Yesterday, a friend reminded me that
The Bytowne was screening
The Misfits for their weekly “Must-see Cinema” series. I wanted to see the film because we watched
The Asphalt Jungle last term in the Film 1000 class I’m TA-ing. I really liked
Asphalt Jungle and I was intrigued so see another collaboration between Marilyn Monroe and director John Huston.
Misfits might not be as strong a film as
Asphalt is, but I really liked it nevertheless. Like
The Asphalt Jungle, it’s ambiguous and unsettling. The film slowly builds characters and lets them meander for a while before bringing the final to a riveting final act as Marilyn joins cowboys Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift and Eli Wallach to wrangle some horses in the open desert. The biggest treat of the film, however, was seeing Monroe on the bigscreen.
The Misfits was her final feature film performance (unless you count the unfinished short
Something’s Got to Give). I think it’s one of Marilyn’s better performances and it’s worth rushing out to the
Bytowne when The Misfits screens again today at 4:15.
At some point in the film, however, I noticed Marilyn give some kind of tick that reminded me of Michelle Williams’ performance in
My Week with Marilyn. After noticing this, I spent most of the film comparing Williams’ onscreen impersonation to the real thing. Although I took more note of how little Williams looks and sounds like Monroe, I stand by my
original review in which I praised her ability to capture the spirit and essence of the star. (Or at least Monroe’s onscreen portrayal of herself.) It’s worth seeing
The Misfits to compare the work of one of the season’s most debated performances: after seeing
The Misfits, I think Williams got it right.
PS: This Katy Perry/Marilyn mash-up: so bad it's good, eh?
