The new "Mildred Pierce"

[gingercrush]

Hmm I've been meaning to actually post in this thread for a while. I'm looking forward to this when it eventually comes to New Zealand (well I'm presuming we'll get it here).

I just can't believe some people in this thread don't believe the Joan Crawford version is a classic. In my mind it's an absolute classic. Forget the story itself though I think they did an amazing job on it. The noir characteristics are what makes it a classic. In my opinion its one of the most defining noir films.

[Rex]

I don't have HBO, so I am missing it.
Time said that Winslet's performance was far better than Crawford's. I could believe that - I thought Joan was actually much, much better in Humoresque.

[Satellitegirl]

I watched it last night, and so far I am bouncing between bored, and wanting to smack Veda upside the head. Overall it's ok, but it's moving very slow.

[LuckyCharm]

I didn't get to sit down and watch it last night. It was mostly playing in the background while I dealt with multiple household disasters. What I saw I wouldn't call boring, but definitely slow-paced. I think it will get much more intense in the next installment when Veda will be older and raising even more hell. I thought Winslet was fantastic (but I always do.)

[Wyliefan]

Coincidentally (or not?), TCM ran the original this weekend. :) I agree with gingercrush that it's a classic. It may not slavishly follow the book -- or even closely follow the book -- but the story keeps you watching and I think the performances hold up very well. Maybe not Zachary Scott's -- he reminds me of a line from MST3K: "Hi, I'm Bob Evil!" -- but Crawford's, Carson's, Arden's, and Blyth's do.

And it's not like James M. Cain was one of the great masters of literature anyway . . . :shuffle:

Still, I do want to check out the new one when I can.

[olympic]

Watched it.

Thought it was probably truer to the novel. I guess the fact that it is a mini-series means that it will delve more into the complications of the characters than the movie could.

[screech]

I enjoyed it.

It's not exciting - much more character based than exciting, but I found myself sucked in. And Kate Winslet is doing a great job, especially since she's in every single scene.

I'm excited for the later episodes to see what Evan Rachel Wood does with Veda. I've heard good things about her performance.

And I think it'll be safe to say that Kate will get the Emmy this year. That will leave her with just a Tony in order to become one of the 11 EGOT holders... (yes, she has a Grammy)

[BigB08822]

What's funny is that Kate won a Grammy FIRST. LOL! You would think that would be the last and hardest award for her to get. I think she will win many more Oscars. I think she has the Emmy absolutely locked up. If she ever wants a Tony she will get it, she has the talent, for sure.

[Rex]

I wonder what made Winslet decide to do a cable miniseries.

[rfisher]

Because those HBO miniseries almost always win awards and HBO pays :bribe: to the actors.

[olympic]

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/20/mommie-dearest-and-her-devil-daughter.html

Newsweek seems to love it! Actually, I get the impression that they prefer Kate to Joan [it's a shame Joan isn't alive for us to see a reaction :shuffle:]

They write some on the 1945 film, how the production code at the time didn't allow for certain scenes that we will see in this miniseries

[Wyliefan]

The murder plot in the original was "ridiculous"? Eh, eye of the beholder, I guess. I think it works great.

[Rex]

Did they do the "my mother, a WAITRESS" scene :lol:? That was my favorite part of the original.

[Satellitegirl]

Yep they did.

[Grannyfan]

I enjoyed it, but I miss Jack Carson and Eve Arden. This new Wally just doesn't cut it for me.