Search - Norma Jean and Marilyn on DVD

A biogtrphy of Marilyn's inner life

bettienoir | San Diego, CA | 10/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Intrigiuing look at what made Marilyn Monroe

Phillysound2 | London | 02/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."