"Blonde," Released on Netflix September 28th, 2022, is a film that left me feeling deeply disheartened, disgusted and disturbed. Directed by Andrew Dominik, the movie sadly comes across as nothing more than a misogynistic and perverted fantasy brought to life
"Blonde" is based from Joyce Carol Oates' novel "Blonde" a fictionalized portrayal of Monroe's life, published in 2000. From the beginning of the film, it becomes painfully evident that "Blonde" prioritizes explicit content over any meaningful substance. This overshadows any chance the film had to show Marilyn Monroe's true self and the strong woman she was.
The film reeks of misogyny and the objectification of women. Instead showcasing a new fascinating side of Monroe, 'Blonde' appears more interested in exploiting explicit content for shock value. By having Ana de Armas transformed into Marilyn Monroe. Viewers get to see multiple perfectly executed "porno" scenes starring Marilyn Monroe, which take precedence over any chance of storytelling.
Watching "Blonde" becomes an extremely unpleasant experience with each gruesome sexual assault scene which serve no actual purpose to the film.
"Blonde" disappoints by sacrificing substance for shock value. Its excessive use of explicit content hides any attempt at real storytelling, turning the film into a perverted fantasy rather than a meaningful biography of Monroe's Life. For those looking for depth and respect in a movie, "Blonde" falls horrifyingly short.
This film repeats the very thing Marilyn Monroe despised during her time—men objectifying her and minimizing her talents to only sexualization.
“Please don’t make me a joke. End the interview with what I believe. I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one… I want to be an artist, an actress with integrity…”
— Marilyn Monroe, Her last taped interview, with Richard Meryman, published in LIFE magazine a few days before her death. (3 August 1962)
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