TV, the new film?

I watched the first episode of Todd Haynes’ HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce and I was not disappointed. After reading a few reviews describing it as ‘plodding’ and ‘nothing really happens’ I was a little worried but I was captivated throughout. As usual Kate Winslet brilliantly portrays the restrained emotional turmoil of the titular character in her beautiful face and we are introduced to Mildred’s two daughters, Veda and Ray, and their current monetary predicament as Mildred’s husband leaves them. We see Mildred struggle with her class issues and eventually she degrades herself by taking a job as a waitress. This is a very human Mildred Pierce and it is shot beautifully; the opening scene objectifying a lemon meringue pie and lingering on the detail and pride Mildred takes in her baking. The colours depict the 1930s Depression era perfectly and the attention to detail is what we have come to expect from these lavish television productions such as the preceding Boardwalk Empire, which Martin Scorsese produced and he also directed the first episode.
With David Fincher’s House of Cards and Michael Mann’s Luck coming soon it seems TV is the next step for successful Hollywood directors. Due to less studio constraints and more time to explore storylines in detail it’s not surprising really and in recent years television really has soared to new heights in terms of budgets and production values, Hollywood stars, epic storylines and that all important narrative hook that leaves the viewer begging for more. It seems television is at its peak and I am loving it. With the new series of Mad Men out later this year as well as new series’ of Dexter, Boardwalk Empire and Fringe to look forward to I find myself more excited by these than most films coming out this year. The Americans do certainly know how to make a great television series but let’s not forget that we Brits can do it to. Series’ like Luther and The Shadow Line prove that the BBC can produce dark, original and captivating television. More please.