Netflix Blonde: What To Expect From The Movie

It's important to remember going into Andrew Dominik's Blonde that it isn't about Marilyn Monroe the person, really. It's about Marilyn Monroe the idea. What's clear after watching Blonde, which the filmmaker behind The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has spent a decade trying to make, is that he doesn't really see any humanity in either. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde weaves together extravagant cinematic artifice with a gruelling, cruel portrayal of one of our most iconic movie stars. For the unaware, the bubbly Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend version of the iconic silver screen beauty is nowhere to be found herein. This is, rather, a Netflix movie that reduces Marilyn to the sum total of the child abuse, mental illness, rape, sexism, abortion, drugs, and physical abuse from at least one husband that all, yes, conspired to her set her hurtling toward a destructive end. Unfortunately, in Dominik’s hands, that’s pretty much all that Blonde is. The movie tries to say something, I suppose, about the litany of evils Marilyn had to endure  by, paradoxically, forcing the viewer to wallow in it all. And I do mean all of it. Or, more specifically, all of the things I mentioned above. Netflix, up to this point, had already been pushing right up against the line with the degree of raunchiness it allows to exist on the service. The streamer’s 365 Days franchise, for example, is softcore porn for all practical purposes. As for Blonde, Dominik told Vulture he felt “surprised” by the NC-17 rating, since he’d thought “we’d colored inside the lines.” “Americans are really strange when it comes to sexual behavior, don’t you think?” Dominik continued in that interview. Oh please, come on guy. “People are uncertain about where any lines are” You knew exactly what you were doing when, during an abortion scene in Blonde, you made it seem as though the camera was inside Marilyn’s vagina and we were watching as a doctor’s tongs slowly entered the foreground. You knew what you were doing when you had Marilyn raped onscreen multiple times, and during a sex scene with JFK toward the end of the movie that was basically porn. Or when we saw a drugged-up Marilyn vomiting into the toilet, except the camera was pointed up at Marilyn so that it looked like she was heaving onto us, the audience. “We’re in a time now, I think, where people are really uncertain about where any lines are,” Dominik added in that Vulture interview. That’s the same director, mind you, who when it comes time for the infamous city street scene in Blonde, when Marilyn’s dress is blown upwards decides to luridly drag that moment out. To have her dress keep blowing up and down, up and down, and to then slowly zoom the camera in on what she’s wearing underneath. “I’m not concerned with being tasteful,” Dominik told Sight and Sound. 

 

Ana de Armas Oscar-worthy performance

I’d be remiss, meanwhile, if I didn’t say a word about the fearless performance Ana de Armas gives in Blonde. It’s not just the uncanny resemblance, or the mannerisms she mimics or even the work she did to hide (not completely, but almost) her Spanish accent. She disappears, wholly and completely, into this character.

It’s just a shame that praising her work gives me pause. Because to do so is to inadvertently praise a movie that at times seems like its whole goal is simply to make you, the viewer, feel as uncomfortable as possible. Again and again and again.

From a technical standpoint, this Netflix movie is a masterpiece. But when you’re not looking away in horror, it’s hard not to feel like the content of the film in front of you is really just exploiting Marilyn all over again, under the guise of wagging a scolding finger at that exploitation. You have been warned.

Why is Blonde NC-17?

Where to begin. Multiple explicit sex scenes. An abortion scene, in which the camera appears to be looking out from Marilyn’s vagina, as a doctor’s tongs approach the viewer. Multiple rapes. A scene involving Marilyn and JFK too explicit to describe here. All of that, and more, no doubt played a part.
 

What time is Blonde released on Netflix?

Blonde will be available at 12 am Pacific Time on Wednesday, September 28.
Is Blonde based on a true story?

The movie is adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ novel, Blonde. The novel, and the Netflix movie, are not straightforward biographies, but rather a narrative “reimagining” of the starlet’s life.
Are there any Marilyn Monroe movies on Netflix?

In April 2022, Netflix released The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes  a documentary directed by Emma Cooper.
 

Thor: Love and Thunder Release Dates And Review

Marvel fans are normally a patient bunch after all, all you have to is wait a few weeks and you’ll get some sort of Disney+ show now but the absence of a trailer for Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder really started to irritate some folks. Some assumed it’d be attached to No Way Home, but it wasn’t. Others assumed it’d have a Super Bowl spot for sure, but no dice there. The wait began to drive people mad: the needs of content-hungry must be sated!

