Joyce Carol Oates has given her imprimatur to Blonde, the upcoming film based on her novel about Marilyn Monroe, Variety reports.
The prolific novelist spoke at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival about the movie, directed by Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly) and starring actor Ana de Armas as the legendary movie star.
“Andrew Dominik is a very brilliant director,” Oates said. “I think he succeeded in showing the experience of Norma Jeane Baker from her perspective, rather than see it from the outside, the male gaze looking at a woman. He immersed himself in her perspective.”
Oates’ novel, published by Ecco in 2000, is a fictionalized account of Monroe’s life. A critic for Kirkus gave the book a scathing review, calling it “one of the worst she (or any other contemporary ‘serious’ author, for that matter) has ever committed to paper” and writing, “Whatever Monroe’s sins and limitations were, they didn’t merit this contemptible insult to her memory. Oates should be ashamed of herself.”
The novel has been adapted previously for the screen, as a 2001 miniseries for CBS.
The NC-17-rated Blonde, which also features actors Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, and Julianne Nicholson, is slated for release on Netflix on Sept. 23.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
