Yidio Emmy Spotlight: Outstanding TV Miniseries or Movie
by Morgan Glennon
In the Yidio Emmy spotlight we take a gander at some of the toughest races in this year’s Emmy Awards. Today, we’re looking at a category full of period pieces and Maggie Smith being sassy: TV Miniseries or Movie.
Past Winners:
Last year’s winner was a no-brainer, going to the Tom Hank’s war miniseries “The Pacific”. This year the category is far more crowded and there’s no Tom Hanks in sight to signal a clear front-runner.
The Nominees:
“Cinema Verite”
“Downton Abbey”
“The Kennedys”
“Mildred Pierce”
“The Pillars Of The Earth”
“Too Big To Fail”
Handicapping the Race:
This year the TV miniseries or movie category competition is fierce. All the entrees also have in common a period sensibility, as none of the nominees were set in present day. So what film or mini has the best chance of success?
Perhaps reality television can win this illustrious category? Or at least a movie about America’s first foray into reality television might have a shot at Emmy gold. “Cinema Verite” is a fictional depiction of “An American Family” the seminal documentary about an ordinary family just going about their lives which many see as a precursor to our “reality” television landscape of today. While garnering strong reviews, this entry might be the most under-the-radar enter in the race and thus a long-shot to win.
“The Pillars Of The Earth” was an epic miniseries centering around the quest for a crown and the medieval political struggles for peace. But for many Emmy voters it might remind too strongly of Best Drama nominee “Game of Thrones” for it to earn gold.
“Too Big To Fail” tells the story of the 2008 financial meltdown with a star-studded cast including Paul Giamatti and William Hurt. The tense, tautly plotted story of economic collapse earned strong reviews and will certainly be a strong contender.
A more controversial miniseries was “The Kennedys” which was originally slated to air on The History Channel before being dropped and eventually picked up by Reelz Channel. Unfortunately the mini starring Mrs. Tom Cruise got more ink for its controversial dropping by the History Channel than for its quality.
“Mildred Pierce” is another high-profile entry that is far from a sure bet despite its high profile pedigree. Starring Kate Winslet, Melissa Leo and Evan Rachel Wood the series certainly had enough former Oscar contenders. However, critics were divided on the selfish protagonists and torpid pacing.
A show that never suffered from slow storytelling was the ITV/PBS Masterpiece British period soap “Downton Abbey”. Filled with plenty of upstairs-downstairs antics, the show was about a great English estate and the residents who lived within its walls. It was a fun, realistic portrayal of the wealthy landowners and their servants right on the brink of the second World War as British society began to change and become less strictly regimented. It also had the luck to cast Maggie Smith as the family matriarch and sassy one-liner queen.
Prediction
This is a terribly hard race to predict. Will the Emmys go with something fun and British like “Downton Abbey” or something more timely like “Too Big To Fail”?
Despite the division of critics “Mildred Pierce” was a great vehicle for the never-disappointing Kate Winslet. I doubt “The Kennedys” or “The Pillars of the Earth” have a chance but “Cinema Verite” might be the dark horse candidate that comes out of nowhere to win.
I’m putting my money, however, on “Downton Abbey,” if for no other reason than because I personally loved the series so much. Frankly, I wish Maggie Smith would host the Emmy’s as her “Downton” character, I can only imagine the classy British insults she could think up.