Review of Mildred Pierce (1945) by Compi24 — 19 Oct 2020

Every now and then, you encounter a film from the studio era that perfectly encapsulates the ins and outs of its source material. Films like "The Maltese Falcon" and "Double Indemnity" may change names or condense scenes, but the overall feel of the original project resounds clearly, regardless of the adaptation process.

With this film, however, it seems as though something may have gotten lost in the translation from page to screen. Struggling mightily in its attempts to balance the more melodramatic elements with an overarching sense of intrigue, it almost feels as though "Mildred Pierce" uses the innate "shininess" of a murder mystery to detract from the inherent tedium of its second act.

Yes, Joan Crawford is fantastic in this, but I simply didn't find her character's financial plights to be of much interest to me. The ending brings a burst of satisfaction as well, but it's fleeting, and as we fade to black, you can't help but feel as though you've been duped into watching characters quibble about money for 100 minutes.