Hello everyone! Here we are again in the 1930s. We pick up right where we left off (I think), with Mildred curled in bed with Veda. Yes, it is right where we left off. Mildred is still in her summer suit. She gives an alarmed look at Ray’s empty bed, then buries her face in Veda’s hair. Poor lady.
Bert is sitting despondent at the breakfast table. Mildred and Lucy are discussing funeral arrangements. “Alright, baby. Mama’s listenin’,” says Melissa Leo. She says she’ll get Mildred a black dress, and then leaves. “She’s in heaven, Mildred,” says poor Bert, and then he starts weeping, and hag it’s hard to watch men cry. Mildred does the comforting. Now they’re in Ray’s bedroom and she’s laying out her clothes. Tiny socks. This is a bummer. Mildred lays out Ray’s party dress. Veda comes into the room and runs to her father. Then she immediately turns on Mildred. “Mother, where were you?” She was getting laid, Veda!
Funeral business. I think they’re bringing the casket? Yup, they’re bringing the casket. Now they’re at the funeral. Kate Winslet has the frozen face of strong woman anguish, Bert is openly tearful. Then the funeral is over. Mildred hangs up her black dress. Now we’re in a car! It’s a black car, I hope it isn’t a hearse. Can we be done with the funeral? It isn’t a hearse. Mildred is haggling with the chicken man. Now she’s buying vegetables. She goes to the bank and takes thirty dollars and change, which is like, mortgage money in the thirties. Woah damn!
Category: Interviews/Articles
“Mildred Pierce” recap: Episode Three
We got a look at Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller Contagion while at CinemaCon, and the film seems like a mashup of Outbreak and Children of Men — which is a good combination in our book.
During CinemaCon, Warner Bros. showed off bits and pieces of their upcoming slate of films before showcasing their summer blockbusters. Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion hit the screen long enough to give us a sense of exactly what audiences are in for when this film hits theaters October 21st.
The first thoughts that went through my head after Contagion flew by in the midst of an epic sizzle reel of upcoming movies was Outbreak. One of the best viral outbreak films (zombie apocalypses excluded) in recent memory, this footage had that “government-perspective†to it. But it also showcased a Kate Winslet voiceover and some more personal images that suggest a more emotional movie. The best way to describe the footage is the fear and intensity of Outbreak mashed with the globalization and realism of Children of Men.
It was pretty epic, but felt like half a trailer. Hopefully this means a trailer is on its way, but one guarantee is that the film’s scope is huge. It was shot in Hong Kong, Minneapolis, Chicago, China, Dubai, Japan, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia and Malaysia and includes a cast of Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and Gwyneth Paltrow. Given the recent news of Steven Soderbergh’s impending retirement from directing, he clearly isn’t going out quietly.
To recap the footage shown at CinemaCon, it was mostly quick flashes of each of the major characters in their respective elements — Jude Law in a full-body containment suit strutting down a trashed and deserted city street and Matt Damon walking around a house as if something terrifying is right around the corner.
Continue reading “Contagion” footage at CinemaCon is “Outbreak” meets “Children of Men”
Famous “Titanic” sketch fetches $16,000
It was one of the most sensual scenes in Titanic — Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack sketching a naked portrait of Kate Winslet’s Rose in the 1997 blockbuster film.
Now, that drawing has been auctioned off for a reported $16,000.
The famous picture shows Kate’s character, Rose, seductively lying on a couch wearing nothing but the iconic blue diamond necklace.
In the film, DiCaprio’s character, Jack, was the artist, but in real life, it was actually Oscar winning director James Cameron who sketched the image.
Source: Radar Online
Nude Winslet “Titanic” sketch to sell at auction
The illustration of Winslet reclining on a sofa and wearing nothing but a diamond necklace is sketched by Leonardo DiCaprio’s artist character Jack Dawson in the 1997 epic film.
The movie’s director James Cameron was actually responsible for the drawing, which features the initials of DiCaprio’s character and the date April 14, 1912 — the day before the Titanic sank.
Cameron’s artwork is expected to be the star lot at Premiere Props’ memorabilia auction on Saturday and Sunday (02-03 April, 2011).
A spokesperson for the firm says, “This is a wonderful piece of memorabilia (from) one the biggest grossing films of all time.”
Source: Hollywood.com
Thomas Keller taught Adam Sandler.
Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger taught the cast of Tortilla Soup.
Michael White taught Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart.
Celebrity Chefs are adding yet another title to their vast array — cooking teachers to Hollywood stars. With more and more culinary-themed films being produced, this is a lucrative growth area for celebrity chefs.
If you are watching HBO’s miniseries, Mildred Pierce, you’re going to see Tom Colicchio student Kate Winslet as a restaurant owner.
How good was Tom’s teaching?
That seems to depend on what Kate is cooking.
Take a look at what she told David Letterman back in 2009. The big question then: “With an average two wounds per meal, does Kate Winslet belong in the kitchen?†Apparently, she really needed lessons, at least something along the lines of occupational safety and health.
Source: Super Chef
Kate Winslet has revealed that she struggled to portray the breakdown of a relationship in new TV mini-series Mildred Pierce, because the scenes reminded her of splitting from husband Sam Mendes.
The Titanic star announced the end of her seven-year marriage to the American Beauty director last year (10).
“It was tough. There were moments like that one where I was using things from my own life in my performance,” the Daily Express quoted Kate as saying.
“There were days when I’d almost feel comatose.”
But the actress found a delicious distraction during filming in the form of male model Louis Dowler, whom she dated for eight months.
In Mildred Pierce, a remake of the 1945 Joan Crawford film, Winslet plays an American in the Thirties who refuses to be a victim of the economic downturn and works hard to make something of herself.
“I connected with Mildred. I share her survival instinct. My parents didn’t have any money. I know what it’s like to work hard to get by and make something of yourself,” she said.
Source: DNA India
Mildred Pierce is a beautiful five part mini-series based on the 1941 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. Set in Glendale, California in 1931, this story follows a woman who is struggling to balance her new life as a single mother with two children and a new career.
In Part One, we meet Mildred Pierce (Kate Winslet) and Bert Pierce (Brian F. O’Byrne), a couple in a very hostile relationship. Mildred appears to be doing most of the work and taking on most of the sacrifices. When she asks Bert for simple forms of help, it becomes too much and he bails. His affair with a woman named Maggie also might have to do with his sudden exit.
The revelation to Mildred’s two children about their deadbeat father leaving was heartbreaking. Morgan Turner who portrays young Veda Pierce is a remarkably talented actress. At just eleven years old, Turner is clearly well fit for this craft and should not be overlooked in a mini series full of award winning actors and nominees. Young Veda ends up becoming one the most of evil little girls HBO has come across and it is mainly to do with Turner’s fantastic performance.
Another significant moment in part one took place when Mildred was counting change in the market, putting back one item for a more significant item. Mildred’s frustration was subtle yet incredibly painful. But this doesn’t last for too long… or does it? After quite a handful of unsuccessful attempts, Mildred gets a job as a waitress at a local diner with Ida Corwin (Mare Winningham) training her. Not only that, a newly single Mildred takes on a brief but very steamy relationship with friend, Wally Burgan (James LeGros). Mildred’s other friend and seemingly neighborhood gossip, Lucy Gessler (Melissa Leo) seems to be just as thrilled as Mildred. It’s fascinating, the reminder of how women were treated back in the day without a husband in their lives.
Continue reading “Mildred Pierce” miniseries recap & review: Part One & Part Two
