2008-05-08 08:30:18 - By Mark Bellinghaus
CEO, MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC
When I first heard about the latest Harmony Korine movie 'Mister Lonely,' it sounded so way over the top, I instantly liked it. Where have all the John Waters' gone anyhow? What happened to the experimental directors who would film, just like the great Andy Warhol did at some point, when he filmed a naked couple in bed, for hours, doing nothing.
In the beginning, Korine's work reminded me of Gus van Sants and now it looks to me, as if he will be as successful as Mr. van Sants. Harmony Korine did not make many friends with cat owners, and movie critics either after his controversial 'Gummo' was released in 1997. Will he make friends with Marilyn Monroe fans worldwide, because he turned the sensational Samantha Morton into Marilyn Monroe? Absolutely.

The movie plot is, well--not quite simple, I would rather call it 'different.' Which is only a plus in my books, when our world has become so plain, our Hollywood movies unfortunately have gone the same path. Michael Jackson (Diego Luna) is meeting Marilyn Monroe (Samantha Morton) in Paris and they are traveling to an idyllic seaside Scots castle where

they meet more professional lookalikes like Charlie Chaplin (portrayed by German director legend Werner Herzog), Shirley Temple (Esme Creed-Miles), Queen Elizabeth (Anita Pallenberg), Pope Johannes Paul II. (James Fox), Madonna (Melita Morgan), and other wonderful characters who seem to have partly more thrive than their (living) originals. You see flying nuns you feel the poetry of a writer and director, who certainly deserves the title: One Of A Kind. If you let yourself fall into this magnificent piece of story telling, you will be surprised. Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson, they seem to make sense to each other. Harmony stood up to his first name. He moved away from Dogme 95 style and it worked. Photo of Harmony Korine and Samantha Morton as Marilyn Monroe: uk.imdb.com/media/rm3715536384/nm0005101
Samantha Morgan could play anything and anybody. She is brilliant and she goes way deeper then her MM hair and make-up and the most iconic movie dress in the history--the white William Travilla designed 'The Seven Year Itch' costume copy. It is actually helpful that Ms Morton does not even try to look or act like Marilyn Monroe. But the British actress found Monroe's sensibility, and it gives you goose bumps at times, how much Morton, just like Monroe is in the deep search for just one little thing we all seem to look our entire life: love.
The male lead is played by the Mexican actor Diego Luna, a Michael Jackson lookalike whose Spanish accent is as wonderful as the amateur actors in the nursing home, where Michael meets Marilyn. Breathtaking widescreen cinematography from Marcel Zyskind, Michael Winterbottom's long-time collaborator. Definitely to mention is the amazing act and resemblance of Anita Pallenberg (a Swedish actress) to Queen Elizabeth II. Of England.
The clear, sheer and most brilliant 'mantra' that this movie will make you realize, pass on to you, if you are willing to: 'They are all looking for answers, what they don't realize is, that they have found it already. They have found it in one another.'
A wonderful fable, a tale. A Harmony Korine jewel. Highly recommended and not to miss. Bravo!

Mister Lonely