The role of the grandmother was played by Ellen Burstyn. I've come across several threads where she is just referred to as "the lady who played the grandmother," as if she's a complete unknown or something. How unfortunate that so many younger people apparently have no idea who Ellen Burstyn is.
shareBurstyn should be a three time Oscar winner ("The Exorcist", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "Requiem for a Dream"). It's still great she won for Alice.
shareBurstyn should be a three time Oscar winner ("The Exorcist", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "Requiem for a Dream"I just posted that I couldn't believe she did not win an award for her acting in Requiem for a Dream. That was one of my favorite performances of anyone in the acting industry.
There were times that Ellen Burstyn got a certain look in her eyes as if she was beginning to see them as her grandchildren (her eyes would soften at times), then she would quickly shut off those feelings (eyes would turn harsh-looking). I thought she did a wonderful job in showing that struggle.
I loved her in Same Time Next Year.
Siri
Don't Make Me Have to Release the Flying Monkeys!
Same here; absolutely loved her in Same Time, Next Year.
I didn't think she was scary enough as the Grandmother in this movie, though. She was so cold and scary in the book.
I thought Ellen was the best part of the entire movie, she brought some humanity to her Grandmother role, despite having very little to work on with the script.
shareI thought Ellen was the best part of the entire movie, she brought some humanity to her Grandmother role^^This^^ I just posted about this. She appeared to be struggling to keep from developing feelings for her grandchildren. At times her eyes would soften, then they would immediately become harsh. This was the assumption I also got from the book. The grandmother (as horrible and cold as she was) at times struggled with keeping herself from seeing those kids as her grandchildren. IMO Ellen did a wonderful job in showing this struggle.
As we find out from Olivia's book, this was a problem she had. She loved Corrine, too. No matter the circumstances of her birth, they all loved her and she was spoiled. Olivia prayed to have the strength to be able to be cruel to the children of "HER Christopher" and Corrine. I think Ellen did a great job showing the inner struggle that any person who have to have to be that cruel to anyone.
shareGlad you brought this up. She is an amazing actress and I think did the best she could in this. I thought it was truly impressive they snagged her for the role.
shareOne of my favorite movie of hers is Same Time Next Year
shareConversely, though, that means there's an entire generation of youngsters who are enamored with the Dollanganger series. Many will probably argue, but IMO it's pretty impressive for a series of this ilk, that began over three decades ago, to resonate with today's kids. As one who actually cracked the binding as a pre-teen in 1979, I think it's cool that my own kids couldn't wait for this remake (and they do know who Ellen Burstyn is... because of the Exorcist lol).
shareConversely, though, that means there's an entire generation of youngsters who are enamored with the Dollanganger series. Many will probably argue, but IMO it's pretty impressive for a series of this ilk, that began over three decades ago, to resonate with today's kids.100% agree. I also read the Dollanganger series when they came out in the 80's. I have read them several times since then (even as an adult lol). I also loved The Casteel, Cutler, and Landry Series.
I'm halfway through FITA as we speak lol! I cannot tell a lie, though, I stopped reading "V.C." about halfway through Pearls in the Mist (Landry). They became redundant to me... lost their luster if you will. I like to think that, had she not passed, V.C. herself wouldn't have stagnated like Neiderman seems to have. Like, he took her formula and opted never to vary from it... just churning out the same story with different characters. V.C. knew where to draw the line, I think, and when to shift gears. She did it with "My Sweet Audrina". Leaving it to stand on it's own merits whereas it could easily have turned into a five book series like the others.
Man... speaking of Audrina... there's a movie I'd like to see!
Kindred, I am a huge Ellen Burstyn fan and thought she did a fantastic job (as usual) in this movie. My favorite character that she has played was Sara (Harry's mom) in Requiem for a Dream. I just can't believe she did not win an award for her acting in that movie. Such a talented actress!
I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people. ~ Blue October
Ellen Burstyn portrayed a kinder, more gentler Grandmother, than that of Louise Fletcher. Ellen actually seemed human towards her Grandchildren at times. Whereas Louise's portrayal, was just cold as ice! Not an ounce of love in that icy stare of hers.
shareI think Ellen Burstyn's portrayal was more close to the book. She isn't crazy evil like Louise Fletcher played her.
Actually it's true that she didn't want the children to die. She just wanted to keep them locked for good but Corinne was the one that gave them the poison.
By the end, It did seem that the mother was the one who didn't care if the children died and that she was the one poisoning them, not the grandmother but I seem to be the odd one out here when it comes to Ellen Burstyn's acting. I thought she was scary as fvck and did a GREAT job portraying a mean and nasty person! The make up department also did a great job on her fake balding head of hair near the end of the film.
by solesister "get thee to a nunnery!"
I agree. The fake balding looked great.
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