16 Sep Blonde Review

BLONDE

dir. Andrew Dominik, starring Ana de Armas

Adapted from the 2000 novel penned by Joyce Carol Oats, Blonde depicts the roller coaster life of Norma Jeane Mortenson, aka Marilyn Monroe, as she ascends to stardom as an actress in Hollywood during the 1950s and 60s. While the world was infatuated with Marilyn, her off screen life was one of exploitation, abuse, and drug abuse.

Writer/director Andrew Dominik returns to narrative storytelling after a decade hiatus to tell the tumultuous life of a Hollywood icon. Unwilling to shy away from the worst elements of Norma Jeane’s life, Blonde is a tough movie to sit through; the consistent obsession and exploitation of Norma Jeane that frames the majority of the film’s runtime may not be for everyone, but it’s stories like these that are necessary to shine a light on the lecherous and manipulative ‘golden era’ of Hollywood. Dominik gives the film an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality that at times seems to mirror the dreaminess that was Marilyn Manson. By film’s end, anyone willing to stick with it should hopefully come away from it with a deeper understanding of who Norma Jeane was and the circumstances she endured. To sum it up: it’s long, but it’s worth it.

Starring Ana de Armas, Blonde an acute reminder of why she’s one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood. Handling the joy, the confusion, the anger, and a variety of other wide-ranging emotions, de Armas holds class on the screen, proving that she can command a room with a dominating presence. de Armas is in virtually every scene of the movie, delivering a performance so captivating that the audience will be just as charmed as the characters in the film.

Both written and directed by Andrew Dominik, Blonde is yet another great entry into the sparse filmmaker oeuvre. Dominik’s attempts to put a face and soul to what over the years has become more of an idea than a person pay off fully as he mines Norma Jeane’s life, showcasing some of her most tragic events and personal losses. Dominik shows great care in how he crafts each scene; the transition between black in white Marilyn Monroe life and colored Norma Jeane life is a brilliant decision, visually depicting the duality of the person that Norma Jeane struggles with throughout the story. From a writing standpoint, the nearly three hour long movie gets a bit repetitive at times, but the deep dive into the life of a legend is well worth it.

Overall, Blonde is Ana de Armas’ masterpiece to showcase her depths and range. At 166 minutes, the film’s exploration of the different eras of Norma Jeane’s life is a fascinating look at her personal struggles, Hollywood’s abuse of her, and takes lengths to humanize one of the nation’s most obsessed over sex symbols. Andrew Dominik’s skillful writing and direction, combined with de Armas’ award worthy performance make the movie a gripping tale that the audience will be fully invested in. A phones-down movie that’s a great for a Sunday night watch, Blonde kicks off awards season with a bang. Blonde is currently streaming on Netflix.

Review by Darryl Mansel