Oscar Nominee Movie Review: BLONDE

If you are sitting down to watch the Netflix film BLONDE, expecting a “true” biopic of Marilyn Monroe, then you’ll be in for a disappointment. If you are looking for a “what if” look at a tragic figure of the 20th century, then you’re in luck for BLONDE shows the downside of being Marilyn Monroe without ever showing us the upside - it’s up to you to decide whether or not this is entertaining.

Starring an Oscar nominated Ana de Armas (KNIVES OUT) as Marilyn and based on the fictional novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Director and Screenwriter Andrew Dominik (MINDHUNTER) focuses on the seemy side of being the biggest icon of the 1950’s, showing a fragile, broken person at the constant whims of parasitic men who look to exploit her at every turn.

It’s a “one-note” movie for Dominik shows the bad (and the ugly), but never the good, consequently, the audience gets numb to the bad as the movie progresses. Perhaps this is on purpose, for Marilyn, herself, grows numb to this as well, but as a film, this 2 hour and 47 minute epic becomes very redundant.

Ana de Armas, deserves her Oscar nomination for she, most certainly, embodies (both physically and emotionally) the blonde bombshell that was Marilyn Monroe while also showing us the fragility that was the damaged “Norma Jean”. It is not a flawless performance as de Armas’ Cuban accent flows through from time to time, but it is a strong performance that is necessary to keep the center of this film from falling apart.

Unfortunately, for the most part, the rest of the cast is forgettable as their characters are drawn thinly - or not at all - as forgettable face after forgettable face floats through Marilyn’s life, never really making an impact.

The exception to this are the 3 people who have made the most impact on her life - her mother, her first husband - the ballplayer, and her 2nd husband -the playwright (the latter 2 played, respectively by Bobby Canavale and Adrian Brody), bringing life to the sagging back half of the film.

By the time this journey is over, Marilyn (and the audience) are run down and tired, NOT a great way to end a film.

Letter Grade: B-

6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)