Well, the months of famine are over: feast upon this brand-new teaser trailer, which Marvel dropped on the morning of this glorious Patriots Day. Here’s a synopsis that’s straight from Marvel, which is… pretty surprising in how much it’s willing to reveal: The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who to Thor’s surprise inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Thor: Love and Thunder arrives in theaters on July 8. That’s really not that far away! Maybe you can get shredded like Chris Hemsworth before it hits. Or maybe you can just look like Thor did in Endgame. Your goal is your goal, who are we to judge?

The Girl Who Got Away - Review

This movie is phenomenal! The director does a fantastic job of weaving together a complex and captivating story. The actors are talented and a joy to watch! I think this is more of a mystery/thriller. This might not be for everyone but for me this is my thing. Slow build dropping hints and clues. I think the story of Elizabeth Caulfield and the girls would make a good book. This movie feels like part 2 of that book. A beautiful and dark thriller. Definitely more thriller than horror, but it still has some pretty good jump scares. Just like the main character says to her class at the very beginning of the movie, you have to 'listen closely and pay attention' because you may miss the important pieces of the plot that tie this movie together. The more I think about it the more I like it. 

A must-see. Dark and suspenseful. The director dangles easy conclusions to jump to in the audience's face, but trusts they are smart enough not to. The movie gets better and better the more I think about it because just when I think I have discovered a plothole, an answer quickly comes to me. Not for everyone I think, more thriller than horror but I loved it. Slow burn thriller with some great performances. Christina Bowden (Lexi Johnson) lives a quiet life in upstate new york but when the woman, Elizabeth Caulfield (Kaye Tuckerman), that kidnapped her as a child escapes from prison her life is turned upside down. Great twists and turns on this film. It starts off slow and seems like it is going in one direction and then gets way deeper than you would think. Acting is good all around, the lead Lexi Johnson is a standout with a layered performance that you really need to watch twice to understand what she is up to. Good flick all around.

Nine Days - Review

Trekking through a very different sort of conceit in a house, Edson Oda and his absolute gem of a cast meanwhile seek the meaning of life in Nine Days. Winston Duke leads as Will, a man in a space beyond earthly existence who passes judgment on which unborn souls will be granted the gift and opportunity of life. After the sudden death of his previous star selection, young violin prodigy Amanda, Will wrestles with selecting a new candidate from his newest batch of recruits, thinking only of the indifferent, uncaring existence that awaits them on Earth. Nine Days doesn't fully reach its lofty ambitions in exploring the spectrum of life and all its delights, suffering, and mysteries, Oda's approach being too binary in its outlook. 

Duke gives his all as Will, but his reeling from the loss of Amanda becomes the character too much of a hard-ass to connect with. In the polar opposite sense, his counterpart in Zazie Beetz's soul to be, Emma, is too naive in her optimism to provide a proper sense of philosophical friction. There's no authentic nuance to be had in Oda's ideas as a result (and his writing leans too obviously into one of the opposing camps for a proper address of the world), especially with most of the film's dramatic pathos coming from its characters watching TV and plodding through unengaging thought experiments. Still, the great Benedict Wong, Bill Skarsgård, Tony Hale, and more anchor the film down with just enough performative spice to keep one's attention. Between its inspired use of old school analogue technology, beautifully original imagery, and Oda's general creative zest throughout, Nine Days also has its fair share of magical moments to keep the train going, enough to make its mixed bag of an odyssey through the Great Before and Beyond one at least worth considering.

Stillwater - Review

Great Film. A very strong, and emotionally flawless performance by Matt Damon, complimented perfectly by a best supporting actress/Oscar buzz worthy performance by Camille Cottin. Topped off by the French backdrop, which serves as a strong 3rd lead character that truly brings the story to life. The narrow, overly-crowded streets, the scruff people, the grit and realness of the ghettos of bluecollar France make a formidable opponent for Damon's character to battle in a David Vs Goliath type of battle that will have you biting your nails in anticipation of the next breakthrough in the story. The film moves at a smooth, steady pace and finishes exactly when and how it should. 

Do yourself a favor and go see Stillwater ASAP and see what the critics will be talking so much about at Oscar time. Great performance by Matt Damon. He did not overplay his accent or overplay his character & had the Oklahoma accent down perfectly. Great acting. I loved Damon’s relationship with young girl it was perfect. I heard it wasn’t an action movie going into the movie so I wasn’t disappointed in the drama enjoyed the slow character development. I loved his character so much but was deeply disappointed & heartbroken by him close to the end of the movie the ending was unclear & upsetting but my husband & I discussed the ending the whole way homeI can’t remember the last time we’ve done that after a movie we might be biased since we are Oklahoma state graduates but we both really liked it but the ending I didn’t prefer. I would recommend it for sure.

