A movie that's hard to classify. It's not strictly a crime movie even though the actions of Senator Joe McCarthy are most definitely illegal and an abuse of his power and privileges. On the other hand, it's not strictly a comedy, a romance or a political debate. What makes the film work is not so much what happens or what is said but the performances of two people – Theresa Russell as Marilyn Monroe and Michael Emil as Albert Einstein. Alas, Tony Curtis is not even a tenth as convincing as Senator McCarthy. Admittedly, unlike the other characters who are firmly grounded in reality, McCarthy's talk and actions are, to say the least, unbelievably bizarre. I can't picture McCarthy going anywhere or doing anything without a police escort. He was a hated man who received well over a thousand threatening letters after he started making headlines. Furthermore, Curtis doesn't look the least little bit like McCarthy. He doesn't act like McCarthy, he doesn't talk like McCarthy and – above all – he never gives the impression that he is McCarthy, whereas Miss Russell comes across as a dead ringer for Marilyn Monroe. She has Marilyn's mannerisms down pat, although she seems admirably careful not to overdo them. Emil is an easily recognizable (though by no means a dead ringer) for Albert Einstein. As for the fourth and least important member of the lead quartet, Gary Busey does not impress as Joe DiMaggio. He doesn't act like Joe, he doesn't talk like Joe, but takes his cue from Curtis and overacts. In public, Joe was always quiet and restrained. He came to life on the field. How he acted in private life, I've no idea, but I'm sure he didn't act like a neurotic loser, which is the way Gary Busey interprets him. Fortunately, the role is not only small but comparatively unimportant. It's Theresa Russell who makes the movie work – aided to some extent by Emil's acting and the time-capsule art direction. Available on an excellent Magna DVD.