Insignificance

I really like “what if” scenarios. Situations that probably didn't happen, and are really unlikely to ever happen. And while it's pretty improbable that Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein ever met and spent a night talking in a hotel room together, that's exactly what Insignificance (directed by Nicolas Roeg) is all about, at least on a surface level.

Monroe (Theresa Russell), feeling lonely after shooting her famous skirt blowing scene, meets up with Einstein (Michael Emil) in his hotel room. They talk about each other's work (Einstein doesn't even recognize Monroe), and share how they both feel misrepresented to the public. Monroe talks about how she's tired of being famous and treated like an object. Einstein, who's in the middle of being accused by senator Joseph McCarthy (Tony Curtis) of having Soviet ties, is tired of the attention he gets as well. In what is probably the best scene in the film, Monroe proves to Einstein that she is intelligent by demonstrating the Theory of Relativity to him using a bagful of items she brought along.

Before long, Joe DiMaggio (Gary Busey), Monroe's husband at the time, tracks her down in the room and comes to get her. DiMaggio is concerned for his wife's well being, but is frustrated that so much attention gets put onto her. He's obsessed with himself and his baseball career. Monroe can't stand it, and is annoyed with his lack of intelligence (he doesn't recognize Einstein, and thinks that he is a psychiatrist).

 

All of these events let us see these characters interact, but don't necessarily lead anywhere plot-wise. The film is very dialogue driven, and the script is quite good, but for those not keen on or uninterested in the themes of the film might find it boring or even confusing. Throughout the film there are quick little flashbacks (and perhaps flashfowards) that reveal little details about the character's pasts. Some of these can be quite jarring and confusing, but some contribute to the narrative, like getting a glimpse of Monroe and DiMaggio when they were truly in love.

An interesting choice made for the script is that the characters are never referred to by their true names. They are simply known as The Professor, The Actress, The Senator, and The Ballplayer. The reason for this is open to interpretation. My opinion is that the film's central theme deals with fame; the perils that come with it and how the public perceives celebrities versus what they are actually like. The characters are nameless because everyone already knows who they are, but as the film shows, they really don't.

I would recommend this film, but it's not for everyone. I enjoyed it because the script and characters were very well done. This is what drives the film, not the plot. It's smart, sad, and also quite funny. I think it was a fascinating film that demonstrates what “putting the weight of the world on a select few” can do to someone's life.

Grade: A-