Blonde is the title of the new Marilyn Monroe biopic directed by Andrew Dominik, starring Ana de Armas, and based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. With big names attached to a product about the contentious life of a legendary actress, there were bound to be some controversies. When the film was rated by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the association gave it an NC-17 rating, meaning no children 17 or under are admitted to see it. The rating is due to “some sexual content.”
When news of this decision broke, critics and Monroe fans alike were concerned over whether this movie would be exploitative of Monroe’s tragic life. In a Jezebel article, Kady Ruth Ashcraft is worried Marilyn will be over-sexualized, wondering if the focus on her status as a sex symbol could cause the film to fail at its goal of humanizing a larger-than-life figure.
Ana de Armas, the actress that plays the fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe stated in a L’Officiel magazine article that the rating made her feel confused. Dominik, the film’s director, was shocked by the call as well.
The controversy didn’t end there, as more fans criticized de Armas’s accent in the trailer, believing her native Cuban accent was too strong. One viewer of the trailer stated that her accent was too “heavy” and didn’t provide a convincing performance as Monroe. This goes against the actress’s claims that she went through nine months of dialect training to get Monroe’s accent right.
Despite the criticisms, the Monroe estate has expressed their excitement for her performance and the film’s release. Marc Rosen, the president of Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the company that owns Monroe’s estate, stated that “Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill.” He later exclaims that the estate “can’t wait to see the film in its entirety.”
Other celebrities and producers praised de Armas’ performance, with co-producer Brad Pitt saying, “She is phenomenal in it.” Tony Curtis, an actor who co-starred with Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, praised de Armas. “I dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe it. Ana was completely gone. She was Marilyn.”
Blonde will be released on Netflix Sept. 28 and is rated NC-17.
Alex Ross
Alex Rossis a third-year Communication student at Lock Haven with a focus in Journalism. This is his second year as an active member of the Eagle Eye and has been the Arts and Entertainment editor, News editor, and an active writer. He focuses on writing reviews for the A&E section, but has written stories for news, sports, and opinions. Outside of the newsroom, Alex enjoys record shopping, reading classic literature, and analyzing films. Alex hopes to work for a film or music news site as a writer or editor after graduation.
