Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Micitype Pretty Good

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

jc-osms For me the shadow of Joan Crawford looms large over this re-telling of James M Cain's novel, her Oscar-winning performance in Michael Curtiz's 1946 film noir re-established her career from "has-been" status. Kate Winslet's an Oscar winner too but these are still large shoes to fill and I wasn't completely convinced she did so after 5 hour-long episodes of Hollywood Golden Age recreation-specialist Todd Haynes recent production. She does her American accent well and certainly enters whole-heartedly into the part as the constantly striving Mildred, abandoned by her husband with two young children to bring up who'll stop and stoop at nothing to do the best for her kids, even if one of those kids turns out be the devil's daughter in terms of selfishness, disrespect and outright cruelty and vindictiveness. Somehow though, Winslet just fails to really trawl the depths of despair and desperation her character warrants plus is it just me or does she appear a bit too young for the part, indeed she seems to age very little as the drama proceeds.One also suspects the action unfolds a bit slower on the screen than it did in the original pulp-fiction novel. This production is over three times the length of the original movie and it does feel like it sometimes. I did appreciate that director Haynes stayed true to the book's original ending although it made me look a little foolish to my wife, to whom I'd confidently promised a big dramatic finish like I'd seen in the old movie.As you'd expect with this director, the period of 30's LA is reproduced beautifully both inside and outside and he gets good quality acting from the actors supporting Winslet. I would say though that the replacement of young Veda by older Veda is a bit sudden with little resemblance between the two actors. Of the two of them, I was more impressed by the younger version, the actress in question may not thank me for saying this but to my way of thinking, she has a naturally sardonic, even cruel visage. I also liked the actor playing husband number one and three while Guy Pierce revels in the flashy role of Monty Berragan, the penniless dandy living on old glories and a fading charm.In conclusion then, despite the question mark in my mind over Winslet's casting, this was still a compulsive soap-opera come thriller helped by stylish direction, impressive production values and good ensemble acting.

dollylambie-851-398942 I finally got around to watching this mini-series after having it sitting on my DVR since it came out. Many reviewers thought this series too long, even boring at times. But I really enjoyed it, and the extra length of presentation, I thought, really allowed for more in-depth character development and details of the story. I knocked off two stars from my review for two reasons. First reason, the actors.I thought Kate Winslet was every bit as good as Joan Crawford in the 1945 movie. Guy Pearce was far better than Zachary Scott in the 1945 movie. But actors who were far superior in the 1945 version were Ann Blyth as Veda, Jack Carson as Wally, and Eve Arden as Ida. Far, far better. Evan Rachel Wood came nowhere close to Ann Blyth's great performance. The second reason I took off a star was the ending. The 1945 movie was far better. It was just wonderful to see Veda not getting what she wanted and with no one able to come to her rescue. I have the novel, but have not read it yet, so I will have to see how it really ends. One more comment is about the sex scenes and nudity. I thought the ones involving Mildred were very tastefully done, and frankly quite hot at times. It was refreshing not to see her in the sexiest underwear and perfect skinny figure. Just blah white bras and slips, far more realistic. The one nudity scene which I could have done without was that of Veda parading around after she bed Monty. I felt it totally unnecessary, pointless, and even embarrassing - and I'm no prude. I felt all the episodes worth watching and I would watch again.

Joe Day I remember Todd Haynes when he was making terrible "one-reelers" and so I'm not surprised he hasn't gotten further than this mess. OK. I'm a guy and so the Lifetime Television for Women stuff doesn't really grab me anyway. And that's what this was. Six hours dragged out when the whole thing could have been over in two. I didn't care for one single character. But the odd thing is, and maybe this is where Mr. Haynes exemplifies the "new" thinking, the bad guys come out as good and the good guys as just plain stupid. That young Veda for example was allowed to behave the way she did was to me unbelievable and all because she had somehow been spoiled. The father was a complete milquetoast who supposedly ran off to be with some other woman (and who could blame him)but can't seem to make up his mind if he'd rather be at home with Mildred or not. Mildred, for all her pride, still sleeps with every man she meets on the first date and seems to fall into the whole restaurateur business way too easily. And the opera singing. Really? And in the end it seems as if Veda triumphed. Unbelievable. Don't bother to watch this one. Even if you are sick in bed on a rainy day.

Richard Harris (Norway1) I picked this up as a "blind buy" because I love all the actors involved and enjoy a good period picture. This seemed right up my alley. Hell no. The story petered along at molasses pace with the final hour being the most painful to watch. The story really went nowhere. Thinking this is about Mildred Pierce is only half true - and the last two parts are mainly about her oldest daughter, payed by Even Rachel Wood.Guy Pearce is terrific. Winslet uses the same accent she mastered in Revolutionary Road but this character is much more boring. If we are supposed to be rooting for Mildred, I can't figure out why. All I wanted was for something interesting to happen at some point in the film. The most exciting event takes place in the last 10 minutes and then it stops just short of making it interesting. I would recommend watching The Reader or Revolutionary Road instead of this. Or for Guy Pearce, watch the Proposition or Memento. Evan Rachel Wood was great in Thirteen, and okay in the Wrestler. Not so impressive in anything else.Sorry. I really wanted to like this but have to be honest. It really sucked.