BLONDE
Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.
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Straight masterpiece.
Screenwriter/director Andrew Dominik's filmic adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates's 2000 fictionalized novel of the same title serves as a trenchant indictment of capitalism, the media, and of an incoherent American patriarchy that knows nothing but abuse.
Ana de Armas is uncanny in her fearless portrayal of Hollywood's most iconic actress.
Stunner.
It's a coincidence that in the same year that Austin Butler embodied Elvis Presley with an otherworldly performance of rigor and inspiration, Ana de Armas hits a similar if not more profound height of authenticity.
Elvis and Marilyn were each prisoners of their enormous fame/marketability.
Ana de Armas may just be the finest actor of our time.
Unforgettable.
Spellbinding.
Through the darkness and pain of a constant stream of traumas, Norma Jeane Baker battled demons near and remembered with a sharp intellect that Andrew Dominik keenly exposes through Ana de Armas's high-wire performance.
Indisputably, Andrew Dominik is a true master artist of Cinema.
The proof is in the pudding.
Gracefully cuts quick to the bone.
Audiences familiar with Dominik's past films, "Chopper" (2000), "The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford" (2007), and "Killing Them Softly" (2012), might have an inkling for the depth of visually dynamic storytelling on display in "Blonde."
"Blonde" functions as a feminist narrative that digs in dark corners of 20th century American reality and ideology where beauty is a trashy fad object to be worshiped, reviled, used up and thrown away.
Rigorous feminist think piece. You bet.
Joyce Carol Oates was no slouch.
So, if you're real serious, read Joyce Carol Oates's novel "Blonde," because you can.
And, besides, Joyce Carol Oates is still alive at the time of this writing, and even gave Ana de Armas
props for her exquisite portrayal of Norma Jeane Baker/Marilyn Monroe.
Right on.
Norma Jeane Mortenson revolted against the cold indifference of those who imagined they owned her, which was just about everyone.
Rebel.
It was a herculean effort that could not be sustained for very long.
What we are left with is just a memory of a rare, fragile, talented young woman being bought and sold into modern-day slavery under the guise of Hollywood.
These days people give their lives away on social media and YouTube for pennies.
People's lives are reduced to content.
This phenomenal film is not that.
This is Cinema.
Take your content and shove it.
