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- HBO
- Mar 27, 2011
- HBO
- Mar 27, 2011
- HBO
- Mar 27, 2011
- HBO
- Mar 27, 2011
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
69
68% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
29% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
69
68% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
29% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
This is an epic portrait of a woman who's monumentally single-minded yet uncomprehending, and watching her rise and fall inspires a sick awe. [4 Apr 2011, p.50]
Is Veda what happens when we shelter children from economic realities? Is she a bitch because her father left? Or simply a bad seed? That we never really find out didn't ruin Mildred Pierce for me. The story, after all, isn't called "Veda Pierce," and what remains is a surprising amount of fun, given that we're talking divorce, Depression and dysfunction.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 42 User Ratings
7.3
74% Positive
31 Ratings
31 Ratings
14% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
12% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 42 User Ratings
7.3
74% Positive
31 Ratings
31 Ratings
14% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
12% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
Film buffs will have a field day analyzing the themes: social climbing, postwar materialism, feminism, lousy parenting, etc. But this is not event TV like "Boardwalk Empire."
If you feel like you would like Mildred Pierce, in other words--if this kind of period piece is catnip to you--then I bet you will love Mildred Pierce. If not--well, at least, you might admire Haynes' enthusiasm.
The performance tends to be monochromatic, and in the end, so is Mildred Pierce. What's especially enjoyable here are the minor performances--especially Pearce as the louche Monty--and the many almost imperceptibly small details, right down to the crockery in a restaurant.
It's a five-part drama that is loyally, unwaveringly true to James M. Cain's 1941 novel and somehow not nearly as satisfying as the 1945 film noir that took shameless liberties with plot, characters and settings.
Over five-plus hours, the miniseries would have had time to explore every nuance. But there are so few that rise above artifice, and so little dramatic action driving the plot, that even an actor as talented as Ms. Winslet can hardly fill the dead spaces.
The most gorgeous Todd Haynes movie yet. Mildred Pierce is on fire most of Parts I and II and all of the scenes feel lived in and authentically rendered with stunning costumes, sets (unlike Boardwalk Empire that feels like a Disneyworld-style replica). The weak spot so far is the unfolding dynamic between Mildred and Veda. It chokes the flow of the story and kind of puts Mildred Pierce in a Time Out. Veda annoys and I understand this is the point, but could it have been done a little less broadly?
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SEASON 1
PLEASE, Mildred!!! you are just too wimpy. Mildred is too sappy and unbelievable. Her husband walks in and just hands her the car keys? sorry, I can;t buy that. What was the sex with Wally about? It has nothing to do with the story. It just dragged on and on. the looking for work episode, too long, too boring. The death sequence strung out for 15 minutes. This could have been pared down to 1 hour, TOPS. It didn't start getting interesting until Monty showed up but I was disappointed that they jumped in bed right away. I would think Mildred had more class then that. Best thing about this was the period stuff, costumes, cars, houses. The second best thing was the previews. This is not good material for a mini series especially when you are competing with Joan Crawford, the ultimate survivor.
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SEASON 1
Show doesn't capture the spirit of the woman, or the times. Trying too hard to be Emmy/Globe material; Kate sleepwalks through the role, bakes a few pies and then--Presto!--opens a spiffy new restaurant in the midst of The Great Depression. She sleeps with Wally The Pig without batting an eyelash but can't bring herself to work as common waitress--all the while maintaining a very comfortable middle-class home without benefit of alimony. This screenplay lacks the snap of the thirties, when everyone had to hustle at top speed to stay alive. For a more honest and satisfying depiction of the real early '30s, I suggest you watch a few classic episodes of "Our Gang" featuring Chubby, Stymie, Jackie Cooper and "Miss Crabtree." You'll get all the authentic costumes you desire, but more importantly, authentic period soul.
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SEASON 1
I am submitting this simply to correct the score that showed up on my review. I meant to give it a 2 which was generous. Default was a 10 and I forgot to change it.
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SEASON 1
