A Review of “Blonde”
The controversial Netflix feature inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe is being admonished for its liberties and dark themes. However, neither the film nor the novel that preceded it were marketed as fact-based.
“Blonde,” the second feature film based on Joyce Carol Oates’ 2000 bestselling novel, is presently streaming on Netflix and has caused waves of consternation since its release.
For information on the first version, a two-part 2001 CBS miniseries starring Poppy Montgomery, you can find TV Insider’s piece here.
This review, however, will focus on the controversial Netflix iteration.
My response follows:
Marilyn Monroe was a creation, a persona.
A myth.
Norma Jeane Mortenson was a troubled human being, from most accounts, who inhabited the role and, according to many on record who claim to have known her, suffered greatly while doing so.
The film is a work of fiction inspired by fact and makes no claim to be a true story.
Does that excuse anything, though? Read on; after all the novel — which I’ve read — made metaphor of the Monroe myth and was not as…