Never Gonna Show Again - Review

When an enigmatic massage therapist/hypnotist from the Chernobyl area of Ukraine shows up in an upscale Polish gated community, he miraculously attends to the healing of an assortment of residents with varying physical and emotional needs. But who is he really, especially in light of his special powers that make him seem like a subdued but otherworldly superhero? That's the gist of this atmospheric tale from directors Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, which seamlessly weaves drama, science fiction and delightful humor in a modestly intriguing story, thanks in large part to the fine lead performance of Alec Utgoff. 

However, despite an engaging premise, captivating back story and colorful supporting characters, the film's deliberate ambiguity gets stretched quite thin after a while, leaving viewers wonder exactly where this film is going, with a concluding payoff that's somewhat less than satisfying. As a vehicle that seems quite self-satisfied with itself for its beautifully filmed but nevertheless cryptic nature, the filmmakers have left the audience somewhat in the dark with some of their meandering, underdeveloped and unexplained narrative choices. The result is a film that probably should have gone through an additional round of script changes and final edits before being released, alterations that would have made for a much more satisfying picture.

Blood Red Sky - Review

They picked the wrong flight. So this is about a group of hijackers who overtake a transatlantic flight. Their plan is about to go awry because a passenger (Peri Baumeister) has a mysterious illness and a monstrous secret. She is the variable that will end up being a wildcard for everybody onboard. Now the trailer for this one enticed me. I have this button with plane thrillers which is why Lost hooked me from the pilot, and once I saw that is what this appeared to be, I cut off the bumper without finishing it and added it to my queue. The posters gave off a different vibe from the film I thought I was getting into, and then I started to remember that I had heard about this movie back when it was in production because it was so outlandish. I will give Blood Red Sky this: I've never seen a mash-up quite like this before. Now I'm positive there's a group out there who won't want to see these two types of movie coming together. You can make a moral stance against this film as this is not a subject matter to take lightly, and I would not try to discredit you. 

For me, I just wanted to see where this story was going to go next. It's a premise that is over-the-top, but they always manage to keep it engaging, so I always wanted to see each and every situation play out. They know how to work with the claustrophobia that comes with being on a plane. It's not like you have tons of options on where you can go in this enclosed space, and even if you could, this is a commercial airline where they pack flyers in like sardines. It amps up the tension since you are in such close quarters, and because I've never seen two radically different movies crossover in this fashion, I could never pinpoint where it was going. Some may say that this is like two screenwriters weren't looking where they were going, collided, and then picked up two scripts with all of the pages mixed together, and I'm not going to try and make a counterargument against that, either. I was just able to accept this for what it is: a mad scientist hybrid. Blood Red Sky isn't perfect, and I do have quibbles. I thought the flashbacks in this were fine and added a bit of background to where this woman came from, but they do beef up the runtime, which is what I feel is the biggest detriment. This isn't high art that is being crafted here, and two hours is too long for a story that should only run 100 minutes at maximum. Also, there's some off-screen animal violence where you see the aftereffects, and that's something I could have done without. You already know the hijackers are the scum of the Earth, you don't need to further stack the deck so you root for them to die in grisly ways. Overall though, I got what I wanted from Blood Red Sky, which is a delightfully weird movie fusion.

The Green Knight - Movie Review

Other than watching the trailer just a few hours before deciding to see the film I knew nothing else about it prior to the viewing. I knew nothing about the Arthurian legend that the film has adapted nor did I know what film critics thought of it. While the Green Knight is a slower paced film than most, it keeps your attention and you are gripped from start to finish. It's a film that teases you with many "what if?" moments and vague references to a character's sense of morals or intentions without being so subtle that it can be interpreted in any way you want. I've only watched it once but I know it is one of those films that is enhanced by repeated viewings. Not to say that more than one view is needed to understand the story or enjoy the film, but repeated viewings will most definitely enhance the experience. And while this is by no means a surefire sign of a good film, my wife and I struggled to return to our car and drive home after the movie ended because we were so caught up in discussing what we had just seen. Every time I thought we were about to get into the car and leave we continued to stand outside in the parking lot discussing one other aspect of the film that intrigued or puzzled us. Only later did I realize this film was directed by the same director as The Vvitch, another amazing film with so many layers to it that are a fun puzzle to unravel and solve. The cinematography and production are A1. Visuals are stunning and dream-like. Perfectly cast as well. Dev continues to impress. I highly recommend reading the poem before watching though, as I'm sure most of these "one star" reviewers expected a medieval action flick. Lowery's adaptation deserves a lot of praise - it has never-before-seen bizarre sequences, it's packed with occult symbolism abd imagery, as well as modern themes throughout. 

