This documentary, based on the interview tapes and memories of a British investigative journalist, does not cover much new ground, but if anything, it corroborates the widely held opinion that she died of an accidental or deliberate overdose on sleeping pills, and that there was no real criminal activity involved. There has been so much hush-hush about her death I don't think we will ever get to know the complete truth. The film documents much of her life, from her childhood and arrival in Hollywood, while spending more than one third on the events of her final days. Few of the interviews are truly enlightening, and the structure (listening to the tapes the journalist recorded) becomes grating and monotonous after a while. Having actors impersonate the interviewees doesn't do much to relieve us of the monotony. Some excerpts are interesting and fresh, but not enough of them contain anything revelatory or even intriguing. So-so documentary for newbies on MM's life and death.
