Kate Winslet Eyes 'Mildred Pierce' Miniseries

In what could be an absolute perfect fit for everyone involved, HBO is the lead horse in a race to bring the 1940s film Mildred Pierce to television as a miniseries, with Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven) directing and Kate Winslet in the starring role. The first filmed version of James M. Cain's novel won Joan Crawford a Best Actress Oscar, although she's probably better remembered for skipping the awards and inviting the press into her bedroom for her acceptance speech than she would be for the film itself. The story was a little ahead of its time, or at least, its acceptance was. There weren't a lot of movies about independent women in 1945, and fewer of those about a recent divorcee/single mother who tries breaking into the business world and becomes wrapped up in a relationship with a man who later becomes involved with her older daughter. But wait, there's more: The daughter also faked a pregnancy, which was an incredibly taboo subject 60 years ago. Clearly, despite the melodramatic turns it takes, Mildred Pierce offers a lot of opportunities for a great actress like Winslet. I believe this move would be unprecedented, though: Has a reigning Best Actress winner taken a job in a TV movie next? But of course, HBO hardly counts as TV movies. Although they're not 100%, many of the networks films and miniseries are as good as the best theatrical releases in a given year. Just think of what a pared down John Adams could have done in the awards races last year. Sure makes that Best Actor race more interesting. If it happens the way it's shaping up, Winslet and an Oscar-nominated writer-director teaming up speaks to the perceived quality of the HBO Films brand, and this certainly would hurt its reputation.

Comments

[Zach]

Actually, this strikes me as a really interesting project - Michael Curtiz's hack directing job (alright, so he was a fairly able hack, but a hack nonetheless) kind of spoils the whole thing. Todd Haynes and Kate Winslet definitely makes for an interesting 1-2 punch. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[pt hnry]

The genuinely talented Winslet baffles us with her stale and lackluster choice of projects.

Our television and movie establishments now awesomely soldout and stale.

HOLLYWOOD = DEADWOOD

Amen