Blonde Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Marilyn Monroe just wants her daddy to love her, but instead, gets exploited by everyone, including the President, and eventually dies sad and alone, probably still wondering if her daddy loved her.

🍿 Blonde: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Early Life and Trauma

The film opens with Norma Jeane’s troubled childhood, marked by her mother Gladys’s mental instability and obsession with finding Norma Jeane’s absent father. A fire and a near-drowning incident highlight the dysfunction and trauma Norma Jeane endures, ultimately leading to her placement in an orphanage. This early instability shapes her lifelong search for a paternal figure and her deep-seated insecurities.

Becoming Marilyn Monroe

As Norma Jeane enters the world of Hollywood, she transforms into the iconic Marilyn Monroe, a persona that both empowers and entraps her. She experiences a brutal sexual assault early in her career, highlighting the exploitative nature of the industry. Her relationships with Cass Chaplin Jr. and Eddy Robinson Jr. offer a brief respite, but she soon grapples with the limitations placed on her personal life by the studio.

Marriages and Miscarriages

Marilyn’s marriages to Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller are portrayed as tumultuous, marked by violence, control, and ultimately, heartbreak. She yearns for motherhood but suffers miscarriages and abortions, further fueling her emotional distress. These experiences deepen her sense of isolation and contribute to her growing reliance on drugs and alcohol to cope.

Decline and Despair

As her career progresses, Marilyn’s mental state deteriorates. She struggles to separate her public persona from her private self and becomes increasingly dependent on pills. A disturbing encounter with the President of the United States further erodes her sense of self-worth. The revelation that Cass Chaplin Jr. fabricated the letters from her father shatters her final hopes for connection and stability.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe (Ana de Armas): A vulnerable and ambitious actress struggling to reconcile her public persona with her fractured private self.
• Young Norma Jeane (Lily Fisher): The young version of Norma Jeane experiencing the trauma of an unstable childhood.
• Gladys (Julianne Nicholson): Norma Jeane’s mentally unstable mother who struggles to provide a stable home.
• Cass Chaplin (Xavier Samuel): One of Norma Jeane’s close friends with whom she shares a complex relationship.
• Eddy Robinson Jr. (Evan Williams): Another close friend of Norma Jeane involved in the polyamorous relationship.
• Joe DiMaggio (Patrick Brennan): A former athlete and one of Marilyn’s husbands who struggles with her fame.
• Arthur Miller (Adrien Brody): A playwright and Marilyn’s other husband who provides a different kind of relationship.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Norma Jeane: “Marilyn doesn’t exist. When I come out of my dressing room, I’m Norma Jeane. I’m still her when the camera is rolling. Marilyn Monroe only exists on the screen.” – Norma Jeane explains the separation between her true self and the persona she uses for work.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $22,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Blonde Reviews

Personal Review

I went into ‘Blonde’ knowing it would be a difficult watch, but I was still unprepared for how deeply it affected me. Ana de Armas’s performance is truly transformative, and she completely embodies the spirit of Marilyn Monroe. The scenes with her mother really hit me, and I couldn’t help but feel for her. It’s a heavy movie, but one that I think is ultimately worth seeing for its artistry and its unflinching portrayal of a tragic life. I needed some time to process it after.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Ana de Armas”
  • “Viewers interested in fictionalized biopics”
  • “Those who appreciate visually driven, artistic films”
  • “Audiences interested in dark and tragic stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic sexual content”
  • “Sexual assault”
  • “Nudity”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Abortion”
  • “Mental illness”
  • “Disturbing themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Blonde is a bold, challenging, and ultimately devastating portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Ana de Armas delivers a career-defining performance, capturing both the vulnerability and the strength of the iconic actress. It is a difficult film to watch at times, but it is a rewarding one that stays with you long after the credits roll.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Ana de Armas is luminous as Marilyn Monroe, but Blonde ultimately succumbs to its own excesses. Director Andrew Dominik’s stylized approach often overshadows the story, resulting in a film that is more visually arresting than emotionally resonant. While the performances are strong, the film’s length and relentless bleakness may deter some viewers.
• IndieWire: “Blonde is a fever dream of a movie, a hallucinatory journey through the psyche of Marilyn Monroe. Andrew Dominik’s uncompromising vision is not for the faint of heart, but Ana de Armas’s breathtaking performance makes it an unforgettable experience. This is not a traditional biopic, but a bold and provocative exploration of fame, identity, and the price of being a legend.

Audience Reactions

Ana de Armas gave a fantastic performance, capturing Marilyn’s vulnerability and strength.: Most viewers praised Ana de Armas’s performance as the highlight of the film.

Visually stunning cinematography that created a dark and haunting mood.: Viewers appreciated the film’s unique visual style and artistic direction.

Overall Consensus: Blonde is a visually stunning film with a powerful performance from Ana de Armas, but its dark and controversial content may not be for everyone.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Blonde is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, a fictionalized take on Marilyn Monroe’s life, not a biography.”
• “Director Andrew Dominik contacted Joyce Carol Oates during the film’s making and shared a near-final cut with her in 2020. Oates has since praised the film.”
• “The film uses a mix of color and black-and-white cinematography, as well as varying aspect ratios, to reflect Marilyn Monroe’s changing emotional states and the different eras of her life.”

🖥️ How to Watch Blonde?

Blonde is available for streaming exclusively on Netflix. As a Netflix original film, it is not available for purchase on other streaming platforms such as Prime Video or Apple TV. You need a Netflix subscription to watch this movie.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Blonde, you might like these similar films:

• Judy (2019): Both films explore the tragic life of a celebrated female performer struggling with fame, exploitation, and personal demons.
• My Week with Marilyn (2011): Offers a glimpse into Marilyn Monroe’s life during the filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl,’ portraying her vulnerability and the pressures she faced.

🛒 Blonde Related Products

• Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates: The bestselling novel that inspired the film, delving into the inner life of Marilyn Monroe with psychological depth and literary flair.
• Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting: A collection of photographs from Marilyn Monroe’s last photoshoot, offering a glimpse into her beauty and vulnerability.
• Some Like It Hot (Blu-ray): One of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic films, now available in high definition Blu-ray format.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Marilyn Monroe: Add a touch of Hollywood glamour to your collection with the Funko Pop! figure of Marilyn Monroe.

🎧 Soundtrack

Blonde features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Bright Horses” – performed by Nick Cave
• “Balcony Man” – performed by Nick Cave
• “Ev’ry Baby Needs a Da-Da-Daddy” – performed by Lester Lee and Allan Roberts

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

blonde makes a spectacle out of marilyn monroe’s suffering 🎞💔💎 (blonde 2022 review)

Thinking about watching ‘Blonde’? This review totally changed my mind! It argues the movie disrespects Marilyn Monroe, and honestly, their points are pretty convincing. Check it out before you decide if it’s worth your time.

Top 10 Things Blonde Got Factually Right & Wrong

Ever wonder how much of ‘Blonde’ is actually true? This video breaks down the facts and fiction, and some of the deviations are wild! It’s super interesting if you’re curious about the real story behind Marilyn Monroe.

✨ Rate