"Grass Widow" in Mildred Pierce (2011)
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 5:00PM It's time for the Monday Monologue. How many of you caught Mildred Pierce (2011) last night on HBO? Todd Hayne's adaptation of the novel, previously adapted in the 40s, is a five hour affair. We can't say much as to quality yet as we're only ⅓ through (or thereabouts). Let it suffice to say for now that the new version is much different which we're immediately grateful for; no one needs a replacement of the terrific 1945 Joan Crawford noir.
Kate Winslet's Mildred Pierce, broke and forlorn.
My two favorite things about the first hours were the supporting players: Mare Winningham was tart perfection as Ida the head waitress at the diner where Mildred finds work and Melissa Leo adding to her noteworthy run as Mildred's know-it-all neighbor Lucy. Both actressses were deliciously in period; you could shove them right into a 30s movie and gobble them up with delight alongside a slice of Pierce pie.
Early in the first hour, Lucy gets a showcase bit where she schools Mildred on the complexities of dating when your marriage has broken up. She tells Mildred, who is looking anything but red hot with floured hands and apron-covered, that men now view her differently.
A red hot mama. 'Grass widow.' From now on honey you're fast.
Mildred can't believe what she's hearing. But she's definitely curious about her friend's guidance. A former friend of her husband's has invited Mildred out to dinner and she has accepted. Lucy immediately disapproves.
All right see, there's mistake number one. First thing, I wouldn't let that klut buy your dinner. No, I would sit him right down and give him one of those Mildred Pierce specials.
Mildred objects but Lucy shuts her down. Also: Kate may want her scene back, but Melissa's like 'unh-unh baby. This one's mine!' The scene moves from Mildred's to Lucy's house but school is still in session.
As an investment baby. Now shut up and let me talk. Why do you suppose he wants to take you out some place? To show respect? To prove his high regard for you? Malarkey! They take us out for one reason and one reason only. To get a drink. Them. And baby, right there is where I come in. Come with me.
Now this stuff, the gin and the scotch, is right off the boat. But it's legit wherever I got it from. And it's A-One. Now the other stuff, the wine, is from right here in California but it's okay booze so lean on it. That's the trick, baby. You handle the wine right and the high priced stuff will last and last.
Now. What are you serving?
Leo is really marvelous in the scene somehow balancing period flair with humorous cadence and warm pathos. The lines could have easily been read with more bitchiness but the best of Leo's detailing is the compelling mix of maternal condescension with genuine friendly concern. Her heart may be heavy for Mildred but Leo gets that Lucy also enjoys the new dependence; Lucy has knowledge to impart and Mildred needs it.
Mildred, who is still resisting her new desperate reality, claims she's not about to 'serve' anything. Here Leo shows us Lucy's deft hand at reading her friend. She pulls back ever so slightly so as not to wound her pride or impugn her sexual virtue. But Lucy is still going to tell it like it is.
Baby. Baby. You go out with him and he buys you dinner and you get a little tight and you come home and something happens. Of course something will happen ...eventually.
And when it happens it's sin. It's sin because you're a grass widow and fast. And he's all paid up because he bought you dinner. That makes it square. But if you bought his dinner and cooked it for him the way you do and just happened to look cute in that little apron and something just happened to happen. Well, that's just nature -- Old Mother Nature, baby, and we all know she's no bum. And Wally's not paid up. Not even close.
Anyway. Last I heard you were up against it. Play your cards right and within a month he'll be taking you shopping for a divorce.
The final shot-countershot of this scene is priceless. Lucy has laid it all out for Mildred and Mildred is shocked with her bluntness, still trying to process it all.
"Do you really think I want to be kept?" Mildred asks, while we the audience wrap our heads around the retrograde politics.
"Yes." comes Lucy's smug but entirely friendly reply.
HBO, Kate Winslet, Mare Winningham, Melissa Leo, Mildred Pierce, monologue
Reader Comments (15)
Glad you picked this scene the movie became boring in its second half which is strange because the most dramatic developments occur there. Guy Pearce, the hair, the stache, wasn't his normal sexy self.
Winslet through this film exercise proves to be the most important actress of her generation. The older daughter character is a straight cunt. I can't wait for Evan Rachel Wood to bring the whore elements to the party.
