Mommie Dearest

PG

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2h 9m

Biography

Drama

List

48%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this biographical film, glamorous yet lonely star Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) takes in two orphans, and at first their unconventional family seems happy. But after Joan's attempts at romantic fulfillment go sour and she is fired from her contract with MGM studios, her callous and abusive behavior towards her daughter Christina (Diana Scarwid) becomes even more pronounced. Christina leaves home and takes her first acting role, only to find her mother's presence still overshadowing her.

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Critics Consensus

Mommie Dearest certainly doesn't lack for conviction, and neither does Faye Dunaway's legendary performance as a wire-wielding monster; unfortunately, the movie is too campy and undisciplined to transcend guilty pleasure.

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helder f

This movie characterizes Joan as having strong narcissistic traits and some level of compulsions. It does a good job characterizing (as they are believable) interactions between a mother and a daughter, in which the mother appears for example envious or competitive in relation to the child or the mother is sadistic; and the child might have a bit difficult temperament. As much as the interactions are believable in their essence, Dunaway's acting is more a caricature than an accurate representation. I don't dislike the caricature; in fact it makes the movie have a sort of child like tone in the way Crawford's portrayed. At the same time, one could say that it makes the movie a bit campy and silly. - despite again the essence of her mind and behavior being well captured. The biggest flaw is not the acting, but the fact that movie is aimless and lacks a perspective point. Whose story is being depicted? What's the aim of this story? It's reasonable for an adult to look back into their childhood and retell their experiences, but that's not enough for a movie. A movie needs a narrative with an aim and with a set perspective.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

David W

Mommie Dearest has earned its cult following for its dramatic performances centered on a truly remarkable, transformative performance by Faye Dunaway. Anyone with an overbearing or abusive mother will find catharsis in the story. I would absolutely watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Jeff M

No one is ever going to confuse MOMMIE DEAREST with high art. And obviously we'll never know the accuracy of the events portrayed. But watching this is one hell of an entertainment. Of course, much of that entertainment is derived from laughing at the over the top acting and the bad soap opera level dialogue - so I guess this is the poster child for so bad it's good cinema. Love her or hate her, Dunaway's performance can accurately be described as ferocious. She truly seems possessed by the spirit of Joan Crawford. Scarwid, as the older Christina, is actively bad, but again in a highly enjoyable way. Their climactic fight scene is pure camp and you might find yourself rewinding it a few times. I must say, watching it as an older and hopefully wiser 46 year old, some of the scenes involving Crawford and young Christina (well played by Mara Hobel) are a bit more disturbing than I remembered. And the film kinda poops out around the 3/4 mark. But for the most part, this is the ultimate I-know-I-shouldn't-keep-watching-but-I-just-can't-help-myself movie extravaganza. And you'll likely clear your closet of any wire hangers immediately after the closing credits.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

steve d

The acting and story didn't work at all.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

liam s

What should be an alarming and distressing tell all movie turns out to be a camp comedy. Let's go!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

JJ

The gay godfather of cinema

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/22

Full Review

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Frank Perry

Director

Faye Dunaway

Joan Crawford

Diana Scarwid

Christina Crawford (adult)

Howard Da Silva

Louis B. Mayer

Mara Hobel

Christina Crawford (child)

Rutanya Alda

Carol Ann

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Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Racing A Child

1:41

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Why Did You Adopt Me?

0:58

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Play Acting

2:13

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Christina Stands Up To Mother

0:32

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Mad At Dirt

0:36

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - No Wire Hangers

2:04

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Christina's Not A Fan

1:17

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Pruning the Garden

1:54

Mommie Dearest: Official Clip - Rodeo Queen

1:30

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Faye Dunaway gives a startling, ferocious performance in Mommie Dearest. It’s deeper than an impersonation; she turns herself into Joan Crawford, all right, but she’s more Faye Dunaway than ever.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

There is nothing to sympathize with but the sets, which get far too many drinks spilled on them.

Dec 7, 2022

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Lacking psychological intelligence or, for that matter, awareness of Hollywood sociology, Mommie Dearest is just a collection of screechy scenes further distanced by convictionless direction.

Dec 11, 2018

Full Review

Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

I think Dunaway’s actually pretty great in this, going for broke with a baroquely stylized turn a galaxy away from the low-key naturalism so fashionable in boring biopics intending to bring icons down to earth.

May 7, 2022

Full Review

Gena Radcliffe

The Spool

[Faye Dunaway's] balls to the wall performance...gave color, flair and a heck of a lot of juice to what's normally a safe to the point of boring film genre.

Sep 20, 2021

Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

... Mommie Dearest is not a film I'm likely ever to revisit; however, I can recognize and acknowledge how it resonates with so many who can dissociate the reality from the characters.

Sep 14, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this biographical film, glamorous yet lonely star Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) takes in two orphans, and at first their unconventional family seems happy. But after Joan's attempts at romantic fulfillment go sour and she is fired from her contract with MGM studios, her callous and abusive behavior towards her daughter Christina (Diana Scarwid) becomes even more pronounced. Christina leaves home and takes her first acting role, only to find her mother's presence still overshadowing her.

Director: Frank Perry
Producer: David Koontz, Terence O'Neill
Screenwriter: Christina Crawford, Robert Getchell, Tracy Hotchner, Frank Perry, Frank Yablans
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1), 35mm

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