Norma Jean & Marilyn
USA 1996. Director: Tim Fywell
Cast: Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino, Ron Rifkin, Jeffrey Combs

Although it has no suspence or thrills in the traditional sense, Norma Jean & Marilyn is nonetheless one of the scariest flicks around. It's a made-for-cable movie, produced by HBO (who's also responsible for the Tales From the Crypt series and movies) and is basically a rather straight biography of Marilyn Monroe. But instead on being focused upon the more glamorous sides of her life in show business, it instead delas with the demons that clearly plagued her. And the way it is told is unique indeed. The first half hour deals with Norma Jean's ambitions to become a star ("I shall break into movies even if I have to fuck Bela Lugosi!"). This first part is filled with flashbacks which are intergrated with flashforwards during present scenes and sometimes it feels like the story is told backwards. Norma Jean is here played by Ashley Judd, but as soon as she becomes Marilyn Monroe, about halfway through the film, she is suddenly played by Mira Sorvino. And it's here where it gets extra weird. Norma Jean (as played by Judd, remember) is still present, nagging and complaining all the time, driving the unsecure Marilyn into madness and ultimately suicide. The last reel or so is one long and dark hair-raising, drug-addicted demon-chasing drama, with the two actresses going for broke. Especially Ashley Judd is impressive, chewing chunks of scenery as if her life depended on it. Some may find Norma Jean & Marilyn too offbeat and those expecting nostalgic glimpses from the star's movies are in for a disappointment. But if one want a slickly made but different and surreal look at the dual personalities which formed the famous screen pesona of Marilyn Monroe, then this is as different as it gets. And Jeffrey Combs as a tacky Montgomery Clift.