Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie Review

Just in case you thought the Great Depression wasn't depressing enough...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 8, 2012

The most extraordinary thing about writer/director Todd Haynes' exceedingly faithful adaptation of James M. Cain's "Mildred Pierce" is that, even seventy years after the novel's debut, Cain's story of a single mother struggling to make her way in an era of economic upheaval is as relevant and timely today as it was in 1941. There are plenty of social and cultural differences, sure, but it's hard to miss the disheartening similarities: dwindling employment, a deteriorating middle class, broken families, widespread uncertainty, no-nonsense single parents, entitled children, endless job hunts, boarded windows, foreclosed houses and failed businesses. Cain and Haynes' early 1930s look an awful lot like 2011 in too many regards, and Mildred Pierce's blood, sweat and tears will no doubt resonate with many a modern mom and down-on-their-luck bread winners. But while Haynes' period production design is outstanding, while Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce's performances are worthy of the Emmy Awards each one already collected, and while HBO's five-episode miniseries certainly has its share of moments, Mildred Pierce struck me as little more than a serviceable period melodrama that unravels more and more as it rolls along.

A rare moment of peace between mother and daughter...

After leaving her unfaithful husband (Brian F. O'Byrne) at the height of the Great Depression, a middle-aged mother named Mildred Pierce (Kate Winslet) fights to maintain her family's lifestyle without sacrificing her middle class comforts. Finding a job that isn't "beneath her," though, proves to be most difficult, as does shielding her two daughters -- Veda (Morgan Turner) and Ray (Quinn McColgan) -- from experiencing any form of financial hardship. The ever-resourceful Mildred finds some measure of success and happiness for a time, opening a restaurant and taking refuge in the arms of a young man named Monty (Guy Pearce). But maintaining the illusion becomes even more difficult as tragedy strikes the Pierce household, a new marriage begins sapping profits from Mildred's business, and Veda emerges as a force to be reckoned with. As the miniseries evolves (or devolves, as it were), Mildred and Veda (eventually played by Evan Rachel Wood) grow further and further apart, until the two are almost completely estranged. A feud erupts, Mildred attempts to reconcile and Veda... well, I suppose it's best not to spoil everything. Let's just say Veda, be she a young girl or a young adult, is the biggest obstacle to fully enjoying Mildred Pierce.

I considered cloaking my disdain for Veda for fear of revealing too much about the miniseries' later episodes, but after sitting here tap tap tapping at my laptop with no detour in sight, I decided a more direct route was in order. So be warned: veiled spoilers lie ahead. To be clear, my distaste for Mildred's older daughter doesn't come down to Turner or Wood's performances, or even Haynes handling of the evil little wretch. No, Cain's Veda was meant to be as cruel and irritating as she is, and Turner, Wood and Haynes rarely deviate from Cain's established course. (Entire conversations have been transplanted, word for word, from Cain's novel.) Haynes is a bit more subtle in his approach, sowing the seeds of Veda's breach with her mother, but it's still impossible (in my estimation) to feel anything but a deep loathing for the girl. In some ways it serves the story, and serves it well; in many ways, though, it makes it that much more nauseating, particularly in the fifth and final installment. Worse, because Veda is a product of Mildred's displacement and wounded ego, Mildred herself becomes a source of aggravation. For all of her successes, for all of her long nights and hard work, Mildred is so incapable of truly adapting to the tough times at hand that, to cut right to it, she deserves much of the nastiness her daughter dishes out. Admire Mildred all you like. Feel as much sympathy for her as you will. Just don't fall in love with her, for God's sake. Haynes and Winslet clearly have affection for the woman, but stripped of her work ethic, sacrifices and semi-soulful struggles, she's as much of a fatally flawed narcissist as her sneering offspring. She makes her bed and she lies in it, and I didn't shed a single tear for her, save a few that I soon regretted. (After a heartbreaking death I assumed would set the emotional and psychological beat for everything that followed, Mildred goes back to work and quickly gets on with her life.)

Not that Mildred Pierce isn't worth a try. Haynes and Mark Friedberg's period production design is exceptional, and the entire miniseries -- from costumes to makeup to props to set construction, decoration and dressing -- oozes authenticity, arguably more so than Boardwalk Empire. Bold statement, I know. Casting is dead on as well. Winslet is magnificent, in spite of my misgivings, and homes in on Mildred's flaws and humanity with striking composure; Pearce nearly steals the show right out from under her, luring and repulsing viewers as effortlessly as Monty lures then repulses Mildred; O'Byrne should have gone home with Pearce's Emmy; Melissa Leo, Hope Davis, James LeGros and Mare Winningham leave their marks; and Wood is a delightful deviant and devious devil, much as I despise every scene she appears in. Truth be told, Mildred Pierce is an excellent miniseries too... for three episodes. Haynes departing two-parter, while zealously faithful to Cain's text, dabbles in soap opera twists and turns, contrived gut punches, and cheap theatrics. What begins as a captivating Depression-era drama soon takes a sharp left with melodramatic flair and "shocking" reveals aplenty. Mildred and Veda's estrangement ceases to matter and, with it, the miniseries. I came away wondering what the point of it all was, a question Haynes answers at length in his audio commentaries and interviews but one whose answer doesn't manifest as clearly on screen. Mildred Pierce was a slog, and not for the reasons a five-hour miniseries usually falls prey to. If you connect with dear Mildred or, more importantly, can stomach Veda and her mind games, Haynes' adaptation will deliver. But if you, like me, fail to connect with the Pierces or their middle class plight, you'll probably find yourself enjoying the scenery but lamenting the journey.

Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot on 16mm, Mildred Pierce isn't designed to turn heads, at least not in high definition. Don't get me wrong: Edward Lachman's Emmy-nominated photography and yellowed newspaper palette are lovely, awash with evocative light and battered Depression-era hues. But neither one results in the most striking 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer HBO has produced. Still, all is precisely as it should be, and well within the bounds of Haynes and Lachman's period aesthetic and intentions. Detail isn't razor sharp, far from it, and fine textures come and go, seemingly as they please. But the image itself isn't at any disadvantage. Edges are clean and as refined as possible, the miniseries' moderate veneer of grain is intact, aliasing and debilitating ringing are nowhere to be found (although some halos creep in), and delineation is quite good. Black levels are nice and deep as well, skintones are warm but lifelike, and contrast and color saturation are both commendable and consistent. Yes, grain spikes now and again, detail in low-lit interiors wavers, and fleeting compression artifacts are visible on a scant few occasions. But so long as you know what a miniseries shot on 16mm is bound to look like, and as long as you can appreciate the artistic merit of Haynes and Lachman's visuals, HBO's video presentation shouldn't disappoint. Set your expectations accordingly.

Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The quality of HBO's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't immediately apparent either. But, given some time, its excellence becomes evident. Dialogue is intelligible, perfectly prioritized and wonderfully grounded in Haynes' Great Depression soundscape. Voices fill believable spaces, be it a small sitting room, a crowded restaurant or a busy street corner, and ambience and interior acoustics are spot on. No pomp, no circumstance. Reserved as they can be, the rear speakers indulge in a variety of tiny touches and faint flourishes, all to the benefit of the already immersive soundfield. And while the LFE channel doesn't make its presence known very often, it still subtly and tactfully supports a number of scenes, lending weight and heft when called upon. And then there's Carter Burwell's score; easily the most engaging element in the mix. Restrained, almost hesitant at times, it doesn't chase after melodramatic pursuits, presiding over the soundstage with an elegance and effortlessness that shouldn't be overlooked. Mildred Pierce's lossless audio mix doesn't deliver the most arresting sonics you'll ever hear, but considering the tone and tenor of the material, it holds its own.

Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries: The Blu-ray edition of Mildred Pierce boasts more supplemental goodness than I expected, starting with two extensive, thoughtful and informative audio commentaries with writer/director Todd Haynes, co-writer Jon Raymond and production designer Mark Friedberg. The trio may not talk their way through all five episodes, but it hardly matters. I'd rather have two engrossing commentaries than five spotty tracks. The miniseries was a labor of love and it comes through in every analysis, anecdote and explanation they provide.
• Inside the Episodes (HD, 26 minutes): Each episode includes an "Inside the Episode" interview with Haynes that delves into the miniseries' characters, story, history, conflicts and themes. Haynes offers plenty of insight into the decisions they made during the script-writing and production phases, and covers a lot of ground in a small amount of time. If it weren't for the pesky (and unavoidable) spoilers, I'd recommend watching the "Inside the Episode" segments before the miniseries itself. I'm guessing it would make the experience of watching Mildred Pierce even richer.
• The Making of Mildred Pierce (HD, 29 minutes): A standard but worthwhile behind-the-scenes documentary that digs into Haynes' adaptation, as well as other aspects of the production. It tops off a humble supplemental package that values quality content and legitimate breadth over longer runtimes and aimless, inconsequential extras.

Mildred Pierce Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It seems those of us who shrug our shoulders at Mildred Pierce are in small company. Flawed or no, the miniseries has earned a fair amount of praise and impressed a number of people. I'm just not one of them. Still, Winslet and her supporting cast deliver strong performances, Haynes' production design is worth its weight in Emmy gold, and the story itself is surprisingly relevant, even some seventy years after Cain first put pen to paper. And HBO's Blu-ray treatment? Excellent as always. Its video transfer is faithful to a 16mm fault, its DTS-HD Master Audio mix is restrained but revealing, and its supplemental package is simple but extremely effective. If you have any love for Mildred Pierce, and you know what to expect visually from a miniseries shot on 16mm, don't hesitate in adding this one to your cart.