Norma Jean and Marilyn
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Movie Reviews of Norma Jean and Marilyn
Movie Review: Norma Jean & Marilyn
Summary: 5 Stars
Ashley Judd & Mira Sorvino played Marilyn so good, you believe they are really her.Movie Review: Intrigiuing look at what made Marilyn Monroe
Summary: 4 Stars
There are some insightful reviews here already. This movie is thoughtful and, interestingly, attempts to show us the perspectives of Norma Jean and Marilyn in the same scenes at the same time.
It's not a terribly detailed account of her life but it gives us quite enough to realise what a terrible psychological struggle it must have been to become and sustain Marilyn Monroe. One reviewer here has spoken about the inner rage Marilyn must have carried with her. I think that's right and we see it in this movie.
I thought Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino were both excellent. Ashley gets to play it more or less straight; Mira has the harder more complex job and I think she pulls it off really well.
The movie doesn't show us that much of the charming Marilyn that the world fell in love with but that's difficult because Monroe was truly exceptional and no biopic so far has captured her astonishing presence. This movie trys to show us what was behind that presence. I appreciated this try at glimpsing her inner life. But I can also see why some would be offended at, what is at times, a one dimensional portrayal of Marilyn as stupid and then a seriously disturbed, alcoholic junkie (I was irritated too). The movie assumes the viewer already knows a lot and can fill in the gaps and find a balance for themselves. There's enough information out there after all. Overall I liked this movie.
Movie Review: GREAT ACTING, TRAGIC STORY - most people just don't GET IT!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Why are people so harsh a Mira Sorvino's performance? It's called "ACTING"! Everyone complains about Mira's ditzy accent, but she clearly makes that choice as a kind of armor shielding her from outside forces, creating a new "persona" to protect herself, shield her from all the pain she experienced before as Norma Jean - it's clear that Norma/Marilyn was smart in real life, but was smart enough to "act dumb" - get it?! Although I love Ashley Judd and think she does a terrific job conveying Norma Jean's hunger and drive to make herself a star, Mira actually has the harder role, trying to make the cliche we all know as "Marilyn" into a flesh in blood person - watch the way she takes drugs and then "turns on" the Marilyn charm - and how about the bitter/funny monologue in the mirror where she calls her pills her "best friends" that sometimes scream "Get out of bed, b*tch!" Great stuff. I like how the film re-created moments in Marilyn's career (calendar nude shoot, white-dress blowning over grate) - like many stars (Madonna, Michael Jackson), you get the idea Marilyn doesn't really "live" unless she's on camera or in front of the paparrazzi - This movie always plays late at night on HBO and every time it comes on, I am compelled to drop everything and watch it again! It's THAT GOOD! Give both Ashley and Mira a chance, this should have won some Emmys!Movie Review: Norma Jean and Marilyn DVD Review
Summary: 4 Stars
An entertaining HBO film about the life of Marilyn Monroe. Lindsay Crouse has a good role as Marilyn's coach and is fine as usual. Good picture and sound.Movie Review: A slow, Sunday-afternoon kinds of film
Summary: 3 Stars
Perhaps Norma Jean and Marilyn was intended to be a showpiece, a
major calling card, attraction or publicity stunt by HBO, which was
impossible to access outside USA's cable companies, for a long
time.
Perhaps it was intended to be a statement, by the leading
actress, the obviously talented Ashley Judd, in terms of
achievement and sex appeal.
Or maybe it was a failed attempt, in recreating Marilyn Monroe's
life, with a small budget movie made for cable TV.
Whatever it was, the story is one of the most perplexing ones in
recent times, mainly by the juxtaposition of Mira Sorvino and
Judd, throughout the second half of the feature, while both
playing the same Monroe, perhaps suggesting an internal struggle
in the mind of the 50's legend, between her real, simple self,
and the "bombshell chick" exposed in the public eye, and mass
media, that she also needs to pretend to be, to maintain her
status.
In terms of the Judd, as with almost every one of her movies, she
bravely does either the nude or semi-nude 15 second shot that's
almost comically come to characterize almost each of her movies,
over the past 10 years vs. her original refusal in Kuffs, with
Christian Slater, to do so, paradoxically.
The action unfolds, unconvincingly, in terms of action, dialog,
story-telling or explaining why certain things are seen and said,
although the actors, and sets clearly demonstrate the 50's and
60's era, and the classy restaurants, venues, hotels that Monroe
learned to inhabit and expect in her lifestyle.
Unfortunately for Sorvino, I believe her efforts were too timid
to be effective, as she fails to express sufficient confidence in
her speech and how she carries herself for the viewer to believe
she was Monroe, while Ashley Judd, is the complete opposite,
handling all aspects extremely well, yet ...as said, this movie
suggests Monroe was perhaps a schizophrenic by having 2 actresses
playing the same Monroe in the same scenes, inexplicably.
All in all, a slow Sunday afternoon movie, from which the viewer
will chuckle a few times, but mostly, fast forward from extreme
boredom. But for Ashley fans, obviously, is a must see.