Blonde (2022 film)

Film by Andrew Dominik

Blonde

Release poster

Directed by| Andrew Dominik
Screenplay by| Andrew Dominik
Based on| Blonde
by Joyce Carol Oates
Produced by|

* Brad Pitt
* Dede Gardner
* Jeremy Kleiner
* Tracey Landon
* Scott Robertson

Starring|

* Ana de Armas
* Adrien Brody
* Bobby Cannavale
* Xavier Samuel
* Julianne Nicholson

Cinematography| Chayse Irvin
Edited by| Adam Robinson[1]
Music by|

* Nick Cave
* Warren Ellis[2]

Production
company

Plan B Entertainment

Distributed by| Netflix

Release dates

* September 8, 2022 (2022-09-08) (Venice)
* September 16, 2022 (2022-09-16) (United States)
* September 28, 2022 (2022-09-28) (Netflix)

Running time

| 166 minutes[3]
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $22 million[4]

Blonde is a 2022 American biographical[5][6][7] psychological drama film[8] written and directed by Andrew Dominik, based on the 2000 novel by Joyce Carol Oates. The film is a fictionalized interpretation of the life and career of American actress Marilyn Monroe, played by Ana de Armas. The cast also includes Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson.

Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, Brad Pitt, and Scott Robertson produced the film. After a lengthy period of development that began in 2010, Blonde entered production in August 2019 in Los Angeles. Production wrapped in July 2021, following the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The film plays with shifting aspect ratios and alternates between color and black and white.[9]

Blonde premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2022, where it received a 14-minute standing ovation.[10] It began a limited theatrical release in the US on September 16, before its streaming release on September 28 by Netflix. It is the first NC-17-rated film to be released exclusively to a streaming service.[11] The film received polarized reviews from critics and audiences; while de Armas's performance garnered praise, the fictionalization of Monroe's life was considered exploitative and the screenplay was criticized. Blonde received eight nominations at the 43rd Golden Raspberry Awards, winning Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, while De Armas was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and SAG Award for Best Actress.

## Plot

[edit]

Six-year-old Norma Jeane Mortenson is raised by her mentally unstable mother, Gladys Pearl Baker. On her seventh birthday in 1933, Norma Jeane is given a framed picture of a man which Gladys claims was her father. Later that night, a fire breaks out in Hollywood Hills. Gladys attempts to drive Norma Jeane up there, saying that her friend who owns a fire proof mansion lives there. However, she is forced to go back at the orders of the police. Norma asks her mother why her father left them, which enraged Gladys, who starts to cry, shout and hit Norma. Back home, Gladys runs a bath and forces Norma to get in, despite her protests that its too hot. While giving Norma Jeane a bath, an enraged Gladys tries to drown her. Norma Jeane flees to the house of her neighbor, Miss Flynn, who promises she will be fine. Days later, Norma Jeane is sent to an orphanage while Gladys is admitted to a mental hospital, having been declared unfit to raise a child.

In the 1940s, Norma Jeane has become a pin-up model under the stage name "Marilyn Monroe," featuring on magazine covers and calendars. While trying to get a break into the acting world, she is raped by film studio president Mr. Z. In 1951, she auditions for the role of Nell in Don't Bother to Knock; the audition goes awry when she breaks down and leaves in tears, but impresses the casting director enough to give her the part. As her career steadily rises, she meets Charles "Cass" Chaplin Jr. and Edward G. "Eddy" Robinson Jr., and becomes a lover to both. Norma Jeane lands her breakout role in 1953 with Niagara, but after she is spotted in public with Cass and Eddy, her agent requests that she limit her appearances with them in public, which upsets her as she feels that her Marilyn persona is just a role and not her real self.

Norma Jeane becomes pregnant by Cass, much to her delight, but decides to get an abortion out of fear of the child possibly inheriting her mother's mental issues. Cass supports her decision. On the day of the appointment, she changes her mind, but her pleas to cancel the appointment are ignored. After, she breaks things off with Cass and Eddy. She later meets Joe DiMaggio, a retired athlete who sympathizes with her when she expresses her desire to leave Hollywood and become a more serious actress in New York City. As Norma Jeane begins Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, she receives a letter from a man claiming to be her father. She feels disconnected from her onscreen performance at the film's premiere, saying it is not her. She returns to her hotel room, having been told that someone is waiting for her. Expecting it to be her father, she instead finds DiMaggio, who proposes to her, which she accepts reluctantly.

Norma Jeane and Joe's marriage sours when Cass and Eddy give Joe some nude publicity photographs of her, which enrages him so much that he hits Norma Jeane and demands that she stops making The Seven Year Itch. She goes through with filming nonetheless, doing the famous stunt with the white dress. When she arrives home, a drunken Joe screams at her and gets more physically violent. She divorces him shortly after.

In 1955, Norma Jeane auditions for the Broadway play Magda by renowned playwright Arthur Miller. During a read-through, her performance impresses everyone except Miller, but he eventually warms up to her when she gives him some insightful character analysis. Norma Jeane and Arthur marry and move to Maine, where she lives a happy life with him and becomes pregnant again. However, when walking on the beach one day with a platter of food, she falls and miscarries. Distraught, she returns to acting.

While filming Some Like It Hot, Norma Jeane becomes more uncontrollable and mentally disturbed, overwhelmed by the constant press attention, feels that she is becoming a joke, has frequent outbursts on set, especially towards director Billy Wilder, and grows increasingly distant from Arthur. To cope with her stress, she begins taking pills.

By 1962, she has become dependent on drugs and alcohol. Secret Service agents pick up an intoxicated Norma Jeane and take her to a hotel to meet President John F. Kennedy, who forces her to fellate him, before raping her, and then has her taken away after she vomits in his bed. Already dazed and drugged, Norma Jeane begins to wonder if this is what being Marilyn Monroe has led to, and she also hallucinates having another abortion before being sent back to her home in Los Angeles. She learns from Eddy on the phone that Cass has died and left something for her, which she refuses to see initially but is convinced by Eddy, who sends it in a package in the mail. It turns out to be the stuffed tiger she had found when the three of them were together, and the package also contains a letter from Cass, where he confesses that the letters Norma Jeane has been receiving, supposedly from her father, were actually written by him.

Shattered by the revelation, Norma Jeane overdoses on barbiturates; as she lies dying on her bed, she has a vision of her father welcoming her to the afterlife.

