James M. Cain’s 1941 novel about a mother’s near-pathological devotion to her selfish daughter was Joan Crawford’s ticket to an Oscar in 1945; now it inspires a five-part, three-week miniseries that will take longer to watch than it does to read the book. But the series becomes engaging over time, its languorous pace enabling director Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven) to linger over Depression-era details that reflect similar economic struggles today. Kate Winslet’s performance turns the title character into a feminist heroine; her co-stars include Guy Pearce, Melissa Leo, and Evan Rachel Wood. Sundays, March 27–April 10, at 9 p.m., HBO
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