“Blonde” Dishonors Monroe’s Memory

[Published in SCAD District]

https://scaddistrict.com/blonde-dishonors-monroes-memory/ 

When I sat down to watch “Blonde,” I was anxious to learn more about Marilyn Monroe. The trailers I had seen interested me enough to watch it as soon as Netflix released it on Sep. 28. Unfortunately, “Blonde” did not meet my expectations. 

“Blonde” is a fictional film based on the life of the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe. The movie spans from her troubled childhood to her unfortunate death. During this time, Monroe struggles with her identity, undergoes abuse by many close people in her life and ultimately loses her mind. 

One of the main problems with “Blonde” is how it portrays Monroe as a helpless lunatic. While it’s largely known that Monroe was sexualized and abused in her lifetime, it’s unfortunate to see the same thing done after her passing. “Blonde” does not clarify why or how Monroe became such a prodigious actress. Instead, it implies that she was successful because of her body and nothing more. Throughout the film, Monroe is treated like a victim with no redeeming qualities. Based on this film alone, it is hard to tell why she had such a large following. 

Aside from the disrespect of Monroe, this film goes out of its way to be anti-abortion. Monroe is forced against her will to have an abortion in this fictionalized story. As a result, a CGI baby appears multiple times throughout the movie, pleading with Monroe not to kill them. By doing this, “Blonde” suggests that abortion is murder. While this fact alone is troubling, it also does not align with Monroe’s reality. 

Despite my issues with “Blonde,” I feel that there were some successes in the movie. Ana De Armas did a great job with her Monroe impression, complete with stunningly accurate makeup and styling. The cinematography was pleasing to the eye, as the film switches back and forth from color to black and white. As someone who doesn’t know much about filmmaking, I still found the visuals intriguing and emotional. 

Even though “Blonde” had the potential to be a beautiful and engaging retelling of Monroe’s life, I now understand why there’s so much controversy surrounding it. The way Monroe and women are portrayed in this movie is generally demeaning and unkind. Ultimately, I wish “Blonde” had done a better job honoring Monroe in the way she deserved.