Meet Colin Clarke (Eddie Redmayne) a wide-eyed innocent just dying to break into the motion picture business. He uses his family connections to land a gopher gig on Sir Laurence Olivier's, The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe.
Colin is an eager beaver who'll do anything on the production - he just wants to be "in" the movies. Sir Laurence (terrific performance by Kenneth Branagh) has him running errands and soon he's running interference for the always-tardy Monroe (Michelle Williams in an Oscar-nominated performance).
As their relationship moves forward, Monroe's dramatic skills aren't the only thing on display. Her raging insecurity, cult-like devotion to "Method" acting and addiction to sleeping pills take center stage during the filming schedule. Soon, Colin becomes the "Marilyn Whisperer". He's the only person on set who can get her to work on time. It's a skill that lands him ever closer to the ditzy diva and provides a level of celebrity for him as well.
When the pressures of fame prove too much for the tortured temptress, Colin gets the chance to show her what life's like beyond the bright lights. During a day spent playing hooky, Marilyn lets her hair down and reveals once and for all that a human heart beats inside the Hollywood persona.
Michelle Williams captures Monroe like a beautiful butterfly in gossamer net. It's a cliché to say she "becomes" Marilyn, but she DOES. Her portrayal is delicate almost to the point of being invisible. You may have to remind yourself that this really is a movie ABOUT Marilyn Monroe, not archival footage of the REAL Monroe. She's. Just. That. Good.
Director Curtis wraps the week with Marilyn with an unassuming ending that's satisfying and very un-Hollywood. It's a tight 99 minutes with snappy dialog, stunning cinematography and a terrific supporting cast featuring Dame Judi Dench, Emma Watson and Julia Ormond.