## Cast

[edit]

* Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane
* Lily Fisher as young Norma Jeane
* Vanessa Lemonides provides Marilyn Monroe's singing voice
* Adrien Brody as The Playwright, Arthur Miller
* Bobby Cannavale as Ex-Athlete, Joe DiMaggio
* Xavier Samuel as Cass Chaplin, the son of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin
* Julianne Nicholson as Gladys Pearl Baker, Marilyn Monroe's mentally unstable mother
* Evan Williams as Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr.
* Toby Huss as Whitey, Marilyn Monroe's personal makeup artist
* David Warshofsky as Mr. Z, Darryl F. Zanuck
* Caspar Phillipson as President John F. Kennedy
* Dan Butler as I.E. Shinn
* Sara Paxton as Miss Flynn
* Rebecca Wisocky as Yvet
* Tygh Runyan as Stanley Gifford, Marilyn Monroe's Father
* Michael Drayer as Deputy Will Bonnie
* Ryan Vincent as Uncle Clive
* Patrick Brennan as Joe
* Eric Matheny as Joseph Cotten
* Lucy DeVito as Ex-Athlete's Niece
* Scoot McNairy as Tommy Ewell / Richard Sherman
* Ravil Isyanov as Billy Wilder
* Catherine Dent as Jean
* Michael Masini as Tony Curtis / Josephine. Additionally, Curtis is credited as himself as his performance in Some Like It Hot is used through archival footage.
* Chris Lemmon as Jack Lemmon / Daphne
* Ned Bellamy as Doc Fell
* Haley Webb as Brooke
* Eden Riegel as Esther (uncredited)
* Garret Dillahunt as Boss (uncredited)
* Spencer Garrett as President's Pimp (uncredited)

## Production

[edit]

Writer and director Andrew Dominik and Joyce Carol Oates, the author of the novel on which the film is based.

### Development and writing

[edit]

Andrew Dominik, who directed the film and served as screenwriter, had begun developing the project as early as 2010, which is an adaptation of the novel Blonde (2000), a fictional and controversial account of Monroe's life—and a Pulitzer Prize finalist—by Joyce Carol Oates.[12] Dominik said that he read several of Monroe's biographies but that he used very little of this research in the film, adding that Oates' novel was "pretty much the bible for the film."[13] Dominik told Vulture that Blonde is "a film that definitely has a morality about it. But it swims in very ambiguous waters because I don't think it will be as cut-and-dried as people want to see it. There's something in it to offend everyone."[4]

Dominik discussed his fascination with Marilyn Monroe, stating, "Why is Marilyn Monroe the great female icon of the 20th Century? For men she is an object of sexual desire that is desperately in need of rescue. For women, she embodies all the injustices visited upon the feminine, a sister, a Cinderella, consigned to live among the ashes [...] I want to tell the story of Norma Jean [sic] as a central figure in a fairytale; an orphan child lost in the woods of Hollywood, being consumed by that great icon of the twentieth century."[14]

Dominik described the film as being "more accessible" than his previous projects and revealed that his script contained "very little dialogue", as he preferred to make it more of an "avalanche of images and events." Furthermore, Dominik stated:[15]

> It tells the story of how a childhood trauma shapes an adult who's split between a public and a private self. It's basically the story of every human being, but it's using a certain sense of association that we have with something very familiar, just through media exposure. It takes all of those things and turns the meanings of them inside out, according to how she feels, which is basically how we live. It's how we all operate in the world. It just seems to me to be very resonant. I think the project has got a lot of really exciting possibilities, in terms of what can be done, cinematically.

For Dominik, Blonde was his first attempt at developing a film featuring a woman at the center of the story. During a retrospective screening of his Oscar-nominated western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Dominik stated, "It's a different thing for me to do [...] the main character is female. My films are fairly bereft of women and now I'm imagining what it's like to be one."[16]

While Netflix classified Blonde as "a fictional portrait of Marilyn Monroe" on the platform's official website,[17][18] Dominik stated; "I think Blonde is a work of fiction and it's got just as much Joyce in it as it does Marilyn. But having said that, I think it's probably closer to the truth than what Fox is pushing to sell Marilyn stuff."[19]

### Pre-production

[edit]

In May 2010, it was announced that Naomi Watts would star in the film as Monroe, and that the production, which at this point cost an estimated $20 million, was slated to begin principal photography in January 2011.[14] Principal photography on the film did not commence, with Dominik later stating he hoped it would be his next film, with production commencing in 2013.[20][21] During this time, Dominik directed the crime drama Killing Them Softly (2012), starring Brad Pitt, who subsequently became interested in the project.[22]

In June 2012, it was announced Plan B Entertainment would produce the film, with Pitt,[23] Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner serving as producers, but Watts' participation was in question, as "it's likely that the filmmakers would go in a different direction," according to the report.[24] In April 2014, it was announced that Jessica Chastain had replaced Watts as Monroe. Chastain had co-starred in Terrence Malick's drama The Tree of Life (2011) opposite Pitt, who was instrumental in her casting. The report also revealed that Dominik was planning to begin principal photography in August of that year.[25][26]

Dominik attributed the delays in production partly due to financing: "it's just a question of how much money I can get to make the film. And I really want to make that movie. I've been working on it for years."[16]

In August 2016, it was announced that Netflix would distribute the film.[27]

### Casting

[edit]

In March 2019, it was announced that Ana de Armas was in early negotiations to star in the film,[28] replacing Chastain.[15] Dominik noticed de Armas's performance in Knock Knock, and while she went through a long casting process, Dominik secured her the role after the first audition.[29][30]

In preparation, de Armas worked with a dialect coach for a year.[31][32][33] De Armas described her casting process: "I only had to audition for Marilyn once and Andrew said 'It's you,' but I had to audition for everyone else [...] The producers. The money people. I always have people I needed to convince. But I knew I could do it. Playing Marilyn was groundbreaking. A Cuban playing Marilyn Monroe. I wanted it so badly. You see that famous photo of her and she is smiling in the moment, but that's just a slice of what she was really going through at the time."

Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson and Caspar Phillipson play Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller, Joe DiMaggio, Gladys Pearl Baker and John F. Kennedy, respectively.

De Armas considered her relationship with Dominik to be the most collaborative of her career, remarking, "Yes, I have had collaborative relationships, but to get phone calls at midnight because he has an idea and he can't sleep and all of a sudden you can't sleep for the same reason."[34] De Armas read Oates' novel and also said she studied hundreds of photographs, videos, audio recordings, and films.[23]

In August 2019, it was announced that Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson, Caspar Phillipson, Sara Paxton and Xavier Samuel joined the cast, followed by Garret Dillahunt, Scoot McNairy, Lucy DeVito, Michael Masini, Spencer Garrett, Chris Lemmon, Rebecca Wisocky, Ned Bellamy and Dan Butler in September 2019.[35][36]

Vanessa Lemonides provided Monroe's singing voice in the film.[37]

### Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in Los Angeles in August 2019.[36] In April 2022, Dominik confirmed that the filming was finished in July 2021, following the shutdowns as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and that post-production had also been finished.[38][39]

During Blonde's press conference at the 79th Venice Film Festival, Dominik said that the initial scenes of the film were shot in the same apartment where Monroe had lived with her mother.[40] Monroe's death scene was also filmed in the same room where she died in real life.[41] "It definitely took on elements of being like a seance," Dominik said.[41] Filming also started on August 4, 2019,[36][41] the 57th anniversary of Monroe's death.[41] De Armas said at the press conference that she believes Monroe's ghost was close to them on set.[40] "I think she was happy. She would also throw things off the wall sometimes and get mad if she didn't like something. Maybe this sounds very mystical, but it is true. We all felt it."[41] De Armas later told AnOther magazine that everyone in the crew wrote a message to Monroe in a big card, then they went to the cemetery and put it on her grave. "We were asking for permission in a way. Everyone felt a huge responsibility, and we were very aware of the side of the story we were going to tell—the story of Norma Jeane, the person behind this character, Marilyn Monroe. Who was she really?", she said.[42]

