Feud Episode 5 is the one you’ve all been waiting for. Director Ryan Murphy recreates the 1963 Oscars where Joan Crawford pulls out all the stops.
Feud: Bette and Joan continues to dazzle thanks to faithful period recreations and astounding performances. Everybody’s talking about Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford, and she’s really very good. Her performance, though, feels like something we’ve seen Lange do a few times now. That’s not a bad thing, of course, but it’s not quite the revelation that it’s made out to be. For my money, the best performance in Feud Episode 5 goes to Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Written and directed by Murphy, “And the Winner Is… (The Oscars of 1963)” offers the money shot for the series. The recreation of the 1963 Oscars is flawless as is Lange’s silver Joan Crawford look. The real brilliance, though, comes as Davis (Sarandon) loses the Best Actress Oscar to Anne Bancroft. Jealous of Davis’s nomination, Crawford calls Davis’s fellow nominees and tells them they need not show up. She’ll be happy to accept on their behalf. Sarandon’s face as she, first, loses the Oscar and, second, watches Crawford ascend to the podium will push her into awards contention. She’s really as good as Lange, in my opinion. No matter what your politics may be.
Feud Episode 5 airs Sunday night at 10pm ET on FX.
