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Reviews
Mildred Pierce (2011)
Todd Haynes once again creates a masterpiece
Todd Haynes has established himself as a truly iconic director. From his works like Poison and Far from Heaven, Haynes is establishing a track record of remarkable period pieces, rivaling that of Kubric. His attention to detail, use of colors, and selection of music helps create the framework. Add to this exceptional performances by Kate Winslet, Guy Pierce, Mellisa Leo and Evan Rachel Wood, and you end up with a truly amazing work. Staying true to the original source material, Haynes has crafted a film that makes even the hardest soul enjoy the pain and wonderful cruelty of life. I am not sure how this story, in all its rich detail, fabric and nuance could have been compressed into a feature length film. As wonderful as Joan Crawford's performance in the original version was, this new adaptation takes James Cain's amazingly dark and deep story of depression era life to a new level that I think he would be proud to be part of.
Hayne's sense of detail, imagery, and mood reflect a deep and powerful understanding of period film making that most directors could only hope to accomplish. I hope that he continues down this path of making wonderful period pieces that touch their audience in a most profound and powerful way.
Watch this film, and then watch the Crawford original, if you haven't already seen it. You will see that each has it unique qualities, but I think you will see that Hayne's has crafted a more subtle while at the same time intense recreation.