Much of Blonde's cinematography is digitally shot in black and white;[43] other portions of the film are in color, aspect ratios (1:1, 1.37:1, 1.85:1, 2.39:1[44]) shift to depict historical usage.[9][45][46][47] Many scenes are visual homages to classic photographs of Monroe by notable photographers.[46][48][49] Blonde was set to premiere at 2021 Venice Film Festival, but Netflix was unhappy with the final cut it received, and hired Jennifer Lame to help.[50]

Real footage from Monroe's filmography is used in this movie mixed in with scenes recreated by Ana de Armas, who was placed in the films All About Eve (1950), Don't Bother to Knock (1952), Niagara (1953), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and Some Like It Hot (1959).[51] Andrew Dominik said that he initially failed to obtain permission from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to use footage from their films, so he had to recreate some scenes, such as the scene with de Armas and Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot, which he shot with an actor playing Curtis in case he couldn't get permission to use the original footage. Dominik was allowed to use the footage after an MGM executive was fired and was replaced by Michael De Luca, who finally gave him permission to use the film clip.[51]

### Music

[edit]

Main article: Blonde (soundtrack)

The score was composed and performed by long-time collaborators Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, with the soundtrack album released on September 28, 2022.[52]

## Release

[edit]

Blonde had its world premiere in-competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2022,[53] followed by a screening at the 48th Deauville American Film Festival.[54] It was released on Netflix on September 28, 2022,[55] after an initial release date of September 23, 2022.[56]

The film also had a limited theatrical release in New York City that began on September 16, 2022, and in other locations on September 23, 2022.[23][57][58]

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical response

[edit]

Ana de Armas earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Monroe.

Blonde was controversial among critics and audiences alike[59] and was described as a "complicated, highly divisive film".[60] Praise was directed towards de Armas's performance,[61][62][63][64] but the response to the writing and Dominik's depiction of Monroe's life polarized critics;[61][65] some found the film's spin on the traditional biopic refreshing,[66][67] while others criticized it as exploitative,[65][68] sexist,[59][68] and dehumanizing.[69][70][71] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Blonde holds a rating of 42% based on 318 reviews, with an average of 5.5/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Ana de Armas' luminous performance makes it difficult to look away, but Blonde can be hard to watch as it teeters between commenting on exploitation and contributing to it."[72] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film has a score of 50 out of 100, based on 57 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[73]

Reviewing the film following its world premiere at Venice, where it received a 14-minute standing ovation, reducing de Armas to tears,[74][10] Catherine Bray of Empire praised Dominik's visual style and de Armas' performance, but found the film failed at demystifying Monroe's life, writing: "The portrait that this film paints of Monroe depicts a little girl lost, who repeatedly calls her lovers 'Daddy' and reacts to almost every new setback with the same tremulously teary ingénue's pout."[75] Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson found it a "fascinating alternative to the traditional biopic", commending the unconventional storytelling, direction, and de Armas' performance.[76] Owen Gleiberman of Variety called de Armas' work "a performance ... of breathtaking shimmer and imagination and candor and heartbreak."[77] Deadline Hollywood's Damon Wise stated the film is an "astonishing" way to tell Monroe's life in a fictional sense, as it is "presented as a horror movie in the surreal, nightmarish style" comparable to the films of David Lynch, especially Mulholland Drive (2001).[12] In a very positive review, IGN's Siddhant Adlakha called the film a "dreamlike fictional biopic about Marilyn Monroe" that features "a stunning, volatile performance from Ana de Armas, whose daring vulnerability is matched by director Andrew Dominik's equally daring formal approach".[78]

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called it "a must-see", yet also "a work of such wild excesses and questionable cruelty".[79] In GQ, Jack King's review also noted how the film shifts from a "traditional biopic" to "a movie unrelenting in its brutality".[80] The Guardian's Leslie Felperin described the film as "ravishing, moving and intensely irritating" but ultimately "all a bit much", and assigned it a rating of three stars out of five.[81] In a mixed review for IndieWire, Sophie Monks Kaufman called the film a "bizarre, miserablist biopic", admiring de Armas' performance and the cinematography, but criticizing Dominik's portrayal of Monroe: "Dominik critiques the world for reducing his subject down to her topline assets—and then treats her in exactly the same way. His Marilyn is a sexy, breathy blonde with daddy issues. And that's all, folks."[82]

The New York Times critic Manohla Dargis panned the film, criticizing the fact that "once again a director is more interested in examining [Monroe's] body (literally, in this case) than getting inside her mind" and writing "Given all the indignities and horrors that Marilyn Monroe endured during her 36 years, it is a relief that she didn't have to suffer through the vulgarities of Blonde, the latest necrophiliac entertainment to exploit her."[83] In his negative review, Justin Chang from the Los Angeles Times stated that the film "isn't really about Marilyn Monroe. It's about making her suffer."[84] He also opined that the film "turns Marilyn Monroe into an avatar of suffering, dwelling on her pain so obsessively that even the film's fleeting moments of empathy feel like another form of exploitation".[85]

"At times, the movie feels like a slaughterhouse seen from the animal's point of view" wrote Bilge Ebiri in his review for Vulture, remarking on the film's tendency to elicit strong reactions and emotions from an audience by putting together what he described as a "captivating and terrifying" jigsaw puzzle of Monroe's life.[86] Anthony Lane, in his review for The New Yorker, praised de Armas' performance and Dominik's visual style, but heavily criticized his portrayal of Monroe, ultimately concluding: "Bedazzling, overlong, and unjust, Blonde does a grave disservice to the woman whom it purports to honor."[87] In a negative review for Slant Magazine, Jake Cole echoed Lane's sentiment, stating: "Blonde…is the worst kind of feminism, one so absorbed in the desire to 'save' a woman that it victimizes her as much as possible to make its redemption of her that much more praiseworthy."[88]

Writing for Time, Stephanie Zacharek criticized Dominik for allowing "no room for the real-life Marilyn's multidimensionality", asserting that "Marilyn—the brilliant, perceptive if often difficult performer—is almost nowhere to be seen in Andrew Dominik's willfully clueless Freudian fantasy Blonde".[89] Jessie Thompson of The Independent gave the film one star out of five, stating; "Blonde is not a bad film because it is degrading, exploitative and misogynist, even though it is all of those things. It's bad because it's boring, pleased with itself and doesn't have a clue what it's trying to say."[68]

### Industry reception

[edit]

Joyce Carol Oates, the author of the novel on which the film is based, observed a rough cut of the film, and publicly stated: "I have seen the rough cut of Andrew Dominik's adaptation and it is startling, brilliant, very disturbing and perhaps most surprisingly an utterly 'feminist' interpretation... not sure that any male director has ever achieved anything [like] this."[90]

Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar called Blonde a "great film" and praised Ana de Armas for portraying Monroe in "a chillingly real way."[91] He later argued that de Armas deserved to win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.[92]

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis—who starred opposite Ana de Armas in Knives Out (2019), and whose father, Tony Curtis, starred opposite Monroe in Some Like It Hot (1959) and is featured in Blonde—was impressed with de Armas' performance, after also seeing an early cut: "I dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe it. Ana was completely gone. She was Marilyn."[34] Brad Pitt, who co-produced the film via his Plan B banner praised de Armas' performance, saying "She is phenomenal in it. That's a tough dress to fill. It was 10 years in the making. It wasn't until we found Ana that we could get it across the finish line".[93] Actor Casey Affleck also praised the film, stating, "I've seen a couple of versions of Blonde and it's taken him [Dominik] a long time to get it out into the world. But that's just how he is. He's so slow with it. And it's an amazing, beautiful film."[94]

