Written by Tony Gilroy
Directed by Taylor Hackford
Selena/Dolores/Vera (at different points): "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hang on to."
If we're going to go for underrated adaptations of Stephen King works, then look no further than this. It's been a long while since I watched this movie but last night, I had the urge to revisit this one and I'm glad that I did.
If you need proof that popular male writers can and do write women well, this story about a put upon domestic servant named Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) would be evident of that. The character might one of the most underrated in King's impressive repertoire.
Dolores's a woman with a rather difficult life. In the present day she had taken care of her ill employer Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt), only for the woman to commit suicide and Delores to be accused of murder by an overzealous Detective John Mackey (Christopher Plummer). As it's soon revealed, it's not the first time that Dolores has been accused of murder.
Told in non linear flashbacks, Dolores's life of hardships included having to deal with her abusive alcoholic husband Joe St. George (David Strathairn), who not only stole her life savings but was also abusing their daughter Selena (Ellen Muth). For that, Dolores only went and killed him at the encouragement of Vera at the time under the guise of a local eclipse.
In the present day while Dolores maintained her innocence over Vera's death, she still incurred the wrath of not only Mackey (who was convinced she murdered Joe) but also a much older and embittered Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Selena had a lot of anger, most of which she directed at her mother until a repressed memory forced to her to reconcile what her father had done to her as a child.
For a film that's largely focused on it's female characters, it's not shocking the best performances are from the female cast. Kathy Bates gave an incredible performance as Dolores struggled to deal with her life collapsing around her as well as the threat of her freedom being taken away and a community convinced of her guilt.
In terms of Selena, both Ellen Muth and Jennifer Jason Leigh are incredible in their respective scenes with Kathy Bates. They're just compelling to watch with a broken Selena slowly reconnecting with her mother as the movie progressed towards it's conclusion. By the end, it seemed like Dolores and Selena were able to reconnect and move past some of their demons.
Then there was Judy Parfitt. I loved Vera. She had a certain campy quality as Dolores's boss, being somewhat intimidating and a stickler for detail while also giving Dolores the incentive to rid herself of Joe. Their closeness even as Vera herself declined in health was endearing to watch.
I will admit that the male characters don't fare as well. Joe was a violent monster who deserved the death he got, Mackey was too consumed in getting back at Dolores and even Selena's boss/ex lover Peter (Eric Bogosian) was a bit of a jerk. Saying that though, there's also great performances from those actors too as well as John C. Reilly as Constable Frank Stamshaw.
- Kathy Bates has cited this role as her favourite and it's not hard to see why she holds it in such high regard.
- The New York aerial footage was lifted from The Godfather III. The movie itself was filmed in Nova Scotia.
- The movie slipped in a reference to The Shawshank Redemption and Bob Gunton appeared in this movie, albeit as a different character.
- Chronology: The present day scenes in Maine are in 1995 while the majority of the flashbacks are in 1975. Selena was living in New York as a reporter.
Without a doubt, Dolores Claiborne definitely would be one of the most underrated movies adaptations of a Stephen King book. Brilliant performances from the women who anchor the story, a balanced viewpoint on gender and overall just a sublime movie through and through.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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