Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in ‘My Week with Marilyn’.
With Eddie Redmayne starring in “The Aeronauts” (2019), which arrives in theatres on Friday, Dec. 6, let’s look back at his notable, complimentary performance with Michelle Williams’ turn as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn” (2011).
‘My Week with Marilyn’ says so much in a short time capsule
Directed by: Simon Curtis
Written by: Adrian Hodges, based on Colin Clark’s books “The Prince, The Showgirl and Me” (1995) and “My Week with Marilyn” (2000)
Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Julia Ormond, Toby Jones, and Judi Dench
“My Week with Marilyn” (2011) – “Everyone remembers their first job. This is the story of mine.” – Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne)
Colin Clark, a 23-year-old dreamer, decides that he needs to work in the film business, and it just so happens that Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), of all people, says, “Let’s try to find him something to do.”
Olivier is about to direct a comedy called “The Sleeping Prince” - which eventually becomes “The Prince and the Showgirl” (1957) - and his production stars Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams).
After a completing a series of errands, Mr. Clark eventually befriends Ms. Monroe and becomes her escort during her stay in London on the shoot, and since she’s a stranger in a “strange country and playing a strange part” (as noted by her co-star Dame Sybil Thorndike (Judi Dench)), Colin’s sincere, positive outlook provides the support that she needs.
Williams and Redmayne are perfect support for director Simon Curtis and his film, which is based on Colin’s memoirs. Williams – who rightfully earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her work here - is quite uncanny as Monroe. She not only looks the part and captures Monroe’s cutesy charm and bombshell looks, but Williams also channels the woman’s insecurities and bad habits that come with the noted positive qualities.
“My Week with Marilyn” cannot work without the audience believing that Williams is Monroe. Well, cue the movie’s opening scene. Clark sits in a theatre and marvels at Monroe belting out “When Love Goes Wrong (Nothing Goes Right) and “Heat Wave” on-screen, and before you can say, “It’s me, Sugar”, Williams has us believing.
In a 2011 interview with journalist and humorist Mo Rocca, Williams reveals that she spent months studying Monroe and even wore a belt tied around her knees to properly capture Marilyn’s wiggle while she walks. Williams is a star in her own right, but she did her homework before playing one of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, and Redmayne’s turn as a starry-eyed young assistant is this movie’s perfect compliment.
Colin is just a kid, but he displays good judgment and cultural wherewithal. Olivier trusts Colin, and so does Marilyn, but hey, this upstart is still a mere mortal. Yes, he’s a friend to Marilyn, but he also channels considerable fortitude to prevent his knees from turning to jelly in front of this living legend. Redmayne is wholly likable here, and in many ways, Colin is Marilyn’s British knight in shining armor, as he helps shield her from negative forces with a kind face and warm words.
He’s her confidant, friend and muse.
“My Week with Marilyn” is a confident and brisk 93-minute biopic. Although it captures a short moment in time, it says so much about Monroe, at least through the eyes of Clark. The movie hooks us through Williams’ remarkable performance but also with Clark’s luck, because he finds himself helping Ms. Monroe in her time of need…on his first job.
Quite a remarkable line on his resume, don’t you think? For Williams and Redmayne, “My Week with Marilyn” is a proud line on theirs.
(3/4 stars)
Jeff – a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle – has penned film reviews since 2008, graduated from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and is a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic. Follow Jeff and the Phoenix Film Festival on Twitter @MitchFilmCritic and @PhoenixFilmFest, respectively.
