Friday, April 23, 2021

Mildred Pierce (1945)

IMDb plot summary: A hard-working mother inches towards disaster as she divorces her husband and starts a successful restaurant business to support her spoiled daughter.
Directed by Michael Curtiz. Starring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, and Eve Arden.

Joan Crawford carries herself here with such an air of determined stability, and whether you like or dislike Mildred as a person, there's always a sense that she's going to find a way to come out ahead. The most interesting character dynamic is definitely between her and her oldest daughter, Veda, who develops a sense of snobbish elitism at a very early age, leaving Mildred constantly playing catch-up to meet her child's expectations. The mystery is fine, but it was watching this relationship that really captivated me throughout the film. It's the only part of Mildred's life that feels out of her control, and, without giving too much away, it is what ultimately contributes most to her downfall. This is a solid film and a good character study of a fascinating woman.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Mildred Pierce > The Beach
Mildred Pierce > The Game
Mildred Pierce < Revengers Tragedy
Mildred Pierce < Muppets Most Wanted
Mildred Pierce > Judas and the Black Messiah
Mildred Pierce > The Babadook
Mildred Pierce < Atonement
Mildred Pierce > The Other Side of Sunday
Mildred Pierce < The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Mildred Pierce < Megamind
Mildred Pierce < Rise of the Guardians
Mildred Pierce > Split
Final spot: #665 out of 3346, or 80%.

No comments: