Review of Mommie Dearest (1981) by Emily S — 07 Jan 2010

This movie is fantastically odd at times, brutal, but a great performance by Faye Dunaway. It tells the story of the then 40 year old Joan Crawford, single, but desperately craving a little child, and it details the apparent abuse that the children get, including the infamous, "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS" scene. It goes till Ms. Crawford's death in 1977, based on the book written by Christina Crawford. Faye's performance in the movie is without merit, one of the best things I have ever seen that came out in the 80s, it's raw, wanting, you can feel Joan come out of the screen. I enjoyed the film, being a huge Joan Crawford fan for years, I hadn't been able to see this film. Seeing her age, and it gives one of the most important lessons that fame doesn't last forever.

I had read the book a couple years ago, and I didn't like it. It's not because I love Joan, or anything like that, but i've always thought Christina was a spoiled little brat. She expected certain things, and yes, abuse might have happened and if it did, from the bottom of my heart i'm glad she survived, but to me, she expected that she should have gotten money from her mother. I give the movie a 4/5.