My Week With Marilyn (2011, dir. Simon Curtis) ***/****

Michelle Williams stars as Marilyn Munroe in Simon Curtis' "My Week With Marilyn" a straight-forward, lush production that depicts the story of a young film student, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) who ambitiously pursues a spot in the production of Lawrence Olivier's "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957).  He is assigned the role of third assistant director and is soon checking up on Munroe in her various late-comings and crises.  The friendship that develops between Colin and Marilyn is the centre-piece of the film and is poignant and often romantic.
   The film's success or failure is really pinned on whether Williams can capture the essence of Marilyn Munroe's fragile personality and I believe she does a terrific job.  Her mannerisms and character-ticks are spot on and you get a real sense that Williams has become the late starlet and takes over her life in way that is not really an imitation but a transcendent embodiment.
   The film is generous to Munroe in that it doesn't pin her down into any one stereotypical, historical account of the actress but leaves it open to interpretation as to which of the renowned stories that are known about Munroe are really true:  there is a mysterious quality to Williams' performance and the film's treatment of her that leaves the myth of her unanswered and unexplained in a positive way.  The filmmaker Curtis expertly reveals only so much of Munroe's persona so that the mystery of her personal life and screen iconography remain mysterious and mystical.
   The period detail of the film is beautiful and spot on.  The supporting performance from Redmayne and Branagh are strong.  You are left wondering if Colin Clarke's remembrances of his short time with Munroe were embellished or not:  some of the experiences of his brief acquaintance with the actress are hard to believe.  But, I suppose there wouldn't be much of a movie if there weren't some extraordinary circumstances to relate to the viewer.  This is a good movie that might have failed in the hands of some less-talented directors and performers.