More than a half-century after her death, Marilyn Monroe continues to bedazzle movie lovers as the personification of the doomed Hollywood icon. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus explores a different side to the screen legend in this HBO-aired documentary featuring Monroe's previously unreleased diaries and letters. Monroe's writings are balanced by new and archival interviews with her peers, friends, and third husband, noted playwright Arthur Miller. To the film's credit, an impressive cast of actors bring Monroe's words to life: Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Janet McTeer, Evan Rachel Wood, and Lindsay Lohan give Monroe a beyond-the-grave voice, while the likes of David Strathairn (as Arthur Miller), Paul Giamatti (as George Cukor, the director of her unfinished swan song Something's Got to Give), and Ben Foster (as obsessed biographer Norman Mailer) offer vocal representation for those who circled Monroe's flame. Unfortunately, Love, Marilyn often feels like more of a novelty than a genuine consideration of Monroe's intellect and emotional state. Regardless, Monroe fans will surely appreciate this unusual study of the iconic actress. Recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Love, Marilyn
(2012) 108 min. DVD: $29.95. Docurama (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. March 10, 2014
Love, Marilyn
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