Dedications: My four late friends Rory, Stan, Bryan, Jeff - shine on you crazy diamonds, they would have blogged too. Then theres Garry from Brisbane, Franco in Milan, Mike now in S.F. / my '60s-'80s gang: Ned & Joseph in Ireland; in England: Frank, Des, Guy, Clive, Joe & Joe, Ian, Ivan, Nick, David, Les, Stewart, the 3 Michaels / Catriona, Sally, Monica, Jean, Ella, Anne, Candie / and now: Daryl in N.Y., Jerry, John, Colin, Martin and Donal.

Thursday 7 July 2011

Mildred Pierce



The new MILDRED PIERCE is finally unspooling here in the UK. I missed the first episode but simply loved the second one. Of course being 5 hours, Todd Haynes has time to tell the story, from the James M Cain novel, and pile on the period detail with that California in the 30s look: the houses, decor, cars, costumes etc.

Veda is already shaping up nicely, and Kate Winslet again shows she is THE actress of her generation - no comedies about dogs for her! Guy Pearce is also an inspired bit of casting as Monty Beragon. Much as I like the Curtiz film with Joan Crawford and Anne Blyth, Eve Arden, Jack Carson, Zachery Scott and Butteryfly McQueen, it is a souped up version with the murder invented to fit in with the film noir background. This version really catches the desperation of that depression-era with all those women looking for work...


Here's to enjoying the rest of it - perhaps the best period drama since DOWNTON ABBEY?

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