Blonde: Ana de Armas Carries a Heavy Burden

Okay, so I finally watched Blonde. Whew. That was… a lot. I feel like I need a shower, and possibly a therapy session, lol. Ana de Armas is undeniably phenomenal. Like, her transformation is unreal, and the way she embodies Norma Jeane/Marilyn is captivating. There were moments, especially in the close-ups during some of the more intense scenes, where I genuinely forgot I was watching an actress. She really committed, and I think that's what a lot of people are responding to the most. However, the movie itself… I'm still processing. It felt incredibly bleak. Like, relentlessly so. I appreciate that it wasn't a typical biopic sugar-coating everything, but it leaned so hard into the trauma that it almost felt exploitative. The scene with the three-way…thing was especially rough, and I'm not sure what it added beyond shock value. And the way they treat her relationship with "The Writer" (Arthur Miller) was a bit reductive, IMO. It painted him as this seemingly caring figure, but then kinda glossed over how he ultimately viewed her. What really stuck with me was the recurring theme of "Daddy." It's obviously crucial to understanding Norma Jeane's psyche, but the way it was represented felt… unsubtle? I get the symbolism, but at times it felt too on-the-nose, distracting from Ana's performance. Also, the weird talking fetus thing? I just... I don't know why they went there. Overall, I think Ana de Armas deserves all the praise she's getting. She elevates the material in a major way. As for the film itself… I'm glad I watched it, but I don't think I'll be revisiting it anytime soon. It's a tough watch, and while I admire the ambition, I'm not convinced it totally lands. Thoughts?