FX's "FEUD: Bette and Joan" starring JESSICA LANGE and SUSAN SARANDON (March 5th @ 10PM)

[henrikegerman]

Sarandon understandably pissed a lot of people off during the election. 

But enough to miss this?  I doubt it.

[Blue_Lotus]

henrikegerman said: "Sarandon understandably pissed a lot of people off during the election. 

But enough to miss this?  I doubt it.

 

I was really on the fence about seeing this because of Susan Sarandon, but I'll put up with her presence only because Jessica Lange and her co-stars are more than enough reason for me to watch this.

Susan Sarandon needs to thank her ex-husband Chris Sarandon for her career. Had she not met him she'd probably be in Jersey now working at Home Depot. 

[carnzee]

I am more excited about this than anything else on TV right now, but Ryan Murphy always lets me down. I don't think I have been able to watch anything of his all the way through. 

He has great ideas, but I think so much of what he does is in bad taste. 

The trailer has me a little worried because I don't hear any attempt by sarandon to do Bette's clipped mid Atlantic accent. I understand not wanting to come off like a drag queen doing an impression, but when you are playing someone with perhaps the most distinctive voice of any actor... 

[henrikegerman]

carnzee said: "The trailer has me a little worried because I don't hear any attempt by sarandon to do Bette's clipped mid Atlantic accent. I understand not wanting to come off like a drag queen doing an impression, but when you are playing someone with perhaps the most distinctive voice of any actor... "

I agree.  Also, Sarandon looks a hell of a lot prettier, healthier and younger than Davis did in 1960.

 

[Petralicious]

carnzee said: "I am more excited about this than anything else on TV right now, but Ryan Murphy always lets me down. I don't think I have been able to watch anything of his all the way through. 

He has great ideas, but I think so much of what he does is in bad taste. 

 

 

"Hopefully it is more OJ and less Scream Queen

 

[Petralicious]

sorry, DP

 


 

[Gorlois]

Yeah, I'm almost a little pissed that Sarandon isn't even attempting the Bette Davis voice. 

[Mrs Mangel]

Here we go...

[henrikegerman]

^Jackie Hoffman reminds me of Lynn Redgrave in Gods and Monsters.  Did Crawford inherit James Whales's maid?

[Eris0303]

I cannot wait for this.  I hope it's as good as the trailer looks!

[Mark-Alexis]

FX has been hosting free screenings and will continue to do so thru Feb. 23rd in the following cities:

 

Free Screenings of FX's "Feud"

 

Here's the schedule and links.

 

LGBTQ Screening Series venues include:

 

Sunday, February 19

Los Angeles            Akbar                                                  8:00pm;  tickets

 

Monday, February 20

Los Angeles             Catalina Jazz Club                             8:30pm; tickets

 

Tuesday, February 21

New York                 Hardware                                            8:00pm; tickets

 

Wednesday, February 22

Los Angeles            Revolver                                              8:00pm; tickets

Fort Lauderdale      Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar                 8:00pm; tickets

Philadelphia            Tavern on Camac                                8:00pm; tickets

San Francisco         Oasis                                                  7:00pm; tickets

D.C.                         Town                                                   7:00pm; tickets

 

Thursday, February 23

Atlanta                     Blake's on the Park                             8:00pm; tickets

Boston                     AMC Boston Commons                      7:00pm; tickets

Chicago                   Landmark Century Centre Cinema     7:00pm; tickets

Seattle                     Purr Cocktail Lounge                           8:00pm; tickets

 

[Mark-Alexis]

Caught the advanced screening for this...

Delicious, funny, moving and altogether riveting.  Lange and Sarandon are exquisite.  They have great chemistry which elevates their already electrifying performances.

Lange will win her 4th Emmy for this.

[Petralicious]

I know the basics about each actress and have seen a few movies but that is mostly it. Joan seems like the underdog, and the fact that she was on that Soap Opera at 60+ playing a 20 year old makes me prefer her

I am wondering if anyone here is TEAM BETTE or TEAM JOAN? and why?

[carnzee]

Petralicious said: "

I am wondering if anyone here is TEAM BETTE or TEAM JOAN? and why?

 

I grew up on TCM and am fond of both so I don't have a team necessarily. I don't want to give it away, but Joan did something really underhanded to Bette (it occurs in episode 5 of the show) that makes me side with Bette a little more. 

 

[Luscious]

Can't wait for this! But from what I've seen of the teasers and trailer, it doesn't sound like Sarandon made much of an effort to sound at all like Davis. Hope she doesn't disappoint, but I'll reserve my finale judgement of her performance until after seeing at least the entire first episode. In the meantime, here are a couple of clips that you might enjoy...

Bette Talking About Joan

Joan Talking About Bette (really, the making of Baby Jane)

 

[Mark-Alexis]

This has garnered Sarandon and especially Lange rapturous reviews.

Lange is looking like the frontrunner for the Emmy.

metacritic (w/ 40 reviews): 81

http://www.metacritic.com/tv/feud

Rotten Tomatoes: 88
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/feud

[Mark-Alexis]

[Mark-Alexis]

Making of featurette:

https://youtu.be/OmpG2gL0hRo

[Mark-Alexis]

Premieres tonight.  Get ready.

[carnzee]

Well. Much to my surprise, I think Sarandon  is doing a much better job of evoking Bette than Lang as Joan. I was worried about Sarandon based on the trailer, but she really knows who Davis was. I was frustrated watching Lang, who I greatly admire. She just isn't Joan. Faye Dunaway captured that fake, "plastic " quality Crawford had. I think the writers understand Joan. 

[Blue_Lotus]

I just got through watching the pilot episode and I am very impressed with the writing. The acting is exemplary - - - I was very much on the fence because of Sarandon's involvement. I thought she did a great deal of harm with her political rhetoric, but I ultimately decided to put aside those reservations because (a) I am a fan of both actresses being portrayed and (b) Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? is one of my favorite psychological thrillers. 

To reiterate carnzee's thought I have to agree that while I thought Lange gave a decent performance I wasn't necessarily buying her as Joan Crawford. I think her much subdued performance is a direct result of not wanting to go to over-the-top and tread Dunaway territory. Crawford is coming off extremely reserved in Lange's interpretation.

Not so Sarandon. Sarandon captured Davis to a tee - - - she utilizes and does not over do Davis' unique enunciation and smoky voice. She is strong, ballsy and opinionated and is not about to take any sh*t from anybody - - - all things we associate with the Davis persona.

For all her (political) faults Sarandon remains one of the finest actresses of our generation and I hope come awards time she is recognized for her efforts. 

That scene when she reveals herself to Aldrich and Crawford in her "Baby Jane" get up was goose bump inducing and a true diva moment.

I had to rewind it twice just to bask in it.

 

 

[songanddanceman2]

Totally loved it, I think her playing Crawford more reserved (though still unhinged) is a mute point, it's episode one. 

[Kristie-K2]

I thought Mamasita was hysterical........it was fun.....

[Mr. Nowack]

The most glaring part of the show was the very LA "Palace" marquee for Bette in NIGHT OF THE IGUANA. A simple google search would tell you it was at the Royale (now the Jacobs I think).

[Petralicious]

I thought it was GREAT and fun. I agree Mamasita was a hoot!!!

It was nice seeing how pretty Sally Draper is now!   I hope that Christina Crawford makes an appearance!!

[Blue_Lotus]

Her name isn't Sally Draper, it's Kiernan Shipka. She's a doll.