Customer Reviews

Norma Jean and Marilyn

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Why are people so harsh a Mira Sorvino's performance? It's called "ACTING"! Everyone complains about Mira's ditzy accent, but she clearly makes that choice as a kind of armor shielding her from outside forces, creating a new "persona" to protect herself, shield her from all the pain she experienced before as Norma Jean - it's clear that Norma/Marilyn was smart in real life, but was smart enough to "act dumb" - get it?! Although I love Ashley Judd and think she does a terrific job conveying Norma Jean's hunger and drive to make herself a star, Mira actually has the harder role, trying to make the cliche we all know as "Marilyn" into a flesh in blood person - watch the way she takes drugs and then "turns on" the Marilyn charm - and how about the bitter/funny monologue in the mirror where she calls her pills her "best friends" that sometimes scream "Get out of bed, b*tch!" Great stuff. I like how the film re-created moments in Marilyn's career (calendar nude shoot, white-dress blowning over grate) - like many stars (Madonna, Michael Jackson), you get the idea Marilyn doesn't really "live" unless she's on camera or in front of the paparrazzi - This movie always plays late at night on HBO and every time it comes on, I am compelled to drop everything and watch it again! It's THAT GOOD! Give both Ashley and Mira a chance, this should have won some Emmys!

There are some insightful reviews here already. This movie is thoughtful and, interestingly, attempts to show us the perspectives of Norma Jean and Marilyn in the same scenes at the same time.

It's not a terribly detailed account of her life but it gives us quite enough to realise what a terrible psychological struggle it must have been to become and sustain Marilyn Monroe. One reviewer here has spoken about the inner rage Marilyn must have carried with her. I think that's right and we see it in this movie.

I thought Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino were both excellent. Ashley gets to play it more or less straight; Mira has the harder more complex job and I think she pulls it off really well.

The movie doesn't show us that much of the charming Marilyn that the world fell in love with but that's difficult because Monroe was truly exceptional and no biopic so far has captured her astonishing presence. This movie trys to show us what was behind that presence. I appreciated this try at glimpsing her inner life. But I can also see why some would be offended at, what is at times, a one dimensional portrayal of Marilyn as stupid and then a seriously disturbed, alcoholic junkie (I was irritated too). The movie assumes the viewer already knows a lot and can fill in the gaps and find a balance for themselves. There's enough information out there after all. Overall I liked this movie.

Norma Jean and Marilyn is a fresh, interesting approach to Marilyn's life story, focusing on her inner life rather than just being a straight bio. This film, while somewhat factually inaccurate, is a powerful portrayal of Marilyn's inner world, and I like the device of having Judd's Norma Jean confront Sorvino's Marilyn as a way of showing the internal struggle Marilyn might have felt between different facets of herself. Ashley Judd is just dynamite as Norma Jean, starring in the beginning of the movie as a spunky, ambitious starlet and later appearing every so often as the personification of Marilyn's hidden rage once Mira Sorvino takes over the lead role as Marilyn. Although Sorvino doesn't much physically resemble Marilyn and is somewhat hit-and-miss at replicating Marilyn's voice and mannerisms, she does a wonderful acting job and conveys Marilyn's feelings very convincingly. Judd's later appearances in the film, as the phantom Norma Jean that represented those facets of herself that Marilyn disavowed and rejected, but couldn't rid herself of, made me think about the enormous well of rage Marilyn must have had inside of her over being abused and neglected as a child (her childhookd is affectingly shown in a series of well-integrated flashbacks) and later over being treated like a dumb blonde after she had painted herself into a corner with the sex symbol image she participated in creating. Marilyn couldn't express her rage in an era when nice girls didn't get angry, especially as it seemed that she felt people loved her for her sweet, funny, touchingly vulnerable persona. The movie avoids the whole "Who killed Marilyn?" controversy and depicts her death as a straight overdose caused by Marilyn's taking more and more pills to try and drown out the voice of her inner self Norma Jean. Overall, I thought this was a very good film, well worth a look, an interesting idea done well by an excellent cast.