Suzie Kennedy, an English Marilyn Monroe impersonator and historian for over twenty years, openly despised the film, calling it "a terrible movie... an absolute assassination of Marilyn Monroe's legacy... an assassination of an icon," and that it "capitalized on and exploited the deep sadness of Marilyn's life."[95][96]

### Cast

[edit]

Upon the trailers' release, de Armas' casting as Monroe received some backlash as some viewers felt her ethnic background did not entirely match Monroe's, with complaints that she still maintained her native Cuban accent.[97][98][23] Regarding her accent, Dominik told Screen Daily in February 2022 that there was "work involved" in making the actress "sound American".[99] Monroe's official estate defended de Armas' casting, stating, "Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history. Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill. Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn's glamour, humanity and vulnerability. We can't wait to see the film in its entirety!"[100]

### NC-17 rating

[edit]

Blonde sparked some controversy when its NC-17 rating (meaning adults only) was confirmed for "Some Sexual Content", raising concerns that it would be exploitative in its depiction of Monroe.[101][102] The film itself features graphic scenes of sexual abuse, including a rape scene,[103] as well as Monroe having an abortion,[103] and a miscarriage.[12] Writing for Jezebel, Kady Ruth Ashcroft remarked on how the rating's relationship with Monroe's enduring status as a sex symbol in pop culture prevents the film from achieving its goal of humanizing her, concluding: "Blonde's NC-17 rating is intended as both a warning and restriction as to who can handle the film's mature content. It also acts like a tease—just how scandalous was this sexpot's life anyways?—in a way that may prevent the movie from shrinking Monroe the myth back down to Norma Jean [sic]."[104]

Speaking on the rating in an interview with Screen Daily, Andrew Dominik stated, "It's a demanding movie—it is what it is, it says what it says. And if the audience doesn't like it, that's the fucking audience's problem. It's not running for public office," adding, "If I look at an episode of Euphoria, it's far more graphic than anything going on in Blonde".[105] In an interview with fashion magazine L'Officiel Italia, de Armas echoed the sentiment, saying, "I don't understand why it happened. I can cite a number of programs or movies that are much more explicit and with a lot more sexual content than Blonde. But to tell this story it's important to show all those moments in Marilyn's life that brought her to the end she did. It needs to be explained. In the cast everyone knew we should delve into unpleasant territory, it wasn't just up to me".[106] Delving into what Dominik's vision for the film was, de Armas told Rotten Tomatoes, "Andrew's ambitions were very clear from the start—to present a version of Marilyn Monroe's life through her lens. He wanted the world to experience what it actually felt like to not only be Marilyn, but also Norma Jeane. I found that to be the most daring, unapologetic, and feminist take on her story that I had ever seen." She added, "Our movie is not linear or conventional; it is meant to be a sensorial and emotional experience. The film moves along with her feelings and her experiences. There are moments when we are inside of her body and mind, and this will give the audience an opportunity to experience what it was like to be Norma and Marilyn at the same time."[107]

In a piece for GQ, Keith Phipps argues that Blonde, being an exception from the commercial stigma of having an NC-17 rating due to its exclusive release on a streaming platform, could usher in a new era of films and filmmakers that will "push beyond the restrictions of the R rating", writing, "In theory, the NC-17 rating could thrive on services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max and Blonde could be a sign of things to come, possibly serving as a cue for other filmmakers to push beyond the restrictions of the R rating."[108]

### Criticism about depiction of abortion

[edit]

Writing for IndieWire, Samantha Bergeson claimed the film makes an anti-abortion statement by showing a CGI fetus talking to Monroe.[109] Charles Pulliam-Moore wrote for The Verge that Blonde's CGI fetus "is anti-abortion propaganda dressed up as art", and called it "a judgmental CGI fetus who sometimes talks to Marilyn Monroe from within her uterus to shame her for having had an abortion in the past."[70] A sentiment shared by abortion rights activists such as Caren Spruch, national director of arts and entertainment engagement at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, who called it "medically inaccurate descriptions of fetuses and pregnancy" in a statement to The Washington Post.[110] Steph Herold, who researches reproductive health at the University of California at San Francisco and studies abortion depiction in films and television shows, said the scene in which Monroe's character speaks to the fetus "totally infantilized her in ways that I've only seen in anti-abortion propaganda-type movies," Herold said; "I was pretty shocked by it, especially given the platform and the mainstream quality of this movie."[110]

Planned Parenthood accused the film of delivering an anti-abortion message about Monroe's abortion, releasing the following statement to The Hollywood Reporter saying the film was rooted in anti-abortion propaganda;[111]

> "As film and TV shapes many people's understanding of sexual and reproductive health, it's critical these depictions accurately portray women's real decisions and experiences. While abortion is safe, essential health care, anti-abortion zealots have long contributed to abortion stigma by using medically inaccurate descriptions of fetuses and pregnancy. Andrew Dominik's new film, 'Blonde,' bolsters their message with a CGI-talking fetus, depicted to look like a fully-formed baby."[111]

There is no evidence that Monroe ever had an abortion, much less forced procedures as it was portrayed in the movie, according to historian Michelle Vogel, author of Marilyn Monroe: Her Films, Her Life.[112] "Any talk of pregnancy termination is an assumption on our part. Marilyn loved children and she was desperate to be a mother. Sadly, she never carried a baby to term."[112] It is well-documented that Monroe suffered three miscarriages during her marriage to Arthur Miller; in 1956, in 1957, and again in 1958.[112] In the 1993 biography Marilyn Monroe: The Biography written by Donald Spoto, Monroe's gynecologist, Dr. Leon Krohn, stated; "the rumors of her multiple abortions are ridiculous. She never had even one."[113]

Andrew Dominik denied the film is anti-abortion, saying in a statement to TheWrap:

> "I don't think the movie is anti-pro choice. I don't think it is at all. And I'm not convinced that she actually wants to have a baby. I think she has feelings about not having a baby, but I'm not convinced that what she's doing – I mean, she doesn't end up having one. […] There's a wish for baby but there's a fear of baby, and I think that's kind of the central stressor on her."[109]

The Catholic World Report called Blonde "unwittingly pro-life".[114]

### Accolades

[edit]

