Blonde
review by Bobby Blakey
Throughout the years there have been many books and movies about the iconic Marilyn Monroe. Now Chopper and Killing Them Softly director Andrew Dominik is bringing a new adaptation of her famed life with Blonde based off the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. The film stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson, but does it bring something iconic enough worthy of her legacy or will it fail to capture the spotlight?
Blonde follows a life both known and unknown in this boldly imaginative film that explores the complicated life of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. First you must know that this film is a fictional take on the things that happened to Monroe throughout her career. There are obviously some elements that were no way of knowing how they really played out without the real people involved, but all are things that have been reported on in some manner.
The approach to the film is interesting with the color palate along switching between color and black & white throughout. These stunning visuals keep you engaged as your senses are constantly trying to keep in track with the changes. They are well served to separate the moments in her life in different ways from the real world and the fantasy nightmare of her career. It is slow at times and runs a bit longer than necessary, but I get trying to get all the story of her journey in there and there is a lot of it in such a short time.
The cast are all good here, but the it’s Ana de Armas that shines. She has fully embraced and embodied the role to perfection. No matter your feelings on the finished film there is no denying that she is outstanding bringing all the hidden fear, pain and suffering to the forefront with a smile that speaks volumes. I have been a fan of hers for some time, but
this is easily the best work of her career and will hopefully not go unnoticed.
There are elements of the film that will likely be hard to watch for some, but I feel that it was important in telling this story. It isn’t just sex and nudity for the sake of it, but instead the horrific things she was put throughout and suffered at the hands of an industry that is still being exposed. This isn’t a film for everyone and for sure not one that would be up for multiple viewings, but in the end I found it compelling and heartbreaking as the thoughts of what she likely truly endured was no doubt so much worse.
Decide for yourself and check out Blonde streaming exclusively now on Netflix.