Many are familiar with the story of Mildred Pierce as told in Michael Curtiz’s classic 1945 film starring Joan Crawford in her Oscar winning role. Though that film was based on the 1941 James M. Cain novel, many changes were made to the story before it hit the screen. If you’ve never read the novel, then the 2011 HBO mini-series written and directed by Todd Haynes and starring Kate Winslet as the title character will barely seem like a remake.
Mildred Pierce tells the tale of a mother and her eldest daughter over a span of nine years—from 1931 to 1940 in Glendale, California—taking us through the ups and downs of their tumultuous lives. As the film begins, has sent her cheating husband Bert (Brian F. O’Byrne) packing, leaving her with 11-year-old Veda (Morgan Turner) and seven-year-old Ray (Quinn McColgan) to care for. Though she’s been making cakes for a couple of dollars here and there, she soon finds herself in need of a job. Despite initial misgivings, Mildred eventually takes a job as a waitress. It’s a job she finds degrading, but for Mildred, it’s a stepping stone to bigger things. With a little help from her husband’s former business partner Wally Burgan (James LeGros) –with whom she happens to be enjoying loveless sex—Mildred is set to open up her own restaurant.
On her last day of work as a waitress, Mildred meets Monty Beragon (Guy Pearce) a playboy with movie star good looks. The two spend their first date at a Monty’s beach house, swimming and making passionate love. For Mildred, It seems as though the sex awakens a new self awareness and confidence she’d been lacking. Mildred’s afterglow quickly vanishes though, when she returns home to find Ray is in the hospital with a high fever.
Anyone familiar with the Joan Crawford film knows what’s coming, but that does nothing to lessen the emotional impact of Ray’s death. Distraught, a weeping Mildred crawls into bed with a sleeping Veda. This need to be close to her daughter is just the beginning of what would become an increasingly difficult and complex relationship.
As the younger Veda, Morgan Taylor is asked to deliver some fairly complicated dialogue as she hisses vitriolic and arrogant comments at her mother. Even into her late teens and early twenties (when Evan Rachel Wood takes over and plays the role for all it’s worth), Veda’s insolence becomes the story’s main focus. Wood providing an interesting mix of charm and cunning, it’s easy to see why Mildred not only loves her daughter, but wants to give her daughter everything she never had.
Kate Winslet delivers the kind of performance fans have come to expect from her. Playing Mildred as one-note and miserable as she is here is a pretty thankless task, but Winslet more than meets the challenge. Her fits of anger, and silent reflections land with all the rage and sentiment intended.
While some aspects of Mildred Pierce seem somewhat repetitive, there’s much more to enjoy here than not. The performances are wonderful from top to bottom, and it’s nice to see a literal translation of the James M. Cain novel, rather than a remake of the 1945 classic film.
Shown in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer showcases a nice level of detail and lush colors throughout. The included DVDs showcase a wonderful presentation, but as one might expect, the detail and color isn’t nearly as sharp.
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio offers clear dialogue and full sound on both formats. Obviously, the Blu-ray edition is a cut above its SD counterpart.
English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are included.
The following special features are included on the Blu-ray:
- An audio commentary for episodes three and five in the form of a conversation between Haynes, co-screenwriter Jon Raymond, and production designer Mark Friedberg, reveals detailed screenwriting/adapting, pre-production, visual, and budgetary issues. Fans will want to give this one a listen.
- The Making of Mildred Pierce (30 min.) was shown on HBO and the web ahead of the mini-series’ airing. Featuring interviews with the main cast and crew, they offer some interesting thoughts on the filming despite the featurette’s polished appearance.
- “Inside the Episode” conversation with Todd Haynes (5 min.) screenwriter Robert Polito leads Haynes in these short remarks that give us a closer look at each of the five episodes.
