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Blonde

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Blonde

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Summary

A fictionalised biopic of Norma Jeane Mortenson from childhood, where she suffers abuse at the hands of her emotionally volatile mother Gladys. As Norma blossoms into the screen siren that the world knows as Marilyn Monroe, she is chewed up by a studio system run by powerful men.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Emma Simmonds

The savagery of mega-stardom is laid bare in this brutal but beautiful look at the sad life of Marilyn Monroe. Based on Joyce Carol Oates's novel, the film plays out over a sprawling, near three-hour running time as director Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly) highlights the ways in which Monroe was abused and exploited throughout her life. From growing up with a mentally ill mother (played by Julianne Nicholson), she goes on to a horrific introduction to Hollywood, and beatings at the hands of her second husband, Joe DiMaggio (Bobby Cannavale). The sometimes shocking content is countered by the sensitive work of lead Ana de Armas, who performs as if possessed by the actress. There are bravura sequences that ingeniously immerse us in Monroe's nightmarish world, but Dominik's flair for outlandish style can smother the emotional impact. The near-relentless focus on Monroe's trauma and disempowerment often reduces a woman of substance and charisma to a photogenic victim. Still, it's an admirably sympathetic and eye-opening effort that doesn't half do a number on the Hollywood machine.

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5.4/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameNorma JeaneAna de ArmasThe playwrightAdrien BrodyThe ex-athleteBobby CannavaleMiss FlynnSara PaxtonGladysJulianne NicholsonCassXavier SamuelJeanCatherine Dent

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Crew

rolenameDirectorAndrew Dominik

Details

Theatrical distributor

Netflix

Released on

2022-09-28

Languages

English | Italian

Formats

Colour

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