on its title character's joys than her sorrows. It's over quickly, just as you're still admiring Branagh's closelipped way with a line; Julia Ormond's sweetly melancholy Vivien Leigh (seeing dailies with Olivier — to whom she was married at the time — she's moved, sadly, by Marilyn's beauty); Emma Watson as an ever-so-slightly jaded young wardrobe girl; and Judi Dench as legendary actress Dame Sybil Thorndike, presented here as the kindest and gentlest of colleagues. ("First love is such sweet despair," she murmurs to Colin, understanding all.)
Did everything really happen quite this way, on that movie set long ago? Who knows, but it's lovely to think so.
Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com
The Seattle Times
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