Marilyn
Monroe is easily the most iconic film star of all-time but also one of the most
enigmatic. For decades, we have been fascinated by her legend and her timeless
beauty yet most have only the faintest idea about who she really was. We
remember her soft voice, her blonde hair, that subway grate scene from The Seven Year Itch and her rendition of
“Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy but very few know the specifics of her
life. The documentary Love, Marilyn seeks
to remedy that by offering an unprecedented look into the tragic actress’ life
through interviews with those who knew her and recently uncovered letters,
poetry and diary letters written by Marilyn.
For
fans of Marilyn Monroe, Love, Marilyn is
a very emotional experience and is bound to bring you to the brink of tears. We
see how tormented Marilyn was throughout her life and witness second-hand the
tragedies she faced – from being orphaned at a young age to ill-fated marriages
to a miscarriage to a forced stint in a mental institution. She was treated by many within the industry and those in the
public as a joke despite the fact that she was an incredibly intelligent and articulate woman who
single-handedly created her image and broke sexual boundaries becoming an early
enabler for the feminists of the late-‘60s and ‘70s. She was regularly
victimized by the studio system but constantly pushed back, demanding that she
be treated as an equal. Marilyn was a survivor and the most tragic realization
of all was that she was on her way to recovery at the time of her untimely
death, perhaps only fuelling rumours that she was murdered.
The
most remarkable and unique aspect of this documentary is that the letters,
diary entries and poetry are read by established actors within the contemporary film industry.
The male performers present are extraordinary reading as the men in Marilyn’s
life. Ben Foster, Adrien Brody and Jeremy Piven are particular stand-outs. The
actresses reading as Marilyn are more hit-and-miss. Glen Close, Viola Davis and
Jennifer Ehle give remarkable performances but Uma Thurman, Marisa Tomei and
Evan Rachel Wood’s feel forced and false, reading their lines like acting
monologues rather than personal reflections. It’s also worth mentioning Lindsay
Lohan reads a couple lines successfully though her swollen lips are rather
distracting. While it’s an ambitious and interesting idea to have multiple
actresses read as Marilyn, it would have been more consistent had they chosen
but one.
Love, Marilyn is a courageous and unique
production worth watching. It provides a different perspective on a film star
that is more often parodied than actually taken seriously. If you can get past
a few bad line readings by the actresses involved, this documentary will
provide a well-rounded and heart-rending vision of the life and times of
Marilyn Monroe.
Grade: B+
