Dakota Johnson is unrecognizable as Marilyn Monroe in new movie, but it's not a big deal.

Recently, a new short film about the iconic Marilyn Monroe has premiered at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. Titled "Flesh Impact," the film features a star-studded cast including Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn. One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is the portrayal of Monroe at the age of 100, with Johnson donning a platinum blonde wig and beauty spot to play the star in her final days.

Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, the 22-minute long film aims to offer insight into the woman behind the glamorous persona. It also explores different stages of her life, shedding light on the real person behind the beauty. The film also stars Gyllenhaal's husband and frequent collaborator, Peter Sarsgaard, as well as Sepideh Moafi from "The Pitts." Even before its premiere, "Flesh Impact" has been making headlines with its first-look image released in July.

While some people didn't recognize Johnson in her transformation, others criticized it for not being convincing enough. However, Gyllenhaal has since revealed that she had experimented with using AI to map Monroe's face onto Johnson's. Burstyn, who plays the centenarian Monroe, also shared her real-life encounter with the Hollywood legend.

But what about the film itself? Here's my honest review of "Flesh Impact." First and foremost, it's important to mention that the film was actually commissioned and presented by car brand Genesis as a way to celebrate Monroe's centenary. In fact, the film opens with Burstyn's Monroe driving a sleek electric SUV from the company, giving us a glimpse of what the star would have been like in 2026.

Despite the obvious product placement, there's a certain fascination in seeing a star from the past alongside modern technology. Burstyn's portrayal of an imagined version of Monroe at 100 is truly captivating. She enters a theatre to audition for a role, unrecognizable with her cane and cloak of old age.

Using the name "Jane Doe," she introduces herself as Norma and mentions her previous surnames such as DiMaggio and Miller. Despite her age, she still has a piece prepared for a 25-year-old character. The director and his associate initially refuse to let her audition, but eventually relent, albeit in a cruel manner.

Cue Burstyn's meandering monologue that takes us back to different points in Monroe's life. We see Johnson appearing as Monroe, either striding through the 20th Century Fox backlot in a negligee or offering her take on Blanche DuBois from "A Streetcar Named Desire" in the bathtub. While Johnson may not look or sound exactly like Monroe, she captures her essence and vulnerability.

But let's be honest, nothing beats seeing Burstyn at the age Monroe never made it to, especially for a classic Hollywood nerd like me. I would have gladly watched a feature-length version for a more immersive experience. At the Venice Film Festival on Monday, Burstyn shared her real-life encounter with Monroe at a nightclub.

She also explained how this encounter informed her portrayal in the film. Burstyn's favorite story was about how Monroe's whole persona was a construction and not who she really was. She also trained under the same acting coach as Monroe and shared the same masseur, who had some interesting stories to tell.

Meanwhile, Gyllenhaal revealed that the commissioners of the film had asked her to use AI to map Monroe's face onto Johnson's. Although she initially experimented with it, she eventually decided to abandon the idea as it didn't capture the essence of the film. Instead, she relied on Johnson's performance, which she found to be more human and alive.

In conclusion, "Flesh Impact" is a thought-provoking short film that offers a unique perspective on the iconic Marilyn Monroe. Burstyn and Johnson deliver powerful performances, and Gyllenhaal's direction keeps the audience engaged throughout. Although it may have started as an advert, the film stands on its own as a tribute to one of Hollywood's biggest legends.

I highly recommend giving it a watch.