I'm enjoying the hell out of the series so far, at least the first two episodes. Admirably written, produced and acted, with a couple of exceptions.
As noted, it follows the novel rather than the Curtiz film, and James M. Cain's novel is very detailed and methodical, laying out pretty much everything in great detail, even down to some backroom maneuvering as to Mildred's getting her pies into that diner she's working in. And the sexuality in the novel is pretty damn frank -- there's nothing graphic, but it is made very clear indeed that Mildred is having sexual relationships with guys she's not married to, which must have been startling stuff when the novel was published.
I do wish that James Legros wasn't playing Wally Burgin as a reptilian scumbag with a potbelly and perpetual smirk, which isn't really true to the novel at all. And Brian F. O'Byrne's wandering accent is painful to hear, especially during one big fight scene where you can just see he's having major difficulties in getting the very words out. Weren't there any American actors available? It isn't like O'Byrne is bringing anything particular to the role.
And I'll cop to one big problem with the series, and it is a problem with the story itself. Quite simply -- Mildred's insane devotion to that wretched little c-word Veda, who has to set some kind of standard as the Foulest Creature In Western Literature -- she'd eat Voldemort for breakfast. Yes, of course, it is the point of the story, and yeah, there are people like that, but it crosses the line into unbelievability more than once -- any sensible mother would have slapped that little bitch into next week at the very least after one of those arguments.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
