My Week With Marilyn

A thoroughly mediocre film. It was, we decided, basically a paint-by-numbers, made-for-tv kind of script - there was a half-hearted attempt at a plot arc, which one appreciated for its restraint, in that it didn't work itself up into some kind of emotional hyperbole, but the result was utterly monotonous. The main pleasure to be found in such a movie is watching somewhat well known actors try their hand at impersonating historical icons. Kenneth Branaugh was vaguely interesting as the aging Laurence Olivier, negotiating the difference between theatre and film, but he came across as rather cliche. Michelle Williams acquitted herself well as Marilyn - initially I thought, oh no, this will never work, but as the movie ambled on, she did become more persuasive. Still, it's hard for me to believe her as a glamorous, heart-stopping kind of beauty when I generally think of her as a somewhat droopy eyed, lumpen, downtrodden kind of creature. I think my main complaint is that her voice is just all wrong. Overall - a completely skippable movie.