First off, I give this a 5 because of the great depiction of the era, the costuming, sets, etc. And because it wasn't awful for all five hours...
However, I'm sorry, but this mini-series was BAD. Kate Winslet is a wonderful actress, and so is Evan Rachel Wood and Melissa Leo and Mare Winningham, but this series just fails to really capture the spark that it needed. Leo and Winningham, in supporting roles, fared better than Winslet, primarily because their characters were portrayed as likable. I don't know what series some of these reviewers were watching, but I found Winslet's Mildred Pierce irrational and irritating, lacking that redeeming quality where you root for her as the heroine/protagonist. I know the story is supposed to be about the relationship with Veda, but it just plays out like a soap opera, rather than something that should be coming from HBO.
I also felt the direction was sub-par. The actors were there, and I believe could have excelled in their parts, but the awful and unbearably slow pace of the film simply overshadowed any possibility of success.
And I'm sorry, but Veda could have attempted to murder her mother, and in this version, Mildred would have ended up apologizing. In one of the final scenes, where Mildred finds Veda and Monty, I thought, this is the reaction? Chasing her through the house, and even that felt contrived and half-hearted. And then constantly seeking her approval, by inviting her to the wedding to Bert (or whatever that was?) only to sort of stick up for herself as Veda's cab pulls away, so she can jet to NYC and meet Monty? Mildred doesn't feel empowered or heroic - she feels pathetic and sad, and not in a moving or good way.
All in all, not really worth the investment of time, and certainly not up to the standards I expect from HBO.
However, I'm sorry, but this mini-series was BAD. Kate Winslet is a wonderful actress, and so is Evan Rachel Wood and Melissa Leo and Mare Winningham, but this series just fails to really capture the spark that it needed. Leo and Winningham, in supporting roles, fared better than Winslet, primarily because their characters were portrayed as likable. I don't know what series some of these reviewers were watching, but I found Winslet's Mildred Pierce irrational and irritating, lacking that redeeming quality where you root for her as the heroine/protagonist. I know the story is supposed to be about the relationship with Veda, but it just plays out like a soap opera, rather than something that should be coming from HBO.
I also felt the direction was sub-par. The actors were there, and I believe could have excelled in their parts, but the awful and unbearably slow pace of the film simply overshadowed any possibility of success.
And I'm sorry, but Veda could have attempted to murder her mother, and in this version, Mildred would have ended up apologizing. In one of the final scenes, where Mildred finds Veda and Monty, I thought, this is the reaction? Chasing her through the house, and even that felt contrived and half-hearted. And then constantly seeking her approval, by inviting her to the wedding to Bert (or whatever that was?) only to sort of stick up for herself as Veda's cab pulls away, so she can jet to NYC and meet Monty? Mildred doesn't feel empowered or heroic - she feels pathetic and sad, and not in a moving or good way.
All in all, not really worth the investment of time, and certainly not up to the standards I expect from HBO.
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