Feud

The whole series so far is a rewarding surprise. No camp caricature here but a serious, incisive portrayal of two iconic characters. Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon create her characters based on Joan Crawford and Bette Davis with such virtuosity that every new episode allow us to go deeper without ever turning into parody. Their reality is parody enough. But what touches me is that Lange and Sarandon, taking our preconceptions into account, inspire us to look at this two women as human beings. My admiration also to Alfred Molina - Robert Aldrich? Wow! Absolute perfection. On the latest episode "And The Winner Is..." Two extraordinary moments: Geraldine Page (A superb Sarah Paulson) taking Crawford's call and surrendering to her request because "She needs it" or Anne Bancroft (a wonderful Serinda Swan) receiving Crawford in her dressing room. Bancroft and Page understand Crawford's agony even from a distance. Compassion at last. I'm enjoying Feud with all my senses. Thank you Ryan Murphy and everyone involved.

Eight-part cable series from super-producer Ryan Murphy delineates the long-running Hollywood rivalry between Oscar-winning actresses Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, culminating with their teaming for two pictures, 1962's "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" and 1964's "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte", the latter of which was finished without Crawford (Olivia de Havilland stepped in after "producer" Bette ran Joan off). Altogether amazing recreation of a by-gone era...not quite what we now think of as classic Hollywood, but rather a Tinsel Town in decline, feeding off itself and its denizens. Material which might have slipped into caricature becomes observant, acerbic and surprisingly touching here, under the service of several different writers and directors. By showing the human side of an older Crawford (Jessica Lange) and Davis (Susan Sarandon), we see the hidden, hurting heart of Hollywood, a town not known for having or showing sympathy to aging actresses. The first two episodes of the series are entertaining if a bit wobbly--neither Lange nor Sarandon particularly sounds nor resembles the ladies they are portraying, and the supporting cast, too, works to find their footing--but these are nitpicks in what is essentially a loving (and lovingly, meticulously designed) tribute to the Hollywood icons. The padding for length is exposed on occasion, but this duet keeps getting better and better. By the grand finale, both Lange and Sarandon are performing at the top of their craft (initially, one may hope for impersonations, but what we eventually get from the ladies is far richer). In an eerie, evocative dream sequence near the end, all the feelings of pain and loss and triumph and regret come full circle. These women were survivors, battle-scarred veterans, two tough broads--but not so tough that they didn't privately feel the pain of the passing years, and how a possible friendship was trampled over in the need for success and respect.

Hurrah for Ryan Murphy. He avoided the obvious trap of super camp. This human tragedy is told without winks and secret giggles. It is a tragedy no matter how funny. Two mega stars of its day drowning in personal pettiness and fear. Now with the benefit of hindsight and with the help of their daughters memoirs we know that fame and fortune is not the happy place most people imagine. Jessica Lange's Joan filled me with sadness, something Joan, the actress, could never do. Susan Sarandon's Bette made me want to shake her like she did Miriam Hopkins in "Old Acquaintance". Alfred Molina as Robert Aldrich deserves a mention all his own. Brilliant!

And by that I mean, for those who can enjoy scenes longer than 10 seconds at a time... I love Feud for many reasons. All of my life I have been the biggest old Hollywood fan and the book 'The Divine Feud'by Shaun Considine from which this series is taking its cue is a masterpiece in studying two characters at a certain time in Hollywood where glamour and elegance (at least superficially) counted for something. I generally have real problems with biopics when actors look nothing like the people they portray but here I managed to get over that. Sarandon is very close to Davis at times though I would say more of a 1950's Davis than the sixties. As for Lange her physical resemblance is miles away from the real Crawford. And yet. They are both utterly believable and utterly exciting in those roles. Other reviewers suggest this is more of a study in fear and in a way it is. The reason it is so fascinating is because that fear still exists. As women age the screen abandons them. And what once was the hottest ticket in town has no chance in making it in the new world. There is also that sense of not really understanding that new world and fighting against it. Someone once said that the real problem between Crawford and Davis stemmed from the fact that they were so similar. And I guess that was true as well... My advice would be to read the positives and ignore the negatives in those reviews. Some folks are simply not understanding that they need to read between the lines and look at the bigger picture. But everything about Feud is elegant and amazingly well judged. And oh! those credits!!!!!!

Why was I thinking that it couldn't work? Maybe because it never does. But "Bette and Joan" present us with that always welcome exception. The introduction of this two icons has sharpness and shine. Both walking a very tight rope. Joan with desperation, Bette with defiance. It is a terrific treat to see Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon going for the real centers rather than the caricature. Alfred Molina is priceless as Robert Aldrich and Stanley Tucci reinvents Jack Warner to a delightful perfection. The late entrance of Joan/Jessica at the theater where Bette/Susan is playing in The Night Of The Iguana is one of my favorite film moments of the young 2017 season. Now, needles to say, I can't wait for the next chapter.