My Week With Marilyn

Looking at a specific time period in a persons life is a great way to focus a screenplay and create a highly entertaining Hollywood film. So many stories have been told about Marilyn Monroe and yet this film seems fresh, fun, and as such a hint of sadness to it. The film follows a young British man named Colin who is trying to break into the movie business. Thanks to his family connections he is able to get a job as a third assistant director on Laurence Olivier's new film which also stars Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe takes a special shine to Colin and the two spend a week together. Kenneth Branagh is one of the most underrated actors of the last thirty years and he is great as Sir Laurence Olivier. Eddie Redmayne is also excellent in his role as Colin the naive boy who falls in love with Marilyn Monroe only to have his heart broken. Of course it is MIchelle Williams who steals the show as Marilyn Monroe. Although Williams does not look exactly the same as the real Marilyn Monroe she is able to capture her star persona and mix it with an excellent portrayal of letting us see how severely damaged of a person Marilyn Monroe was. . As such it is Williams who anchors the story and is able to leave the audience once again awe of what Marilyn Monroe was really like. Emma Watson also takes a small but pivotal role in the film in which she proves that her role to stardom is already underway. It is a very tight and engaging period piece that should have gotten more recognition that it got. Check out My Week With Marilyn.