Yesterday I went to see "My Week with Marilyn" a movie based on a book written by Colin Clark, a documentary filmmaker who was on the set of "The Prince and the Showgirl"(1957). Lawrence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe starred in the film and Clark, then working as a gofer, claimed to have had a one week affair with the 'blond bombshell.' There are some people who dispute that this event ever happened (seeThe Huffington Post). Since Clark died in 2002, we will never be able to really confirm this.
That being said, the movie is very good and Michelle Williams is excellent as Marilyn Monroe. In fact, there is talk that she will be nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of the star. The music is extraordinary (no surprise there since Lang Lang is playing the piano) and I found the cast (Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh) to be very good as well.
One little item I noticed and I am glad they slipped it in the film, albeit for only a second, is a shot of the James Joyce classic "Ulysses." It is located on her night table. Many people don't realize that Marilyn Monroe read the book (see the Eve Arnold shot of her reading the book in her spare time). Marilyn admitted that she had difficulty reading the book, which puts her in the same group as the rest of us. I read it in 2008 and I can tell you is extremely dense and complex. Not many people will 'get it.' But it is interesting to see an unknown side of Marilyn Monroe. Even if you are not a fan of the sex goddess, check out the movie to see the incredible performance done by Michelle Williams. It is nice to know that in this age of "Jersey Shore" and Justin Bieber, that there is still bona fide talent out there. Marilyn herself put it best when she said "A career is born in public, talent in privacy." I would say she was very prescient.
One little item I noticed and I am glad they slipped it in the film, albeit for only a second, is a shot of the James Joyce classic "Ulysses." It is located on her night table. Many people don't realize that Marilyn Monroe read the book (see the Eve Arnold shot of her reading the book in her spare time). Marilyn admitted that she had difficulty reading the book, which puts her in the same group as the rest of us. I read it in 2008 and I can tell you is extremely dense and complex. Not many people will 'get it.' But it is interesting to see an unknown side of Marilyn Monroe. Even if you are not a fan of the sex goddess, check out the movie to see the incredible performance done by Michelle Williams. It is nice to know that in this age of "Jersey Shore" and Justin Bieber, that there is still bona fide talent out there. Marilyn herself put it best when she said "A career is born in public, talent in privacy." I would say she was very prescient.
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