Monday, March 13, 2023

Recasting 2012 (supporting): "Mildred Pierce"

I've hoped to see Meryl do a project with Todd Haynes for years. While I suppose it's possible that the opportunity may still come one day, I've looked back on some of Haynes's projects trying to identify one that I think could have realistically included Meryl. Neither of the lead roles in Far from Heaven or Carol would have worked, and as fun as I think it would've been to see her in Cate Blanchett's role in I'm Not There, she simply would've been too old. 

Which brings us to the 2011 HBO limited series, Mildred Pierce (which I'm obviously bumping back a year to 2012). This was sort of around the time that the tide started to really turn in regard to television being more widely accepted as a medium for the biggest screen stars of the day. The scripts were, and often remain, better. Especially for women. Based on the 1941 novel by James M. Cain, and perhaps more famously known for its film adaptation starring Joan Crawford in 1945, the story follows Mildred (Kate Winslet), a newly single mother during the Depression in California. Haynes's adaptation is apparently more faithful to the original novel (I've never read it). In the '45 film the prominent role of Lucy Gessler is eliminated completely--sort of combined with the role of Ida Corwin, Mildred's boss at the diner (the latter portrayed splendidly by Mare Winningham for this production). The HBO iteration brings Lucy back, and it's this character for which I'm imagining inserting Meryl. 

Portrayed by Melissa Leo (the second role of hers in three years I'm selecting), Lucy is Mildred's street-smart, somewhat wisecracking neighbor, who's got about as much deference for Prohibition as she does for men who leave their wives. She's a bit ahead of her time for a woman in the 1930s, and she offers support and encouragement to Mildred as she attempts to provide for herself and her two girls. I have tried in vain to find an extended clip of Leo's performance anywhere on the web. But I came upon this clip of director Todd Haynes breaking down the first of the five episodes in the limited series. In it, we get a little background on Lucy's role and her relationship to Mildred shortly after Mildred's husband leaves her. We get a few snippets of the character onscreen. Start at 1:55. 

I like the line from Lucy about Mildred's elder daughter, Veda, saying about Mildred taking a waitress job, which she considers frightfully beneath her, "Veda wouldn't do it herself but she's willing to let you do it, AND eat the cake." Lucy has identified what Mildred doesn't want to about her daughter: that she's a manipulative, cruel, and scheming snob. There are few characters in recent memory whom I dislike more than that of Veda Pierce in this HBO production. Portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood and Morgan Turner (young Veda), she is a soulless ingrate who selfishly ends up damaging everyone around her. It's a testament to both Wood and Turner's performances that they drew such a strong reaction. 

Mildred Pierce was well-received by critics, primarily for its acting. While some argued the series was too long or missed the opportunity to fully capture the full severity of the mother-daughter relationship when comparing it to the original film, it managed an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall it earned nine Emmy awards, with a staggering SIX of them in acting, including Leo for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. Leo was joined in her category by Wood and Winningham, while Guy Pearce and BrĂ­an F. O'Byrne earned Supporting Actor nods for portraying Mildred's second and first husbands, respectively. 

Mildred Pierce is a fantastic limited series with a character that I think Meryl would've enjoyed. There are plenty of roles smaller than this one that she's done over the years, likely because she believed in the material, the director, or the story's message. While not always critical or commercial successes, such films as Lions for Lambs, Rendition, Dark Matter, Evening, The Giver, and Suffragette come to mind. For the combination of the quality of the script, the director with home she'd get to work, and its exceptional cast, I suspect that there are far worse projects in which Meryl could've seen herself participating.  

7 comments:

  1. Why is Extrapolations no longer listed on Streep’s IMDB like at all?!?- Jamie

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    1. Wow weird. Her name is no longer on the show's page on IMDb either. I don't think it's like she's been cut from the show or something. They showed her in the trailer and it premieres in four days. Still, it's strange.

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    2. Haha that's weird! Maybe she didn't like the mixed reviews and had herself removed! Just kidding. I hope it gets more favourable notices on the coming days as it's covering an important topic, would be great if it's done well.

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  2. From what I've read, the first three episodes featured only her voiceover. But yes, even that, she should be listed in IMDB.

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    1. The AV review of the series says she voices a talking whale and has "a couple of scenes" in person, underused.

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  3. Jeff I've never watched this mini-series but loved the Crawford version which, as you alluded to, apparently deviates a lot from the book (I haven't read it either). Good for Joan getting her much-craved Oscar (although I think she was better in Sudden Fear (a recent discovery which I now love). I will watch this though and I'd forgotten Melissa was even in it!

    Funny you mention "Far From Heaven" and "Carol" (I much prefer its original title: The Price Of Salt). In my imaginary Meryl filmography I have either of these as her 1993 movie, both great productions and interesting roles, each daring in their own way. Unfortunately by the time either was produced Meryl was no longer suitable.

    My own 2012 choice may be somewhat predictable - Mary Todd Lincoln opposite Daniel Day Lewis in Spielberg's "Lincoln". I re-watched it last year and really appreciated it (enjoy might be the wrong descriptor). All the acting was impressive and I felt that Sally Field was excellent in her role, although the "character" is frustrating at times. I felt she was more deserving of awards that season in recognition of all she put into the movie, instead of Anne Hathaway's Fantine. Oh well.

    This would also be a golden opportunity for Meryl to give her own take on a disturbed and perhaps tragically misrepresented woman from history, teaming her with a very talented team in what resulted in a memorable biopic.

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    1. Lincoln was something I definitely considered, but it ultimately was really difficult for me to picture someone other than Sally Field in that part, even Meryl. Especially when I see pictures of the real Mary Todd Lincoln. Excellent role.

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