Ryan Murphy’s season-length depiction of the legendary feud between Hollywood icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford is a perfect vehicle for leads Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange in the title roles. A never-better Lange tears into her role with strength and sensitivity, while Sarandon seems to be having fun playing the droll, witty Davis. With plenty of glorious recreations of famous scenes from both Davis and Crawford’s respective filmographies (most notably 1962’s “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”) and notable Hollywood events, “Feud” seems to be tailor-made for Murphy, who often finds inspiration from film and television that have come before: By focusing on the motivations of both actresses for the notorious feud instead of solely their actions, Murphy manages to make what could have been a campy sideshow into a legitimately heartbreaking and emotionally complex drama.
Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)
