Thursday, July 19, 2018

Thursday Movie Picks - Bad Parents

Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Join in the fun by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and writing a bit about them!

Growing up, my parents were pretty good, actually. Oh sure, they did some things that annoyed me and my sister, and they were hardly perfect people, but they were loving and caring and supportive and never treated us badly. So I don't really know from bad parents, but the movies sure have given us some monsters, haven't they?

Mommie Dearest (Frank Perry, 1981) Regardless of your feelings on Christina Crawford's memoir that inspired this Faye Dunaway-starrer, I think there's certainly enough evidence over the years that Joan Crawford was.... not a particularly nice person. To think that this transferred over to her parenting isn't much of a stretch, even if Christina's motives are a bit suspect and much of what she describes beggars belief. But regardless of your feelings on this film (I think it's not QUITE the camp masterpiece that I had been led to believe it was), you can't deny that Faye Dunaway gives a tremendous, ferociously committed performance as Joan (or Christina's version of Joan).

Happiness (Todd Solondz, 1998) If you've not seen Happiness, I'm sure as hell not going to spoil it for you, except to say that it's quite brilliant, and that you'll never be able to look at Dylan Baker the same way again after watching it. More or less centering itself around the lives of the three Jordan sisters (Trish, Helen, and Joy) and their lives in a New Jersey suburb, Solondz puts his characters through the ringer, but somehow makes it really funny. Which can be a turn-off when dealing with such icky subjects as pedophilia, adultery, and depression, but it's done incredibly skillfully, and played by an absolutely tremendous cast.

Precious (Lee Daniels, 2009) In the annals of terrible movie mothers, Mary Jones has to rank at or near the top. A vicious predator who occasionally sees her own daughter, Claireece (the "Precious" of the title), as a threat, she is prone to lashing out violently. As long as no one's looking. But when social workers and government employees come around? She's just the nicest, most normal woman you ever did meet. Mo'Nique's justly Oscar-winning performance is astonishing to behold, as is Gabourey Sidibe's Oscar-nominated (and shoulda-been winning) performance as Precious. The film is occasionally harrowing, but thrives on showing how light can seep into even the darkest of places.

13 comments:

  1. I ha=ent seen your last 2 but I want to especially Happiness. We match with Mommie Dearest which is scathing to Joan Crawford but she was that nuts. She had a mental illness that went undiagnosed and suffered from ocd, narcissism and took her power and used it against people she considered threats.

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    1. Yeah, Crawford was CRAZY. I sometimes think you have to be in order to be that kind of larger-than-life movie star, though.

      Happiness is kind of a tough watch, but SO worth it.

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  2. We matched on Mommie Dearest and Happiness! I'm kicking myself for not choosing Precious, that's the perfect pick. And I agree, Gabby should've won that Oscar.

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    1. YAY! It feels like most people I know think Carey Mulligan should have won that year, and I'm like, "...did you SEE Precious?!?" LOL

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  3. I agree that Crawford was probably a dragon of a person and not suited to being responsible for children's welfare but Mommie Dearest reeks of score settling. Faye however goes for broke in her performance and is riveting.

    I haven't seen either of the others though it looks like they will be popular today.

    I used Mommie Dearest before so I couldn't this time but there were many alternates.

    The Manchurian Candidate (1962)-At the Korean War’s conclusion a group of American prisoners return home including Captain Marco (Frank Sinatra) and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) who though thoroughly disliked by the men is hailed by them as a hero for vague reasons. Upon his arrival Raymond is met by his mother Eleanor Iselin (a mesmerizing Angela Lansbury) a political dragon and completely soulless monster who has internecine plans and has had Raymond brainwashed as an unknowing assassin to accomplish them. Marco senses something foul is afoot and tries to intervene before it’s too late.

    The Anniversary (1968)-Though widowed a decade ago Mrs. Taggart (Bette Davis) insists on her three sons and their families commemorating the event at the family mansion where she proceeds to shred their self-worth by taunting them with secrets she has discovered and savagely holds over them to hold them in her thrall. Bette as the one eyed Mrs. Taggart (she has designer eyepatches in colors matching her outfits!) has a whale of a time raising hell and chewing scenery right and left.

    Matilda (1996)-Adaptation of Roald Dahl story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a brilliant young girl plagued by her crude, coarse often vicious father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). On top of that Matilda is also tormented by Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal of her school, a terrifyingly strict bully. When Matilda realizes she has telekinetic powers the tables turn and she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.

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    1. OMG THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE!!!!! How did I not think of that?!? A perfect pick, and one of my favorite films to boot!

      Matilda is likewise a favorite, and I almost used it this week. I was always a big fan because poor little Matilda just wanted to read her books in peace, which is pretty much the way I was as a kid lol.

      I haven't seen The Anniversary, but I sounds like I have to. I am ALWAYS here for Bette Davis chewing scenery!

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  4. We have a match on Precious! Almost picked Mommie Dearest. Yes, Dunaway is amazing! Haven't heard of Happiness, but I'm definitely curious.

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    1. Happiness is one of the classic '90s indie films.

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  5. Precious is the only I have seen and Mary truly is one of the worst mothers ever.

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    1. Truly. I don't know how Mo'Nique was even able to go to such a dark place to play her.

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  6. Precious was so incredibly difficult to watch. My God, that was definitely one of the worst mothers ever on the cinematic screen

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    1. When I saw it in the theater I needed something to eat, so I got popcorn. I regretted it about five minutes in lol.

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  7. If I went for the serious route...Precious would definitely have been my pick too.

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