I left the theater with questions, but Lowery leaves elements open to interpretation. It was different and bold. A24 delivers once again! Wonderful film and brilliant ride. First and foremost I must say the cinematography was absolutely gorgeous and deserves many many awards. Dev petal was phenomenal along with the rest of the cast. Admittedly I had to do some of my own research because a few moments made me scratch my head during the film, but all for good discussions. It is very odd, but enjoyable if you just roll with it. But overall, I highly recommend this movie. My fiancé and I have been discussing this for days after. The Green Knight is visually stunning, and thought provoking. Dev Patel is phenomenal as Sir Gawain, and the design of the titular Green Knight is awe inspiring. Where this movie began to lose me, was in the telling of the story. This is not a standard version of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, and this could leave many viewers confused and put off. There is a lot here for fans and scholars of Arthurian legends. This version of the tale diverges from classical tellings in very thought provoking ways. 

Old - Movie Review

"Old" new film directed and scripted by  M. Night Shyamalan leaves a little to be desired, the film has a good proposal, and a script of ups and downs, with a direction that does not resemble Shyamalan at all. The script, summarized in an engaging context, the premise is the existence of an Island, whose minerals that surround it make any organic matter present in it rapidly age, basically a day on the island is equivalent to aging for decades, it's something interesting, although during the course of the film itself there are some continuity errors in relation to this created context, the plot twist involving the use of the island is good and feasible, but the script is very bad in the development of its characters, it is very difficult to connect to either of them, although the plotter tries to create that connection several times, it just doesn't work. The direction is also a little disappointing, the use of handheld camera is horrible, the zoom is poorly used and the trail is almost non-existent, there are very few scenes that reminds us that this is a Shyamalan film, because much of it looks like a direction generic, with a clear photograph and a problematic construction of tension, which only starts to work in the second act. 

In terms of acting we don't have any formidable, but the actors on screen deliver the proposal of each of their characters well, I talked about the inconsistency of development, but small features of them are well worked, it's these little touches of Shyamalan that we have. Shyamalan is a director who always adds more to his work, we usually see a very strong intrinsic moral within his supernatural, we always have something philosophical around the construction of his suspense, here, we don't have that, at least I didn't notice this first look, however It's an interesting observation, Shyamalan doesn't usually use scenery composition and talks randomly, we have some references to a western movie that is mentioned during the film, it's worth checking more about this movie because it talks to the work and it's a cool reference about Shyamalan's own life. "Old" could have a much better third act and save the movie a little, which in itself is not bad, but we always expect a little more from Shyamalan, who in this work doesn't deliver that something more, we have an unsigned movie , with a generic direction, a script full of hits and misses and a set of reasonable performances.This one wasn’t as bad as people rated it. Sometimes I think we get a little bit spoiled in our expectations. I also liked the inclusion in this film. M Night is a passionate creator, and I don’t need his movies to be pristine in form to enjoy them. The movies that annoy me most are the ones that are trying too hard to hit stereotypical notes. I don’t think that’s the case here. He’s an earnest filmmaker who wants you to enjoy it.

Black Widow - Movie Review

A must see, one of the few action movies told from the female gaze. Black Widow is action packed and engaging throughout, true to the MCU. What makes this movie stand out is the acting. I honestly can't wait for Florence Pugh to be the first actor to win an academy award for their role in an MCU film. Scarlett Johansson brings it home with a powerful portrayal of her tortured character, making us mourn the loss of Natasha Romanoff all over again. Loved it. And let's never stop talking about the cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Awesome and intensely fun. If you HATED Captain Marvel, you will LOVE Black Widow. Black Widow has better storyline, acting, cast, and relevance. Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh join Elizabeth Olsen as the strongest female characters in the MCU. Unlike Captain Marvel, which was basically a parody of Top gun with space aliens, dreadful acting, and mediocre lines, Black Widow was compelling, action-packed, relevant to the MCU, and relevant to our times. 

Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh have excellent chemistry, are excellent actresses, and add an entirely new and relevant dimension to the MCU. Florence Pugh clearly has a future in the MCU. Hopefully she will join Elizabeth Olson in continually eclipsing the mediocre talent of Brie Larson and the irrelevant Captain Marvel. The movie is incredibly well done, excellent effects, good humor, espionage, and back stories of various characters linking with Captain America, and the events happening in the MCU. Highly recommended. Absolutely loved it. Top 5 stand alone MCU film for me. Thrilling action sequences, Yelena was hysterical as hell, and there were also some really touching one and one character moments. Definitely more enjoyable if you've seen the other marvel films. A lot of stuff that would probably go over new comers heads and decrease the viewing experience. Only reason I gave it 4.5 instead of 5 is because the final act was a bit flawed. Some of the CGI looked off and the ending was a bit meh. However, I still absolutely loved it and I've probably watched it 6 times already (twice in theaters). Highly recommended!

