Who knew?
I ask that over and over when the HBO doc "My Mom Jayne" concluded. I had no idea what the story was behind this amazing film directed with passion by Jayne's daughter Mariska Hargitay.
Now I knew very little about the actress Mansfield except that she was a bargain basement version of Marilyn Monroe. I don't think I ever saw a single thing she acted in. I did know that she was married for a while to Mr. Universe, Mickey Hargitay. And she was killed in an auto accident which comes equipped with an urban legend that she was beheaded. (Research tells me that's not true). Other than that, my Jayne knowledge was at a minimum.
And, despite the fact that she starred on that Law and Order series for 80 or so TV seasons, I knew little about Mariska. She takes care of that here. She provides this amazing in-depth look at the lady who was killed when she was just three years old. She knew nothing about her mom. And, as the years passed, she learned more than she could ever imagine. And this viewer had the same discoveries all along the way.
Many people probably are not surprised about the second half of this film, but I indeed was. And, so as not to spoil the same wonderment I experienced, I won't say much more than that in this review. Just suffice it to say, there are siblings who are not really siblings and others who are. Parents you thought you knew. Parents who appear suddenly out of the woodwork.
At every turn, there is a big reveal and I wonder how Mariska got through it all. Indeed, I'm sure she's been in analysis over all this for years. And, as a result of her work on this film, she's probably re-upped with her shrink for another ten years.
And again I ask. Who knew? See this astounding movie and learn like I did.
LEN'S RATING: Five stars.
Dinner last night: Hot dogs at the Hollywood Bowl.
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