We are always wary of extended ledes, especially those with long interruptions mid-sentence, but Manohla Dargis, in her review of "Blonde," makes art out of this 77-word opening sentence in the New York Times:
Given all the indignities and horrors that Marilyn Monroe endured during her 36 years — her family tragedies, paternal absence, maternal abuse, time in an orphanage, time in foster homes, spells of poverty, unworthy film roles, insults about her intelligence, struggles with mental illness, problems with substance abuse, sexual assault, the slavering attention of insatiable fans — it is a relief that she didn’t have to suffer through the vulgarities of “Blonde,” the latest necrophiliac entertainment to exploit her.
Metacritic pegs this blistering pan at a 20 out of 100, and that's being generous.
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