MOVIE REVIEW - My Week With Marilyn

Every once in a while a good movie comes out that has as its calling card, a really great performance. That is the basic deal with the new My Week With Marilyn.

This is based on a true story in 1956 told from the memoirs of then 23 year old Colin Clark. Colin was a young English movie executive who was lucky enough to get his first paid gig working on a Marilyn Monroe movie, The Prince And The Showgirl. He somehow becomes a sort of assistant to Monroe at the height of her fame during this filming in England. He becomes her confidant, and friend, and he guides her through the tough time she had on this films set.

Supposedly, he documents the entire visit, and even goes so far as to say that Monroe wanted to sleep with him, skinny dip with him, and wanted him. Even though she was married at the time to famous playwright, Arthur Miller. Right up front, this story may have a hole or two, and it may raise an eyebrow or two, as it is the recollection of a star struck 23 year old normal man. It's not a deal breaker.

And the reason is simple. Michelle Williams. She is Monroe, and is absolutely fantastic. How incredibly difficult is this role? Playing Marilyn the movie star, the drug addict, the scared little girl, and the lonely love starved woman. Many times weaving between each in several scenes at the same time. Lots of actors play iconic figures on screen. But playing Monroe has an element that every single other one does not. You have to be the most beautiful woman on earth in your era. Williams is beautiful, and completely at ease with this role she was seemingly born to play. she has Monroe down pat, without being over the top. She looks amazingly like her, throughout this entire movie.

This movie positions Monroe as a deeply troubled, but gifted actor and person. And that seems consistent with all historical accounts. She is 30 years old in this movie, and it's the Marilyn we all like to remember. Iconic, captivating, amazingly alluring and the worlds biggest star at the time. Williams pulls it off perfectly in a movie that is good, but less than perfect. but, this is the runaway best performance of any actress so far this year. Although, Meryl Streep is still yet to be heard from in her portrayal of Margret Thatcher in The Iron Lady later in December.

Qualifying statement here, I am a big Marilyn Monroe fan. And I am not a real huge Michelle Williams fan. That is one of the main reasons I am so blown away with her performance here. As many good roles as she has had, this may be the one she is most remembered when all is said and done. I say, the Oscar may be hers to lose. Should be noted too, the courage it takes to play a character like this. Well done.

My Week With Marilyn. Perfect...no. But Michelle Williams is. Simply perfect.