“Blonde” Teaser Gives Haunting Look at Ana de Armas’ Take on Marilyn Monroe

Sure to be one of the most controversial - and one of the most acclaimed - movies of 2022, Netflix has given us a haunting teaser for its big awards player Blonde. Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, it takes a fictionalized look at one of Hollywood's biggest and most tragic stars: Marilyn Monroe.

Ana de Armas has already gotten tremendous buzz for her portrayal of the actress born Norma Jeane Mortenson, who died far too young at age 36. The Andrew Dominik-directed film has been highly anticipated for many years, going through many cast changes and COVID-related delays. It also was subjected to rumors that Netflix clashed with the director over some of the film's graphic sex scenes. Whether that was just industry gossip or actual difficulties, the MPA has rated the film NC-17, a first for the streamer. The terrific supporting cast includes Oscar winner Adrien Brody, as well as Emmy winners Bobby Cannavale and Julianne Nicholson.

Blonde premieres exclusively on Netflix on September 23.

About Kip Mooney

Like many film critics born during and after the 1980s, my hero is Roger Ebert. The man was already the best critic in the nation when he won the Pulitzer in 1975, but his indomitable spirit during and after his recent battle with cancer keeps me coming back to read not only his reviews but his insightful commentary on the everyday. But enough about a guy you know a lot about. I knew I was going to be a film critic—some would say a snob—in middle school, when I had to voraciously defend my position that The Royal Tenenbaums was only a million times better than Adam Sandler’s remake of Mr. Deeds. From then on, I would seek out Wes Anderson’s films and avoid Sandler’s like the plague. Still, I like to think of myself as a populist, and I’ll be just as likely to see the next superhero movie as the next Sundance sensation. The thing I most deplore in a movie is laziness. I’d much rather see movies with big ambitions try and fail than movies with no ambitions succeed at simply existing. I’m also a big advocate of fun-bad movies like The Room and most of Nicolas Cage’s work. In the past, I’ve written for The Dallas Morning News and the North Texas Daily, which I edited for a semester. I also contributed to Dallas-based Pegasus News, which in the circle of life, is now part of The Dallas Morning News, where I got my big break in 2007. Eventually, I’d love to write and talk about film full-time, but until that’s a viable career option, I work as an auditor for Wells Fargo. I hope to one day meet my hero, go to the Toronto International Film Festival, and compete on Jeopardy. Until then, I’m excited to share my love of film with you.