BLONDE

“Blonde,” a 2022 biographical drama film directed by Andrew Dominik, is a fictionalized retelling of the life of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. Based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, the film delves into the inner turmoil and complexities of Monroe’s life, exploring her struggles with identity, fame, and personal demons.

The film begins with a young Norma Jeane Mortenson (played by Lily Fisher), growing up in 1930s Los Angeles with her mentally unstable mother, Gladys (played by Julianne Nicholson). Gladys’s erratic behavior and violent outbursts create a traumatic environment for Norma Jeane, who is haunted by her mother’s claims that her absent father is a prominent Hollywood figure. This tumultuous childhood sets the stage for Norma Jeane’s lifelong search for love and acceptance.

As Norma Jeane grows older, she transforms into the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe (portrayed by Ana de Armas). Despite her stunning beauty and undeniable talent, she struggles to reconcile her public persona with her private self. The film explores her early career as a model and her rise to fame in Hollywood, highlighting her iconic roles and the pressures of stardom.

Marilyn’s relationships are a focal point of the film, illustrating her tumultuous marriages to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio (played by Bobby Cannavale) and playwright Arthur Miller (played by Adrien Brody). These relationships are portrayed with raw emotion, showing both the passionate love and the intense conflicts that marked her personal life.
The film also delves into Marilyn’s numerous affairs and her complicated relationship with President John F. Kennedy (played by Caspar Phillipson), depicted as exploitative and damaging to her already fragile psyche. Her struggle with substance abuse, exacerbated by the demands of her career and her quest for personal fulfillment, is depicted with unflinching honesty.

Throughout the film, Marilyn is portrayed as a woman trapped by her legend, yearning for a sense of normalcy and a true understanding of her identity. The narrative oscillates between her glamorous public life and her lonely private moments, underscoring the chasm between Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood icon, and Norma Jeane, the vulnerable woman behind the facade.

The film takes us to Marilyn’s tragic and untimely death in 1962 at the age of 36. The circumstances surrounding her death are depicted as ambiguous, reflecting the ongoing speculation and mystery that continue to surround it.

The film stands out for its impressionistic style and its willingness to blur the lines between fact and fiction. “Blonde” is a deeply affecting portrayal of one of the most iconic and tragic figures in Hollywood history.