Accolades for Blonde Award  | Date of ceremony  | Category  | Recipient(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Venice Film Festival | September 10, 2022 | Golden Lion | Andrew Dominik | Nominated  | [53]
Chicago Film Critics Association | December 14, 2022 | Best Actress | Ana de Armas | Nominated  | [115]
Golden Globe Awards | January 10, 2023 | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated  | [116]
London Film Critics' Circle | February 5, 2023 | Actress of the Year | Nominated  | [117]
Technical Achievement Award | Leslie Shatz | Nominated
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild | February 11, 2023 | Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Tina Roesler Kerwin, Elena Arroy, and Cassie Lyons  | Nominated  | [118]
Best Period Hair Styling and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Jaime Leigh McIntosh, Lynnae Duley, Ahou Mofid, and Robert Pickens  | Nominated
British Academy Film Awards | February 19, 2023 | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Ana de Armas  | Nominated  | [119]
AACTA International Awards | February 24, 2023 | Best Actress | Nominated  | [120]
Screen Actors Guild Awards | February 26, 2023 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated  | [121]
Golden Raspberry Awards | March 11, 2023 | Worst Picture | Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Brad Pitt | Won  | [122]
Worst Director | Andrew Dominik  | Nominated
Worst Supporting Actor | Xavier Samuel | Nominated
Evan Williams | Nominated
Worst Screenplay | Andrew Dominik;
Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates | Won
Worst Screen Combo | Andrew Dominik and his issues with women  | Nominated
Both real life characters in the fallacious White House bedroom scene  | Nominated
Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel | Blonde | Nominated
Academy Awards | March 12, 2023 | Best Actress | Ana de Armas  | Nominated  | [123]
Actors and Actresses Union Awards | March 13, 2023 | Best Actress in an International Production | Ana de Armas | Won | [124]
Golden Trailer Awards | June 29, 2023  | Best Teaser  | "Official Teaser" (Empire Design)  | Nominated  | [125]
Best Original Score  | Nominated

## See also

[edit]

