The long-awaited Andrew Dominik-directed version of Joyce Carol Oates' classic 'Blonde,' about the miserable life of Norma Jeane Baker, playing Marilyn Monroe, will be released on Netflix on September 23, and it is expected to have its global debut earlier at the Venice Film Festival.
Oates disclosed during a conversation at the 21st Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland that she had already watched the film and approves of it.
Andrew Dominik is a fantastic director. I believe he succeeded in depicting Norma Jeane Baker's experience from her point of view, rather than from the outside, the male gaze staring at a woman. 'He immersed himself in her point of view,' Oates explained.
Oates investigated the topic of a fragile Norma Jeane Baker losing her own identity to that of Marilyn Monroe, a wholly made-up character, by becoming a commodity exploited by the cinema business in her novel, released in 2000.
She achieved worldwide celebrity, but that is not an identity you can live with. It is one that made a lot of money for a lot of guys but not a lot of money for herself. 'When she died at the age of 36, she didn't have enough money for a suitable burial,' Oates explained.
The trailer for 'Blonde' depicts Norma Jeane Baker being worked on by her make-up artist while she waits for Marilyn Monroe to appear in her mirror, fearful that she would not appear.
'It took her hours to transform into Marilyn,' Oates added. 'I suppose it took Ana de Armas, the amazing actress who portrays her, about four hours of make-up.' As a result, when you see them on screen, they don't actually exist.
You can't keep playing this stupid blonde when she approaches 40. Some claim she committed suicide. That is not necessarily my opinion. I believe she died of something akin to great sadness.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, Oates has published more than 150 books and tales and served as head of the international jury at the festival.
She has been a Pulitzer Prize nominee many times, a Bram Stoker Award winner five times, and has established herself as a merciless analyst of American culture.
She is a vocal opponent of Donald Trump on Twitter, where she has over 136,000 followers.
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