"Edieeeeee!"

I just watched HBO's version of Grey Gardens. For some reason I was upset when I first heard about this, well, not remake. I guess a "behind-the-scenes" version of the cult classic documentary. I hate the term "cult classic." I guess the whole Grey Gardens thing just makes me sad. I mean, it's this tragic, once-glamorous family and house and history that has completely let itself to ruin and humiliation. The documentary is basically an exploitation of their unfulfilled dreams and cat-infested home. Isn't everyone really just laughing at Little Edie as she does her sad song-and-dance routine for David Maysles? The mother wasn't that good a singer either. Even if Edie had gone to New York and auditioned for the Broadway producer, would she have really made it?

I guess we'll never know. And I don't doubt that the Maysles brothers really cared for them. At least, I hope they did. But I just can't help but feel sorry for every subject of a documentary. It always seems like people are laughing at them, not with them.

However, I think Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange did a pretty good job. Beautiful costumes, of course. Daniel Baldwin, props to you, too. I don't really buy the hunky-dory "I'm sorry, no, I'm sorry!" ending with mother and daughter. And when Edie performs her cabaret routine at the closing credits (apparently in real life, too) is it tragic? Or is it redemption? I'm still undecided.