An issue that won't be brought up for this adapation is the life of black people during this era. The early scene with her daughters after she gave her husband the boot, made me think about the lives of black people and how horrible that life was, not just for the open racism but the ever present threat of violence. The scene where Mildred visits the up tight bitch played by Hope Davis, I don't think that the general audience (white) thinks about class issues but when I realize black people of this time were putting up with this shit and more -- the movie plays sad for alternative reasons than the filmmakers intended.
i guess it's clear but i am really becoming a fan of Melissa Leo. Frozen River, The Fighter and now this? Damn girl. save some for later.
All of that, not to mention the Oscar speech of my dreams.
And don't forget TREME too, Nathaniel. If you didn't watch the first season on HBO, I suggest you do.
It's brilliant television (it's from the showrunner of 'The Wire') and Melissa Leo, if it weren't for Emmy's shabby backstage politics (like Mariska Hargitay always getting a nomination), would be a shoo-in for an Emmy win.
She's outstanding in an ensemble full of outstanding performances.
But yes I agree with you. She really is blossoming as of late (I could add 'Welcome to the Rileys' too to that resume of yours, she's excellent in that movie even if the movie is not at all that good). Her star keeps rising and she keeps getting interesting work which for a woman of her age doesn't always come along.
Nathaniel: and don't forget Conviction!!! hahahaha jk
OT: The trailer for Midnight in Paris is out. Kathy Bates and Adrien Brody free -- it does feature their names, Cotillard doesn't say a word, like usual she just looks pretty.
I thought I would love this, but instead only merely liked it. The young actress, Morgan Turner, that played the young Veda is one to watch. She was absolutely believable as an unlikeable little snob. In fact, she reminded me a lot of Kirsten Dunst, when she was a young child actor.
Winslet was once again portraying a women that will be brought down by her stupid decisions and poor choices. It's clear that Mildred's spoiling of Veda, and instilling in her outrageous ideas of class and social standing will lead to the road to ruin.
The acting was really good all around, from the young child actors to the supporting cast. And really, crass though Melissa Leo may be, she's an awesome actress. Totally believable as always.
I rather enjoyed the whole thing and found it totally engrossing, although Winslet seemed to be the most familiar element in it. Excellent, sure, but nothing that overtly different. I didn't feel she did anything particularly new or astounding, but then maybe her character takes on different shades as the thing progresses. Her best scene was when Mildred and her husband finally decide to divorce. There was a moment of real anguish that felt absolutely real, perhaps a bit influenced by Winslet's own recent divorce. On the other hand, Leo, Winningham, and whoever the delightful little actress who played Veda was, were all on the money. Veda was especially convincing, in spite of her ridiculous manner of speaking, and more than held her own with Winslet. Can't wait for the older Veda. I think she's the most interesting character.
RE: "Damn girl. save some for later."
IKR? But who doesn't love an actor who gives their all each and every time? They are EARNING their paycheck.
These first two parts of MP weren't amazing but solid enough until next week. I trust Haynes and Co. to really deliver by the end though. I can see Kate already starting to weave her performance together but more is needed to determine just HOW good she might turn out.
Unfortunately my tv is being repaired right now...so I'm missing out! But I did FINALLY see The Fighter and loved it. Leo really is one hell of a chameleon and I hadn't realized how many films she'd been in recently! And Jorge is correct, Treme is an absolute wonder. Leo is great in it but the show is fantastic in its entirety (the first season comes to DVD tomorrow btw).
I loved Mare Winningham as Ida. Tart is the word!
It's funny how a lot of people consider a 'great' performance to be one filled with scene-stealing moments. They are, of course, fun to watch - but don't reach the transcendence that true talents reach through their subtlety - Kate Winslet in Mildred Pierce for example. She really has cemented herself as the best actress of her generation and well on her way to 'best of any generation' status.
Pauley -- well I don't mean to imply that Melissa Leo is a fine actor because she can perform grand theft scene. But i get what you're saying. Kate is and remains, an exceptionally moving actress. But she has the bulk of the work to do here and I've only seen less than 1/2 of her performance so far so i shall save my opinions on her work.
Loved this scene! Call Melissa Leo crazy or whatever you will, but she's a fine actress, and she delivered this "grass widow" scene like a true Oscar winner. And for that scene alone, she'll probably be Emmy-nominated this year too.
The miniseries is great so far, and Kate Winslet's to die for. Can't wait for the next three parts! Evan Rachel Wood looks like she's going to kill it.
young veda was doing an excellent jennifer jason leigh impersonation