Ashley Judd & Mira Sorvino played Marilyn so good, you believe they are really her.

When I saw this movie, I knew that all of the truth wouldn't be in the film. I just didn't know they would bend the truth that much! It was poorly researched the facts wern't straight and they over exaggerated her sex life and made her out to be a codependent woman who would sell out to any man that was "someone". I mean come on, I know she was a sex symbol of her time and wanted attention, but they took it to far. Another thing that really bothered me, was how they made it seem like she was a crazy loon, a huge junkie and a stupid person! She was not any of those things. Anyone who has ever read a book or interviews with her, would know that. So I'm telling you now, if you want to "know" about Marilyn Monroe, your better off buying a bio about her. The only good thing about this movie, is that Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino are really good actresses.

Perhaps Norma Jean and Marilyn was intended to be a showpiece, a
major calling card, attraction or publicity stunt by HBO, which was
impossible to access outside USA's cable companies, for a long
time.

Perhaps it was intended to be a statement, by the leading
actress, the obviously talented Ashley Judd, in terms of
achievement and sex appeal.

Or maybe it was a failed attempt, in recreating Marilyn Monroe's
life, with a small budget movie made for cable TV.

Whatever it was, the story is one of the most perplexing ones in
recent times, mainly by the juxtaposition of Mira Sorvino and
Judd, throughout the second half of the feature, while both
playing the same Monroe, perhaps suggesting an internal struggle
in the mind of the 50's legend, between her real, simple self,
and the "bombshell chick" exposed in the public eye, and mass
media, that she also needs to pretend to be, to maintain her
status.

In terms of the Judd, as with almost every one of her movies, she
bravely does either the nude or semi-nude 15 second shot that's
almost comically come to characterize almost each of her movies,
over the past 10 years vs. her original refusal in Kuffs, with
Christian Slater, to do so, paradoxically.

The action unfolds, unconvincingly, in terms of action, dialog,
story-telling or explaining why certain things are seen and said,
although the actors, and sets clearly demonstrate the 50's and
60's era, and the classy restaurants, venues, hotels that Monroe
learned to inhabit and expect in her lifestyle.

Unfortunately for Sorvino, I believe her efforts were too timid
to be effective, as she fails to express sufficient confidence in
her speech and how she carries herself for the viewer to believe
she was Monroe, while Ashley Judd, is the complete opposite,
handling all aspects extremely well, yet ...as said, this movie
suggests Monroe was perhaps a schizophrenic by having 2 actresses
playing the same Monroe in the same scenes, inexplicably.

All in all, a slow Sunday afternoon movie, from which the viewer
will chuckle a few times, but mostly, fast forward from extreme
boredom. But for Ashley fans, obviously, is a must see.

I love Marilyn, obbsessed if you will. I just watched this movie the other day and was mezmorized. Although there where some mistakes in the movie (ex. the plastic surgery before metting Hyde, her death, and the molestation as a child) it was awsome. The ladies did a wonderful job protraying their parts. Judd was exceptional as Norma Jean. It was just great and I agree, a must for every Monroe collection!

I didn't feel that this movie was being very honest with the story of Marilyn Monroe. It was just a showcase for some pretty nice bodies.

I don't know why this film received bad reviews. I thought Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino's performances were great. I'm sure Mira's role was tougher to play. Thoughout the film, you see how Norma Jean was brought up in various foster homes after her mother was committed to a mental institution. You'll also see her metamorphic transition into the woman the world knew, Marilyn Monroe.

thought it was engrossing...and i was prepared not to like the acresses in this role and i was surprised their acting won me over.i was a great fan of hers and alot of scenes i recall from reading all the books on her life..i would have liked more
details on the men in her life but i already knew so much ..i presume this was about the battle within...but i know she was alot moreliterate and very sensitive to hurts..a regular girl/woman with insecurites that were fed by the life she chose to lead... there were many who loved her for herself but pills overtook reality. i loved the movie..another different view of details of her life.