Reminiscence - Movie Review

Something borrowed. This is about a man in the near future who makes his living off the past (Hugh Jackman). He has a rig that allows people to relive their memories. He falls for a mysterious woman (Rebecca Ferguson) who shows up at his business one day and then vanishes without a trace. With very few leads, tracking her down will not be easy. Now you can tell that the studio had no idea what to do with this movie. They gave this tepid marketing since this is sci-fi that is hard to sell, and to make matters worse, even the title is unappealing. I mean really, Reminiscence sounds like a rock band from the early '00s. Just like all of the other 2021 Warner Bros. releases, this got a same day release on HBO Max, so I threw caution to the wind and watched this. Well, let's just say that I'm glad I streamed this because I would be upset if I dropped money to see this in a theater. Because nobody is talking about this movie, I had the luxury of watching this with no expectations. That's a nicety I usually only get when something gets dumped on Netflix with no warning, but a rarity when talking about a movie that has a more sizeable budget. For this entire runtime, I couldn't help but be reminded of bigger and better science fiction ventures. 

Unless you happen to be new to movies, you're going to see the influences as plain as day. There's Inception, there's Blade Runner, and there's Eternal Sunshine. The story is just standard noir, but this references tropes more than specific films: you've got the mystery, multiple cases that eventually intersect, the femme fatale, and the obsessive detective. All of the above references speak volumes on how unoriginal this is. The only place where I feel like this movie finds success is with the setting. Reminiscence takes place in Miami, but it's Miami that's been permanently altered by climate change. It's too hot to go out during the day, so people become nocturnal. Because everything is underwater except for the taller building, they essentially turned Miami into a dystopian Venice. This is a cool concept that I feel like they don't use to their advantage. Even though this never showcases any new or fresh ideas, I was reasonably engaged by this at the start. The longer it goes on, the more my attention wavered, which made this feel like a chore to get through. This is directed by Lisa Joy of Westworld fame. It did remind me a bit of that misguided third season, and it's not just because of all the familiar faces. Reminiscence is just a piecemeal of better movies that are more worthy of your time. Beautifully filmed and thoughtful script on time, memory and the nature of relationships -- imagined and real. Its artful and builds on film memes from Bladerunner, Inception and other films. Westworld parallel themes sprinkled throughout. Great film. Innovative and non-traditional Stellar supporting cast. Highly recommend.

The Night House - Movie Review

The Night House is that this movie is very deep and also very weird. It starts off a little slow but it picks up a half hour into it. First off I loved all the camera angles and drone shot. I love the scenic shots as well. It had a very creepy atmosphere which made the movie very tense and off putting. The acting was great and I felt everything she was going through. I went into this film knowing nothing and that made it a lot more enjoyable. There were so many twists I would come up with my own theory on how it would end but it kept throwing me curve balls. The ending really ties everything up besides some plot threads that never really get resolved. Overall I really enjoyed this movie I’m going to have to watch it again to see all the clues and all the little hints about what happens at the end. I highly recommend you see this in the theaters. It will have you seeing things in the dark at night that’s how creepy this movie is. This movie is a great addition to must-watch horror films. 

It is a slow-burn psychological/supernatural horror, with pacing that slowly increases steadily from beginning to end. The movie has a steady, methodical, narrative which leaves the audience to put the clues together on their own. The cast is small, and the atmosphere is isolating. Rebecca Hall (Beth) gives an incredible and captivating performance, especially considering so much of the movie is her alone on screen. The supporting cast feels like real people with their own lives but also interacts with Beth in ways that help the story. Some downsides keep this movie at a 4/5. The movie branches out into several different avenues when it comes to the origin of the horror antagonist. These are all very interesting, but the movie suffers from not focusing on a unifying concept. We feel as confused as Beth trying to figure out the mystery. While this is good for psychological slow-burn horror, the film doesn't deliver on some of the enticing bits of lore. The Night House, unfortunately, suffers from the all too notorious problem in horror: how to give the audience a satisfying ending. The conclusion to the story is not disappointing, I enjoyed it. However, it did not deliver the full emotional impact it could have, considering the impressive build-up of tension throughout.