Review of Mommie Dearest (1981) by Luis M — 13 Jan 2009

The worst drama, worst picture and worst actress, yet it's still a viewable film at that. Frank Perry directs a book turned to film about another side of Joan Crawford the public eye has never seen with Oscar winner Faye Dunaway (Network) helming the role and giving a memorable performance that is neither grand nor ghastly.

While a major player in Hollywood during 1939, Joan Crawford takes time from her busy schedule to take care of her adopted daughter Christina Crawford with the help of her lawyer boyfriend Greg Savitt, her secretary Carol Ann and housekeeper Helga. However, with all this help, it seems that the mother of the house isn't satisfied with the perfectionism that she demands by all who surround her especially from her own child.

Faye Dunaway gave an unforgettable performance that can possibly be watched by millions, but was it really great acting or just simply an overkill? Do more people talk about Joan Crawford and what she may/may-not have done or does the majority speak only of Faye Dunaway's "show"? After viewing this film, I thought it was witty more then it was sad. Perhaps the film should have been called [Dunaway Dearest] giving some solid material for the writer of "Mommie Dearest" to convey. But for some strange reason, the movie is great to watch despite how long the film is. It's not boring at all, the story is insanity and the actress is hilarious. Some might even have an oxymoronic thought on the film, but it's just a badly made film that is amazing to look at all the same.

Korean actress Jeong-a Yum was compared to Faye Dunaway's "Mommie Dearest" for her performance in the Korean horror sensation "A tale of two sisters" for her portrayal as an evil stepmother amongst her stepdaughters, only Jeong-a Yum seemed more in control of the role making the other actors stand out in which Faye Dunaway failed to do. Elizabeth Banks will be playing the role of the evil stepmother - i.e, Jeong-a Yum once played - in a remake of A tale of two sisters titled "The Uninvited". If you did happen to love Faye Dunaway's performance despite the negativity, take a look at these films.