Memoirabilia Productions

This film’s title, Blonde, was a sure caveat broken record interpretation not beholden to the extraordinary legacy of Marilyn Monroe. “Marilyn” and Norma was cunningly coy, highly intelligent, well read, studious entertainer, tenacious entrepreneur, a natural empathic comedian with impeccable timing and wit. At some point, the “dumb blonde” trope must stop; we are now an educated audience who are very aware of Marilyn Monroe’s zone of genius! In an era of feminine oppression and economic classism, Marilyn climbed out of the complexities of the impoverished orphanage to strategically reinvent herself in a man’s world as an Aphrodite, inherently birthing an evolution in pop culture for women throughout the 70s and decades to come, and yet over half a century later, we are still being subjected to this archetype gaslit pornographic misogynistic depiction of Monroe. Marilyn upheld the affection and respect of the most revered men and women within their own industry of that historic period. From Baseball Hall of Famer, Joe DiMaggio, to world renowned playwriter, Arthur Miller, to the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Despite this film’s rendition, there is no way those hierarchy men would have given Monroe the time nor day if she were just a pretty face and “dumb as a bag of rocks.” From wife to concubine, Marilyn Monroe surrounded herself with elitist artists and politicians and before social media, oozing seduction and candor, Marilyn mastered the art of social climbing and influencer obsession. Ana De Armas's applaudable talent was wasted with this storyline. This film had great potential to become a Hitchcock inspired themed film if the production explored and honed in on the insidious relationship between Norma and Marilyn. The production only touched the surface with that Marilyn transition mirror scene. Save your time of a whopping 2 hours and 47 minutes, instead watch the exquisite portrayal of Monroe in Simon Curtis’ My Week with Marilyn (2011).