Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mildred Pierce (2011)

Mildred Pierce is a five-part HBO mini-series adaptation of James M. Cain's 1941 novel. It is directed by the only Todd Hayes (Far from Heaven, I'm Not There) starring Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood. It is the second adaptation of the novel after the 1945 film that stars Joan Crawford.

Mildred Pierce depicts an overprotective, self-sacrificing mother during the Great Depression who after her cheating husband leaves her, proves she can be independent and successful by opening up her own restaurant. 

I am a huge Kate Winslet fan so anything that she's in, i am down for! so, when she won best actress in a mini-series/tv movie, i knew i had to check it out.  Joan Crawford eventually nabbed her first Oscar for her portrayal of Mildred Pierce as well.  As winslet's fan, i am obviously biased and support anything she does. when she won, i didnt think anything of it and it's the same feeling that one gets when they see either someone of winslet's stature like meryl streep win awards time and time again which is, they are just good actors and nothing more.  boy, i was wrong. after mindlessly watching mildred pierce without any previous knowledge, winslet's slowly revealed a completely different character than i've never seen her portray and i was blown away. Her contradictory persona of a woman who is strong-willed but passive is surely a complex character only Winslett could master (biased again.) Aside of Winslet and Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood portrayed Pierce's monstrous daughter, Veda. you know an actor is doing their job when you want to just murder their character. this mini-series is certainly something to watch. i definitely have to check out the 1945's original considering there are minor differences, but a intense story that certainly must be witnessed! A