* Marilyn Monroe in popular culture
* Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy
* Blonde, the 2001 film
* My Week with Marilyn, another Monroe biopic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (February 11, 2022). "Andrew Dominik Shuts Down 'Horsesh*t' 'Blonde' NC-17 Rumors for Ana de Armas' Marilyn Monroe Film". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
2. ^ O'Hagan, Sean (August 15, 2021). "'I love the perversity of it': Bad Seed Warren Ellis on how Nina Simone's gum inspired a book". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
3. ^ Peters, Fletcher (June 16, 2022). "Here's Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's Already Controversial 'Blonde'". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
4. ^ a b Sharf, Zack (May 11, 2022). "Ana de Armas' 'Blonde' Director 'Surprised' by NC-17 Rating: Film Will Likely 'Offend Everyone'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
5. ^ Benchetrit, Jenna (September 29, 2022). "How fictional biopic Blonde turns Marilyn Monroe into a symbol of celebrity tragedy". CBC News.
6. ^ Stein, Ellin (September 28, 2022). "What's Fact and What's Fiction in Blonde, Netflix's Marilyn Monroe Biopic". Slate.
7. ^ Formo, Brian (September 28, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Ana de Armas Turns Celebrity Skin into Body Horror as Marilyn Monroe". Collider.
8. ^ Parkel, Inga (September 27, 2022). "Joyce Carol Oates says Marilyn Monroe went through 'much worse' than anything in Blonde". The Independent.
9. ^ a b Travis, Ben (August 30, 2022). "Marilyn Monroe Movie Blonde 'Is Supposed To Create Controversy And Discomfort', Says Ana De Armas – Exclusive". Empire. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
10. ^ a b Vivarelli, Nick; Sharf, Zack (September 8, 2022). "Ana de Armas Breaks Down in Tears as 'Blonde' Stuns with 14-Minute Standing Ovation in Venice". Variety. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
11. ^ Maitland, Hayley; Seth, Radhika (August 16, 2022). "What to Expect From Netflix's Blonde". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
12. ^ a b c Wise, Damon (September 8, 2022). "Venice Review: Ana De Armas As Marilyn Monroe In Andrew Dominik's 'Blonde'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
13. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin (September 28, 2022). "'Blonde' — How Much of Netflix's Controversial Marilyn Monroe Movie Is True?". People.
14. ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (May 13, 2010). "Naomi Watts to go Blonde with Wild Bunch, Andrew Dominik". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
15. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (March 14, 2019). "Exclusive: Ana de Armas Eyed to Play Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's 'Blonde'". Collider. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
16. ^ a b Raup, Jordan (December 10, 2013). "20 Things We Learned From Andrew Dominik's Candid Jesse James Revival Q&A". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
17. ^ "Blonde". Netflix. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022.
18. ^ DiLillo, John (June 16, 2022). "Everything You Need to Know About 'Blonde'". Netflix.
19. ^ Reilly, Nick (May 3, 2022). "Andrew Dominik on "disturbing" evaluation of Marilyn Monroe movie 'Blonde'". Rolling Stone. UK.
20. ^ Lyttelton, Oliver (May 25, 2012). "Cannes: Andrew Dominik Says He's Aiming To Make "Emotional Nightmare Fairy-Tale" Marilyn Monroe Biopic 'Blonde' Next". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
21. ^ Erbland, Kate (November 23, 2012). "Andrew Dominik Says His 'Blonde' Is Next, Naomi Watts Still Set to Star". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
22. ^ Panasiewicz, Kevin (November 2, 2010). "Andrew Dominik and Casey Affleck Possibly Reteaming for COGAN'S TRADE". Collider. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010.
23. ^ a b c d Sharf, Zack (June 16, 2022). "'Blonde' Trailer: Ana de Armas Stuns as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's NC-17 Drama". Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
24. ^ Goldberg, Matt (June 1, 2012). "Brad Pitt to Produce Andrew Dominik's Marilyn Monroe Film, BLONDE". Collider. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
25. ^ Skiba, Justin (May 16, 2019). "Eight years ago today: The Tree of Life premieres at Cannes (May 16, 2011)". Two Ways Through Life - The Tree of Life (2011) Film Enthusiast. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
26. ^ Sneider, Jeff (April 22, 2014). "Jessica Chastain to Play Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's 'Blonde' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
27. ^ Thompson, Anne (August 29, 2016). "'One More Time With Feeling': Nick Cave's Tragedy and the Very Beautiful Music Documentary — An Interview With Director Andrew Dominik". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
28. ^ Kabir (September 14, 2022). "Ana De Armas' Blonde: Release Date, Cast, and What We Know So Far". Cinemablind. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
29. ^ Lennon, Christine (February 24, 2020). "Sky's the Limit with Ana de Armas". Porter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
30. ^ Crosley, Sloane (February 18, 2020). "All About Ana". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
31. ^ Bahr, Lindsey. "New year is the year for actress Ana de Armas' break". The Berkshire Eagle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
32. ^ "Ana de Armas Is Conquering Hollywood in Record Time". C Magazine. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
33. ^ Ximénez, Mario (March 15, 2020). "De Cuba a Madrid, y hasta los cielos de Hollywood: la historia de Ana de Armas" [From Cuba to Madrid, and to the skies of Hollywood: the story of Ana de Armas]. Vogue España (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020. "Ana Celia de Armas Caso nació hace 31 años en La Habana / Ana Celia de Armas Caso was born 31 years ago [as of March 15, 2020] in Havana..."
34. ^ a b Sharf, Zach (February 18, 2020). "Ana de Armas Teases Groundbreaking 'Blonde' Role: 'A Cuban Playing Marilyn Monroe'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
35. ^ Galuppo, Mia (August 29, 2019). "Netflix's Marilyn Monroe Movie 'Blonde' Rounds Out Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
36. ^ a b c N'Duka, Amanda (September 19, 2019). "Netflix, Plan B Marilyn Monroe Film 'Blonde' Adds Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
37. ^ Paul, Fogarty (September 28, 2022). "Blonde soundtrack: Every song in Marilyn Monroe movie explored". HITC.com.[permanent dead link]
38. ^ Bonaime, Ross (April 18, 2022). "Exclusive: Andrew Dominik Talks His Marilyn Monroe Film, 'Blonde': "Like 'Citizen Kane' and 'Raging Bull' Had a Baby Daughter"". Collider. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
39. ^ Beverly, Tiffany (June 17, 2022). "Everything We Know About Blonde". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
40. ^ a b "Blonde Press Conference | 79th Venice International Film Festival". YouTube. September 8, 2022. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022.
41. ^ a b c d e Balmer, Crispian (September 8, 2022). "Marilyn's ghost got physical in filming of 'Blonde', star says". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
42. ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 20, 2022). "Ana de Armas left a card on Marilyn Monroe's grave 'asking for permission' to make Blonde". Entertainment Weekly.
43. ^ Mulcahey, Matt (September 29, 2022). "Chayse Irvin on Shooting Blonde in Digital Black and White and God's Creatures in 35mm Color". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
44. ^ Gadway, Hannah E. (October 18, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Please Let Marilyn Rest in Peace". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
45. ^ Carras, Christi (July 28, 2022). "Ana de Armas transforms into Marilyn Monroe in trailer for Netflix's 'Blonde'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022. "for the black-and-white film..."
46. ^ a b Morgan, Lucy (July 28, 2022). "Watch Ana De Armas in the new trailer for Blonde, Netflix's Marilyn Monroe biopic". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022. "Ana de Armas: Every scene is inspired by an existing photograph. We'd pore over every detail in the photo and debate what was happening in it."
47. ^ Fisher, Justine (July 28, 2022). "The Trailer for Netflix's Marilyn Monroe Biopic Just Dropped". Paper. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
48. ^ Garcia, Fabian (October 16, 2022). "Movie Review: "Blonde" (2022)". UCSD Guardian. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
49. ^ Belth, Alex (September 30, 2022). "What 'Blonde' Misunderstands About Marilyn Monroe". Esquire. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
50. ^ Solomons, Adam (September 27, 2022). "'Blonde' cinematographer Chayse Irvin on deconstructing Marilyn Monroe, art vs. consumption and having to say no to Beyoncé". AwardsWatch. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
51. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (September 23, 2022). "Blonde: MGM Originally Denied 'Some Like It Hot' Footage". Indiewire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
52. ^ "Weekly Film Music Roundup (September 16, 2022)". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
53. ^ a b "Biennale Cinema 2022 | Blonde". La Biennale di Venezia. July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
54. ^ Whittock, Jesse; Goodfellow, Melanie; Ntim, Zac (August 2, 2022). "Ana De Armas Feted At Deauville; 'Camp Pleasant Lake' Heads Into Production (Exclusive); Edinburgh Juries Set; 'Mr Limbo' Deal (Exclusive); Viaplay Original; Blue Ant Promotions — Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
55. ^ Paul, Fogarty (September 27, 2022). "Blonde release time: When is the Marilyn Monroe movie on Netflix?". HITC.com.
56. ^ Cohen, Anne (June 16, 2022). "Ana De Armas Transforms into Marilyn Monroe in 'Blonde' First-Look Photo". Netflix.
57. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (July 28, 2022). "'Blonde' Official Trailer: Ana de Armas Unravels as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's NC-17 Drama". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
58. ^ Ruimy, Jordan (August 28, 2022). "Andrew Dominik's 'Blonde' Will Be Theatrically Released on September 16th". World of Reel. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
59. ^ a b Sharf, Zack (September 29, 2022). "As 'Blonde' Goes No. 1 on Netflix, Viewers Lash Out: 'So Sexist,' 'Cruel' and 'One of the Most Detestable Movies' Ever Made". Variety.
60. ^ Spilde, Coleman (September 27, 2022). "'Blonde' Is the Most Polarizing Film of the Year". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
61. ^ a b VanHoose, Benjamin (September 8, 2022). "'Blonde': Critics Praise Ana de Armas' 'Uncanny' Marilyn Monroe Performance in 'Lurid, Horror Movie'". People. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
62. ^ Venable, Heidi (September 8, 2022). "Blonde Has Screened, And Critics Have A Lot Of Thoughts About Ana De Armas As Marilyn Monroe". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
63. ^ Emily Garbutt (September 9, 2022). "Blonde reviews are split as critics call the Netflix movie "gorgeous" and "miserable"". gamesradar. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
64. ^ Hobbs, Jack (September 9, 2022). "'Blonde' reviews: Critics drool over Ana de Armas, 'uncanny' as Marilyn Monroe". New York Post. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
65. ^ a b Starkey, Adam (September 9, 2022). "'Blonde' divides critics in first reviews: "An engrossing slow-motion car wreck of a movie"". NME. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
66. ^ "BLONDE". STARBURST Magazine. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
67. ^ Griffin, Dominic (October 4, 2022). "Marilyn Monroe movie can't find its way". Baltimore Beat. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
68. ^ a b c Thompson, Jessie (September 30, 2022). "Blonde review: Dull trauma porn with no idea what it's trying to say". The Independent.
69. ^ Lacson, Therese (September 28, 2022). "'Blonde' Doesn't Celebrate Marilyn Monroe, It Humiliates Her". Collider.
70. ^ a b Pulliam-Moore, Charles (September 30, 2022). "Blonde's CG fetus is anti-abortion propaganda dressed up as art". The Verge.
71. ^ King, Jack (September 8, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Andrew Dominik's Fictionalized Biopic Of Marilyn Monroe Is A Relentless, Brutal Statement On Celebrity [Venice]". The Playlist.
72. ^ "Blonde". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
73. ^ "Blonde". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
74. ^ "Ana de Armas breaks down in tears as Blonde receives 14-minute standing ovation". The Independent. September 9, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
75. ^ Bray, Catherine (September 8, 2022). "Blonde Review". Empire. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
76. ^ Lawson, Richard (September 8, 2022). "Ana de Armas Creates a Vivid and Frightening Portrait of Fame in Blonde". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
77. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (September 8, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Ana de Armas Does Just What You Want — She Becomes Marilyn Monroe — in Andrew Dominik's Flawed but Haunting Biopic". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
78. ^ Adlakha, Siddhant (September 16, 2022). "Blonde Review". IGN. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
79. ^ Rooney, David (September 8, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Ana de Armas' Haunted Marilyn Monroe Drowns in the Excesses of Andrew Dominik's Woozy Reflection on Celebrity". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
80. ^ Wise, Jack (September 12, 2022). "Blonde Netflix Review: No One Is Ready for the Explicit, Relentless Brutality of the Marilyn Monroe Biopic". GQ. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
81. ^ Felperin, Leslie (September 8, 2022). "Blonde review – Some like it rotten: Monroe biopic is moving, explicit and intensely irritating". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
82. ^ Kaufman, Sophie Monks (September 8, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Andrew Dominik's Miserable Marilyn Monroe Portrait Only Further Tarnishes the Star". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
83. ^ Dargis, Manohla (September 28, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Exploiting Marilyn Monroe for Old Times' Sake". The New York Times.
84. ^ "Review: 'Blonde' isn't really about Marilyn Monroe. It's about making her suffer". Los Angeles Times. September 26, 2022.
85. ^ "'Blonde,' the new Marilyn Monroe biopic, is an exercise in exploitation, not empathy". NPR.org. September 23, 2022.
86. ^ Ebiri, Bilge (September 8, 2022). "Blonde Wants to Hurt You". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
87. ^ "The Glib Dystopianism of "Don't Worry Darling"". The New Yorker. September 16, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
88. ^ Cole, Jake (September 15, 2022). "'Blonde' Review: Netflix's Marilyn Monroe Drama Prefers Brutality". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
89. ^ "We Should Talk About What a Brilliant Actor Marilyn Monroe Was". Time. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
90. ^ Sharf, Zack (August 11, 2020). "Joyce Carol Oates Praises Andrew Dominik's 'Blonde' Rough Cut: 'Brilliant, Very Disturbing'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
91. ^ Ruimy, Jordan (May 10, 2022). "Pedro Almodóvar Praises "Blonde" as a 'Great Film'". World of Reel. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
92. ^ Loreto, Maria (January 31, 2023). "Pedro Almodóvar Says Ana de Armas Deserves the Oscar". ¡Hola!. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
93. ^ Bentz, Adam (August 2, 2022). "Brad Pitt Defends Ana De Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
94. ^ Ntim, Zac (September 7, 2022). "Casey Affleck: "I've Seen 'Blonde' And It's Incredible" — Venice". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
95. ^ "Netflix's Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde is out today - it's graphic and exploitative and Christians should avoid it".
96. ^ "Marilyn Monroe actress Suzie Kennedy talks about Netflix movie 'Blonde' on Talk TV". YouTube. September 25, 2022.
97. ^ "Ana de Armas' Accent Picked Apart in New Marilyn Monroe 'Blonde' Trailer". TMZ. July 31, 2022. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
98. ^ Sachdeva, Maanya (August 2, 2022). "Marilyn Monroe estate issues statement after Netflix's Blonde accused of 'exploiting' Hollywood icon". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
99. ^ Dalton, Ben (February 11, 2022). "Andrew Dominik hopes Netflix's Marilyn Monroe biopic 'Blonde' is heading for out of Competition Cannes slot (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022.
100. ^ Sharf, Zack (August 1, 2022). "Marilyn Monroe Estate Defends Ana de Armas' 'Blonde' Casting Amid Outrage Over Her Accent (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
101. ^ Avestruz, Alyzza Chelsea (January 30, 2022). "Why Ana De Armas' Next Big Movie Is Already Controversial". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
102. ^ Nungesser, Samantha (July 29, 2022). "'Blonde' Trailer Blasted for Exploiting Marilyn Monroe: A "Sick Fantasy"". Decider. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
103. ^ a b Winkelman, Natalia (September 22, 2022). "'Blonde' is a rare movie with a NC-17 rating. What set it over the edge?". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
104. ^ Ashcraft, Kady Ruth (September 2, 2022). "With NC-17 Rating on 'Blonde,' Marilyn Is Being Over-Sexualized Once Again". Jezebel. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
105. ^ Dalton, Ben (February 12, 2022). "Andrew Dominik on his new Nick Cave doc, why 'Blonde' is a "masterpiece"". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
106. ^ Cristobal, Sarah (August 29, 2022). "Ana de Armas racconta la vita sotto i riflettori e il film "Blonde"" [Ana de Armas talks about life in the spotlight and the film "Blonde"]. L'Officiel Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
107. ^ "Through Her Eyes". Netflix Queue. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
108. ^ Phipps, Keith (September 23, 2022). "Blonde Could Make the World Safe for NC-17 Films Again". GQ. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
109. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (September 28, 2022). "'Blonde' Hijacks Marilyn Monroe to Make an Anti-Choice Statement (Opinion)". IndieWire.
110. ^ a b Mark, Julian (October 4, 2022). "Talking fetus in 'Blonde' adds to 'antiabortion propaganda,' critics say". The Washington Post.
111. ^ a b Bell, BreAnna (October 1, 2022). "Planned Parenthood Slams Netflix's 'Blonde' for Contributing to 'Anti-Abortion Propaganda'". Variety.
112. ^ a b c Ryan, Patrick (October 3, 2022). "Is Netflix's 'Blonde' anti-abortion? Marilyn Monroe historians, the film's director weigh in". USA Today.
113. ^ Mehrotra, Kriti (September 28, 2022). "How Many Abortions and Miscarriages Did Marilyn Monroe Have in Real Life?". The Cinemaholic.
114. ^ "Blonde is both unwittingly pro-life and unbearably sad". Catholic World Report – Global Church news and views. October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
115. ^ Tallerico, Brian (December 12, 2022). "Everything Everywhere All at Once Leads Chicago Film Critics Nominations". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
116. ^ "Golden Globes 2023: Nominations for the 80th Golden Globes Have Been Announced". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
117. ^ Pulver, Andrew (December 21, 2022). "The Banshees of Inisherin leads pack as London film critics announce nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
118. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 11, 2023). "Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Elvis', 'The Whale' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
119. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 19, 2023). "BAFTA Film Awards Nominations: 'All Quiet On The Western Front,' 'Banshees Of Inisherin' & 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Lead — The Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
120. ^ Shackleton, Liz (December 15, 2022). "'The Banshees Of Inisherin', 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Head Nominations For Australia's AACTA International Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
121. ^ "The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAG-AFTRA. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
122. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 23, 2023). "Razzie Awards: 'Blonde' Leads Noms With Eight; Tom Hanks Lands Two Mentions for 'Pinocchio,' 'Elvis'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
123. ^ "The 95th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
124. ^ Aller, María (March 14, 2023). "Premios Unión de Actores 2023: 'As bestas' y 'Cinco lobitos', las películas más premiadas". Fotogramas.
125. ^ Tinoco, Armando (June 5, 2023). "Golden Trailer Awards Nominations List: Stranger Things, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ted Lasso & Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Among Most Nominated". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Blonde on Netflix
* Blonde at IMDb
* Blonde on Mubi
* Netflix Tudum article about the film
* "Blonde movie accuracy: fact vs. fiction in Netflix's Marilyn Monroe biopic with Ana de Armas"

