To really appreciate this masterpiece of television cinema, the first step is to outgrow the original starring Ms. Crawford.
Initially as I started watching the HBO version I tried to compare the scenes with the original, as I have seen it several times over the years.
It's easy to compare the HBO's Wally to the truly wonderful Jack Carson, and just for comparison sake, Carson takes the cake. No challenge.
How about Ms. Crawford's Pierce vs Winslet's? Crawford of course would win for her screen presence, and the magnitude of her personality. She would also grab the public's vote because she plays a heroine. Ms. Winslet's Mildred has a persona of a victim and comes across as too ordinary, compare with the superhuman presence of Crawford. So, I understand why a lot of us would automatically defer to the original and try to ignore the new.
And what about Veda, how would I compare Evan Rachael's to Ann Blyth's wonderful 1940's performance. In many ways I'd nod the hat to Ms. Blyth, because the movie itself is so immersing.
Judging solely based on the performances of the original characters of the 1940's version, the luscious black and white cinematography, and Ms. Crawford, it would be easy to dismiss the 2011 version.
However if you look at the 2011 version as a standalone piece of grownup film making and the viewer is indeed a grownup who appreciates subtleties, this is one of the best modern movies ever made for television.
Many complain about its pace, they whine that this new version doesn't have a bang of an ending, they complain that Winslet is not a heroine, and how is it possible for Veda to become so great as a singer in such a short time. However, the core reason for people's dissatisfaction with the HBO version is because the original was so good, and to be honest so manipulative. The original twisted the novel to maintain and in many ways revive Crawford's superstar status.
The HBO version is an ode to masterful, grownup film making. I am simply blown away that we can still make such amazingly powerful cinema in the US.
A huge thanks for those involved in this truly inspiring movie. Thanks for not cheapening it with juvenile gun fires and cheap dialog. Thanks for not catering to the lowest common denominator.
This is a heck of a grown up movie, if you can just see it for what it is and not as a remake.
Initially as I started watching the HBO version I tried to compare the scenes with the original, as I have seen it several times over the years.
It's easy to compare the HBO's Wally to the truly wonderful Jack Carson, and just for comparison sake, Carson takes the cake. No challenge.
How about Ms. Crawford's Pierce vs Winslet's? Crawford of course would win for her screen presence, and the magnitude of her personality. She would also grab the public's vote because she plays a heroine. Ms. Winslet's Mildred has a persona of a victim and comes across as too ordinary, compare with the superhuman presence of Crawford. So, I understand why a lot of us would automatically defer to the original and try to ignore the new.
And what about Veda, how would I compare Evan Rachael's to Ann Blyth's wonderful 1940's performance. In many ways I'd nod the hat to Ms. Blyth, because the movie itself is so immersing.
Judging solely based on the performances of the original characters of the 1940's version, the luscious black and white cinematography, and Ms. Crawford, it would be easy to dismiss the 2011 version.
However if you look at the 2011 version as a standalone piece of grownup film making and the viewer is indeed a grownup who appreciates subtleties, this is one of the best modern movies ever made for television.
Many complain about its pace, they whine that this new version doesn't have a bang of an ending, they complain that Winslet is not a heroine, and how is it possible for Veda to become so great as a singer in such a short time. However, the core reason for people's dissatisfaction with the HBO version is because the original was so good, and to be honest so manipulative. The original twisted the novel to maintain and in many ways revive Crawford's superstar status.
The HBO version is an ode to masterful, grownup film making. I am simply blown away that we can still make such amazingly powerful cinema in the US.
A huge thanks for those involved in this truly inspiring movie. Thanks for not cheapening it with juvenile gun fires and cheap dialog. Thanks for not catering to the lowest common denominator.
This is a heck of a grown up movie, if you can just see it for what it is and not as a remake.