Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

just watch it!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The cast of this biopic really commit to this quite serious examination of what made Marilyn Monroe tick. The costumes and sets are impeccable, and understated. As Monroe, Kelli Garner is outstanding. She manages to maintain that strangely childlike voice and outward naivete, combined with a voluptuous, camp sexuality and curiously strong personality. The script portrays her as much more complex than her public image - as ambitious, and willing to stand up for herself in her career, and also in her love life. There's enormous sympathy for Marilyn's terrible childhood, with not much love or guidance. She did succeed as an actor for many years, and she did have some successful relationships. But she had that strong self destructive streak. Like Amy Winehouse, Marilyn didn't have quite enough strength to survive. This series is way too wordy - it's at times more like a play than a TV mini-series. It could have run for half the time it does. It's determined to depict every little detail of her life, and that gets tiring in the end.

Over the years, there have been countless movies about screen icon, Marilyn Monroe, so I was not really all that excited about getting to see this latest one- a Lifetime TV mini-series, that is- until I heard Kelli Garner was starring in the lead. I've seen her in several things over the years, and remember thinking- long before this movie- that, even though she doesn't really resemble Marilyn, she still has that similar spirit; especially in a little movie I saw her in years ago called "DreamLand".Now this movie doesn't really give us anything new about Ms. Monroe; in fact, pretty much re-hashes what we all have seen over and over again in the movies released about her in the past few decades. And BTW- I would say my favs. over the years have been "Blonde", which featured Poppy Montgomery in the lead, and the wonderful experimental HBO film, "Normal Jean & Marilyn", which featured Mira Sorvino & Ashley Judd in the dual personas. I saw the last one, "My Week with Marilyn", a few years ago- which was probably the one which featured the highest production values of all of them. It's funny, overall I liked that film better than this new Lifetime film, but I like Kelli Garner better in the role than Michelle Williams. There are shots in this film, especially while she is making "Seven Year Itch", where she was just the spitting image- I had to do a double take!But I will give this a marginal recommendation- only for Garner's performance. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (as Joe DiMaggio), Emily Watts, Jack Noseworthy, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (as Marilyn/Norma Jean's mother) co-star.

It was such a nice change to see a movie of Marilyn Monroe depicting her personal life and struggles.I have read many many books on Marilyn and I thought this was spot on. Congratulations to Lifetime Movies. Also congratulations to Kelli Garner and Susan Sarandon. It was difficult for Susan as in real life Marilyn did not spend a lot of time with her mother. Apparently Marilyn always lived with a fear of inheriting her mother's mental illness. It was also nice to still enjoy a movie on Marilyn Monroe after such a long time after her death.I believe Kelli captured Marilyn's voice extremely well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to others for viewing. Thanks!!!

Finally, an actress who captures Marilyn Monroe in all her mannerisms, voice, looks, personality (Kelli Garner). Previous Monroe portrayals are easily forgotten in light of this lovely reproduction of the tragic star's vulnerability, charm, sexiness & spunk. Why did it take so long? Susan Sarandon as mother Gladys is also excellent & typical of Sarandon's professionalism in playing a supporting role with grace and class. The other players are well cast where it matters most: looks, demeanor, voice, such as Pat Kennedy Lawford with a Boston accent. Joe DiMaggio is lean and angular; Arthur Miller smokes a pipe. Not to simplify the elements of writing and direction, but as I said, previous Monroe biopics have failed at the most elemental level: when Marilyn is in front of the camera, she'd better be a decent reincarnation. This movie nailed it.