As far as Oscar contenders go, My Week With Marilyn is easily one of the most accessible. Focused on a very specific time in the life of Marilyn Monroe, Michelle Williams stars as the influential actress during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl opposite Sir Laurence Olivier, played by Kenneth Branagh. During this time, Monroe befriends Colin, a young employee for the film, played by Eddie Redmayne. That begins a short-lived relationship, which provides some reprieve from the tension filled film-set. While a good amount of the movie is devoted to the Olivier-Monroe dynamic, the latter is the real focus with help from an incredibly well layered performance from Williams.
But the impressive acting doesn’t stop with the lead. Branagh, with a prosthetic chin in tow, gives a spirited take as the British legend. The layers he peels back on a character that is written to be seen mostly in a professional setting is impressive. There are a few glimpses at Olivier’s personal life, but with the focus on Monroe, Branagh is given limited context and excels. As for the character who participates in the “week with Marilyn,” Colin, there is no drop off in talent. It’s not as complex a character as others, but that proves to work well as a contrast to Monroe. Emma Watson’s bit part also provides strong moments throughout.
As the votes start to come in for the award shows in early 2012, My Week With Marilyn should come up a number of times. It is the best-acted film of the year. Even with sad moments and high drama, the film is a pleasing cinematic experience. The pacing is reminiscent of mid-century romances, and even though the boy doesn’t get the girl in the end, it isn’t that important. Colin was never going to win over Marilyn Monroe. The movie is too real for that type of fairytale ending. (9.5 out of 10)
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