* v
* t
* e

Marilyn Monroe

* Performances and accolades
* Death

Songs|

* "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"
* "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
* "Heat Wave"
* "My Heart Belongs to Daddy"
* "That Old Black Magic"
* "You'd Be Surprised"

Clothes|

* Pink dress
* White dress
* John F. Kennedy birthday dress

Popular
culture|

* Marilyn Diptych (1962 painting)
* Gold Marilyn Monroe (1962 painting)
* Marilyn (1963 documentary)
* Shot Marilyns (1964 paintings)
* The Legend of Marilyn Monroe (1966 documentary)
* Marilyn Monroe portfolio (1967 prints)
* "Candle in the Wind" (1973 song)
* Goodbye, Norma Jean (1976 film)
* Marilyn (1980 opera)
* This Year's Blonde (1980 film)
* Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980 film)
* Insignificance (1985 film)
* Taxi (1988 pinball machine)
* Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (1989 film)
* Marilyn and Me (1991 film)
* Calendar Girl (1993 film)
* Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996 film)
* Blonde (2001 film)
* Marilyn Forever Blonde (2007 play)
* Marilyn and Ella (2008 play)
* Forever Marilyn (2011 statue)
* My Week with Marilyn (2011 film)
* Love, Marilyn (2012 documentary)
* "Marilyn Monroe" (2012 song)
* Smash 2012 TV series
* Bombshell
* The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (2015 film)
* Norma Jeane Baker of Troy (2019 play)
* Blonde (2022 film)
* "Nxde" (2022 song)
* Smash (2025 musical)

