Blonde has divided critics in early reviews, who have described it as both “miserabilist” and “fascinating”.Directed by Andrew Dominik and based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe and “blurs the lines of fact and fiction” in a reimagining of her life. The film also stars Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale and Julianne Nicholson.Blonde has attracted controversy after it received a restrictive NC-17 rating in the US, which recommends that no-one under the age of 18 should see the biopic.Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday (September 8), where the film was met with a reported 14-minute standing ovation, reviews have now been released online – which paint a more controversial reception.In a positive review on Deadline, de Armas’ performance is described as “extraordinary”, “ferociously emotional” and the reason “the film works at all”.