As a young man of twenty-three, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) had the rare opportunity to work on a film with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). The film is based on Clark's recollections of his time working on the set, published in his book The Prince, The Showgirl and Me. My Week With Marilyn is based on these memoirs, detailing the making of The Prince and the Showgirl and Clark's alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams).
Colin Clark was connected. He was the slacker in a family of over-achievers. His love for film set him apart from the rest of his family. His desire to be involved in the film industry landed him in the presence of Sir Laurence Olivier, whose studio was planning a light comedy starring Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. The working title of the film that would later be called The Prince and The Showgirl was The Sleeping Prince. Clark persists in hanging out at the studio office until his resourcefulness lands him a job as the third Assistant Director. In other words, he is a glorified gopher.
Clark proves himself a valuable resource as he navigates the challenges that present themselves as the studio gears up for production. However, the greatest challenge arrives in the form of Marilyn Monroe. Monroe lacks confidence, is habitually late, requires a "method" coach and constantly blows her lines. But when she gets it right...it's magic. Olivier doesn't buy Monroe's child-like naivete, continuously urging the actress to step up her game. It is Clark who steps in and gives Monroe the confidence she needs to finish the film, while the two engage in a somewhat platonic tryst.
I am not sure I believe Clark's version of events, but then, who can challenge it? Whether it is true or not, the story itself was a bit heavy handed. It is obvious to the audience that the story was written from Clark's perspective, since his contributions are so overblown. The characters were decent, but the story was uninspiring. Excerpts from a diary kept during the filming of a flop film probably present plenty of challenges in terms of holding the interest of an audience. Okay, so maybe Clark had an affair with Monroe. Why should I care? Monroe's drug abuse plays a minor role, her personality and conflict with Olivier is a theme, but overall, the film didn't have enough punch to be worthwhile. It was saved by an outstanding performance by Michelle Williams.
Michelle Willimas transformed herself into Marilyn Monroe. I was convinced by her portrayal, which captured the erratic aspects of Monroe's personality as well as her incredible vibrancy when she stands in front of a camera. Williams was delightful. I was glad that Clark wasn't cast as some Errol Flynn look-alike. The choice of Redmayne for the role made the concept of the affair easier to swallow. He didn't have exceptionally good looks, but his character exuded a quiet charm that I could understand a woman experiencing a vast emptiness might find attractive. While I still don't fully buy the premise of this film, the performances were brilliant. EmmaWatson (from the Harry Potter films) has a cameo role, which she handled well. Branagh did a great job as Olivier and Julia Ormand was delightful as his wife Vivien Leigh. But in the end, the other performances were simply overshadowed by Williams performance. Maybe it is a case of art imitating art.
My Week With Marilyn was rated R by the MPAA. IMDB points to language as the reason for the rating. The f-word makes an appearance, and language is certainly a contributing factor. But we also see Marilyn Monroe (Williams) naked in two scenes, although it is artfully done with minimal nudity. The adult themes are also central to the story. While we never witness an actual sex scene between Monroe and Clark, it is suggested that the pair are giving that impression. Drugs and alcohol are also contributing factors to the rating. This is mild as R films go.
My Week With Marilyn is a forgettable film. If it were not for Michelle Williams, I would not likely remember this film in a weeks time. Even given her performance, I am not sure this film will stay with me. Either way, the story was just not that great. It was mildly interesting, slightly humorous and playful with an amazing performance from Williams. Beyond that, this film lacked substance. Mildly recommended with 6.5/10
