Mommie Dearest

"No…wire…hangers…EVER!" Oscar Wilde once remarked that one would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh at the (protracted) death of Little Nell in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, and--while child abuse is (thankfully) rarely a subject for humor--the same holds true for the trials and tribulations of poor little Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of screen legend Joan Crawford. Although still held in high esteem as a serious dramatic work by some, others (myself included) consider this 1981 adaptation of Crawford's 1978 tell-all memoir to be a camp classic, powered by Faye Dunaway's brilliantly over-the-top portrayal of the obsessive actress/homemaker ("I'm not mad at you! I'm mad at the dirt!") and perfect turns by Mara Hobel and Diana Scarwid as the child and adult Christina, respectively. Disappointingly extra-less, the digital transfer is nevertheless very nice (showcasing the gorgeous art direction) and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack beautifully reproduces Henry Mancini's original score. Definitely recommended. (R. Pitman)