‘Blonde‘ has been in the news ever since its trailer was released. The film, starring Ana De Armas, is a fictionalized take on the life of Marilyn Monroe. Written and directed by Andrew Dominik, the film is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates.
Ever since its release on Netflix, ‘Blonde‘ has met with mostly mixed response. Several critics have called the film “sexist” and “anti-abortion propaganda.” Amid all this, Joyce has come out in support of the film while acknowledging that it’s not for everyone. Let’s find out more about it.
Read More: Is Ana De Armas’ ‘Blonde’ Based On Real Life Events Of Marilyn Monroe?
‘Blonde’ Author Joyce Carol Oates Defends The Film
‘Blonde‘ has been criticized by critics and audiences for its problematic portrayal of yesteryear actress Marilyn Monroe. Now, Joyce has come out in support of the film. The author took to Twitter to express her thoughts on the film in a series of tweets. She wrote: “I think it was/ is a brilliant work of cinematic art obviously not for everyone.”
I think it was/is a brilliant work of cinematic art obviously not for everyone. surprising that in a post#MeToo era the stark exposure of sexual predation in Hollywood has been interpreted as "exploitation." surely Andrew Dominik meant to tell Norma Jeane's story sincerely. https://t.co/YCehGfskds
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) September 30, 2022
She continued, “surprising that in a post #MeToo era the stark exposure of sexual predation in Hollywood has been interpreted as ‘exploitation.’ Surely Andrew Dominik meant to tell Norma Jeane’s story sincerely.”
Oates also said that the film is “not for the faint of heart” and the director is “unflinching, intransigent”. She also addressed the issue surrounding the rape scene. “For the young starlet Norma Jeane Baker, there was no possibility of her ‘telling’/ ‘reporting’ a rape. No one would have believed a starlet, or cared; & she would have been dropped from the studio & blacklisted.”
Joyce continued, “The cruel exploitation of Marilyn Monroe by, among others, John F. Kennedy is well known to biographers of both MM & Kennedy; but the treatment on screen is difficult for some viewers to see, so suggest just do not see it.”
Read More: How Marilyn Monroe’s Ghost Haunted ‘Blonde’ Star Ana De Armas?
Viewers Lash Out At Ana De Armas’ ‘Blonde’
Steph Herold, an abortion researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, slammed the film. She tweeted, “I had the extreme misfortune of watching ‘Blonde’ on Netflix last night and let me tell you that movie is so anti-abortion, so sexist, so exploitative.”
Another user took to Twitter to criticize the nature of the film and said it “puts Norma/Marilyn in a box that only allows her to be abused, sexualized, or to call people daddy. Maybe we stop letting misogynistic men try to make groundbreaking films about women of which they know nothing about.”
The film was earlier in the news for its graphic sexual content and became the first NC-17-rated film to be released via a streaming service.
However, Ana’s performance as the lead has received widespread appreciation from critics and audiences.
