A fictionalised biopic of Norma Jeane Mortenson from childhood, where she suffers abuse at the hands of her emotionally volatile mother Gladys. As Norma blossoms into the screen siren that the world knows as Marilyn Monroe, she is chewed up by a studio system run by powerful men.
The savagery of mega-stardom is laid bare in this brutal but beautiful look at the sad life of Marilyn Monroe. Based on Joyce Carol Oates’s novel, the film plays out over a sprawling, near three-hour running time as director Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly) highlights the ways in which Monroe was abused and exploited throughout her life.
From growing up with a mentally ill mother (played by Julianne Nicholson), she goes on to a horrific introduction to Hollywood, and beatings at the hands of her second husband, Joe DiMaggio (Bobby Cannavale). The sometimes shocking content is countered by the sensitive work of lead Ana de Armas, who performs as if possessed by the actress.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Norma Jeane | Ana de Armas |
| The playwright | Adrien Brody |
| The ex-athlete | Bobby Cannavale |
| Miss Flynn | Sara Paxton |
| Gladys | Julianne Nicholson |
| Cass | Xavier Samuel |
| Jean | Catherine Dent |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Andrew Dominik |
