It’s been three years since Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde” was released on Netflix, and the wounds from its critical reception still feel raw. Where Dominik has been since then—save for the odd Bono doc—remained unclear, though some speculate he may be in a kind of director’s jail.
At the Marrakech Film Festival, Dominik sat down for an expansive conversation that covered his Marilyn Monroe biopic “Blonde,” his collaboration with Brad Pitt, and his next film.
Dominik reflected on the polarizing response to “Blonde,” which starred Ana de Armas as Monroe. The Australian filmmaker said the film’s mixed reviews perplexed him.
I don’t understand why some people didn’t take to the film. I was surprised by the reaction. It’s kind of a horror film, and I guess that’s what people didn’t expect. But I like it.
The moment it premiered at Venice, Dominik’s NC-17 psychodrama about Monroe became the lightning rod of 2022 cinema, attacked for its relentless depiction of Monroe as a victim rather than a feminist icon. Critics accused Dominik of “misogony,” countless think-pieces branded the film “regressive,” and the culture at large seemed angry about a work that refused to treat Monroe within the bubble of female empowerment.
“Blonde” was showered with derision, even earning Worst Picture at the Razzies—a judgment that, in retrospect, looks more like a pile-on than a fair assessment. And yet, amid all the scorn, Ana de Armas’ performance as Monroe somehow got nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, securing more votes than both Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler, who were widely expected to make the lineup. Cries of “racism!” were thrown at the Academy, even though de Armas is Latino.
The Marrakech conversation naturally turned to Dominik’s ongoing collaboration with Pitt, who has starred in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” and “Killing Them Softly,” and also produced “Blonde.” If you’re wondering why Dominik continues to make films, despite his films not making much money…
Brad is the reason I’ve worked. It’s like, I make a film and then they put me in directors jail. And then Brad comes down to the parole board and says, ‘Look, he’s learned his lesson. He’s going to make something a bit more user-friendly this time.’ He protects me. I’m really lucky to have a friendship like that.
Looking ahead, Dominik revealed two different projects as his potential next film: one rooted in “religion or spirituality,” and the other exploring the creative potential of AI as a generative visual tool.
“One is a very raw film that’s not even in focus, and the other is something completely stylized that cannibalizes other images,” he said.
The paradox of “Blonde” clearly still lingers, and while it became one of the most hated films of its year, it also inspired a loyal, passionate following. “I thought it was, yes, messy, but ultimately fascinating.” On this very site, readers voted it the ninth-best film of 2022, and admirers like Pedro Almodovar and Paul Schrader publicly sung its praises. Now, it looks like Brad Pitt has come to the rescue, yet again, to help Dominik make another film.
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