Related|

* James Dougherty (first husband)
* Joe DiMaggio (second husband)
* Arthur Miller (third husband)
* Gladys Pearl Baker (mother)
* Berniece Baker Miracle (sister)
* John F. Kennedy document hoax
* The Last Sitting
* 12305 Fifth Helena Drive

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Andrew Dominik

Feature films|

* Chopper (2000)
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
* Killing Them Softly (2012)
* Blonde (2022)

Documentaries|

* One More Time with Feeling (2016)
* This Much I Know to Be True (2022)
* Bono: Stories of Surrender (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Plan B Entertainment

Films|

* Troy (2004)
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
* The Departed (2006)
* Running with Scissors (2006)
* Year of the Dog (2007)
* A Mighty Heart (2007)
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
* The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009)
* The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
* Kick-Ass (2010)
* Eat Pray Love (2010)
* The Tree of Life (2011)
* Moneyball (2011)
* Killing Them Softly (2012)
* Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
* World War Z (2013)
* 12 Years a Slave (2013)
* Selma (2014)
* True Story (2015)
* The Big Short (2015)
* Moonlight (2016)
* The Lost City of Z (2016)
* Voyage of Time (2016)
* War Machine (2017)
* Okja (2017)
* Brad's Status (2017)
* Beautiful Boy (2018)
* If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
* Vice (2018)
* The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
* Ad Astra (2019)
* The King (2019)
* Irresistible (2020)
* Kajillionaire (2020)
* Minari (2020)
* Father of the Bride (2022)
* Blonde (2022)
* She Said (2022)
* Women Talking (2022)
* Landscape with Invisible Hand (2023)
* Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
* Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
* Nickel Boys (2024)
* Wolfs (2024)
* Mickey 17 (2025)
* F1 (2025)
* Hedda (2025)
* H Is for Hawk (TBA)
* Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (TBA)

People|

* Jennifer Aniston (founder)
* Brad Grey (founder)
* Kristin Hahn (founder)
* Brad Pitt (founder)
* Dede Gardner (co-president)
* Jeremy Kleiner (co-president)

Owner|

* Mediawan

Awards for Blonde

* v
* t
* e

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture

* Can't Stop the Music (1980)
* Mommie Dearest (1981)
* Inchon (1982)
* The Lonely Lady (1983)
* Bolero (1984)
* Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
* Howard the Duck / Under the Cherry Moon (1986)
* Leonard Part 6 (1987)
* Cocktail (1988)
* Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
* The Adventures of Ford Fairlane / Ghosts Can't Do It (1990)
* Hudson Hawk (1991)
* Shining Through (1992)
* Indecent Proposal (1993)
* Color of Night (1994)
* Showgirls (1995)
* Striptease (1996)
* The Postman (1997)
* An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998)
* Wild Wild West (1999)
* Battlefield Earth (2000)
* Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
* Swept Away (2002)
* Gigli (2003)
* Catwoman (2004)
* Dirty Love (2005)
* Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
* I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
* The Love Guru (2008)
* Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
* The Last Airbender (2010)
* Jack and Jill (2011)
* The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
* Movie 43 (2013)
* Saving Christmas (2014)
* Fantastic Four / Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
* Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party (2016)
* The Emoji Movie (2017)
* Holmes & Watson (2018)
* Cats (2019)
* Absolute Proof (2020/21)
* Diana: The Musical (2021)
* Blonde (2022)
* Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
* Madame Web (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay

1980s|

* Bronte Woodard and Allan Carr – Can't Stop the Music (1980)
* Frank Yablans, Frank Perry, Tracy Hotchner, and Robert Getchell – Mommie Dearest (1981)
* Robin Moore and Laird Koenig – Inchon (1982)
* John Kershaw, Shawn Randall, and Ellen Shephard – The Lonely Lady (1983)
* John Derek – Bolero (1984)
* Sylvester Stallone, James Cameron, and Kevin Jarre – Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
* Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz – Howard the Duck (1986)
* Jonathan Reynolds and Bill Cosby – Leonard Part 6 (1987)
* Heywood Gould – Cocktail (1988)
* Eddie Murphy – Harlem Nights (1989)

1990s|

* Daniel Waters, James Cappe, and David Arnott – The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
* Steven E. de Souza, Daniel Waters, Bruce Willis, and Robert Kraft – Hudson Hawk (1991)
* Blake Snyder, William Osborne, and William Davies – Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
* Amy Holden Jones – Indecent Proposal (1993)
* Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein, Steven E. de Souza, and various others – The Flintstones (1994)
* Joe Eszterhas – Showgirls (1995)
* Andrew Bergman – Striptease (1996)
* Eric Roth and Brian Helgeland – The Postman (1997)
* Joe Eszterhas – An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998)
* Jim Thomas, John Thomas, S. S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, Jeffrey Price, and Peter S. Seaman – Wild Wild West (1999)

2000s|

* Corey Mandell and J. David Shapiro – Battlefield Earth (2000)
* Tom Green and Derek Harvie – Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
* George Lucas and Jonathan Hales – Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
* Martin Brest – Gigli (2003)
* Theresa Rebeck, John Brancato, Michael Ferris, and John Rogers – Catwoman (2004)
* Jenny McCarthy – Dirty Love (2005)
* Leora Barish and Henry Bean – Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
* Jeffrey Hammond – I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
* Mike Myers and Graham Gordy – The Love Guru (2008)
* Ehren Kruger, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

2010s|

* M. Night Shyamalan – The Last Airbender (2010)
* Steve Koren, Adam Sandler, and Ben Zook – Jack and Jill (2011)
* David Caspe – That's My Boy (2012)
* Steve Baker, Ricky Blitt, Will Carlough, Tobias Carlson, Jacob Fleisher, Patrik Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Claes Kjellstrom, Jack Kukoda, Bob Odenkirk, Bill O'Malley, Matthew Alec Portenoy, Greg Pritikin, Rocky Russo, Olle Sarri, Elizabeth Wright Shapiro, Jeremy Sosenko, Jonathan van Tulleken, and Jonas Wittenmark – Movie 43 (2013)
* Darren Doane and Cheston Hervey – Saving Christmas (2014)
* Kelly Marcel – Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
* Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
* Tony Leondis, Eric Siegel, and Mike White – The Emoji Movie (2017)
* Niall Leonard – Fifty Shades Freed (2018)
* Lee Hall and Tom Hooper – Cats (2019)

2020s|

* Tomasz Klimala, Barbara Białowąs, Tomasz Mandes, and Blanka Lipińska – 365 Days (2020/21)
* Joe DiPietro and David Bryan – Diana: The Musical (2021)
* Andrew Dominik – Blonde (2022)
* Rhys Frake-Waterfield – Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
* Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Claire Parker, S. J. Clarkson, and Kerem Sanga – Madame Web (2024)

*[Ref.]: Reference(s)
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template