Dolores Claiborne (A or 4/4 stars)
The skies above a small remote town in coastal Maine are veiled by dark grey clouds. The quaint village below is shut down for the winter. The ocean is undulating with fury. Yet, even in this portentous setting, the story which unfolds is equally (if not, more) disturbing. 18 yrs. ago, Joe St. George (David Strathairn), the heavily abusive husband of Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates), died under mysterious circumstances. His death was ruled an accident despite suspicions of cantankerous Det. John Mackey (Christopher Plummer). He's always held a grudge that the St. George "accidental death" case ruined his previously-perfect record. Now - 18 yrs. later - a rich, invalid woman by the name Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt) has also died. Once her maid, & until recently, her caretaker, Dolores Claiborne is found standing over Vera's body with a rolling pin. This time, she is accused of murder.
Enter Dolores' estranged daughter, Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh); who is haunted by memories & blames her mother for her father's death. A big city reporter, Selena has returned to Maine for the 1st time in 15 years. She's back to help her mother out of obligation, but resentment over the past gets in the way. Det. Mackey doesn't believe Dolores' protestations of innocence; desperate for a conviction. The townsfolk don't believe Dolores. And more importantly, neither does Selena. In the course of working out the sordid details of what happened, as well as some troubling questions from the past (concerning Selena's childhood), many truths are revealed about Dolores. Facing the turbulent present & unable to escape her past, can Selena forgive her mother for the mysterious death surrounding her father? And 18 years apart, is Dolores innocent of both deaths or were they both accidents?
'Dolores Claiborne' is just an absolutely thrilling movie from beginning to end; not thrilling in action, but in the way it is put together. The story, adapted from a Stephen King novel, offers drama, mystery, depth & intrigue; a whodunit of the highest order. The characters are multi-faceted. The dialogue is superb; great conversations & one-liners. The acting is phenomenal from everyone -- phenomenal. The editing is incredible; weaving skillfully between the past & present. The cinematography, shot in grey/blue tones (for the present), & bright, vivid colors (for the past), is moody, atmospheric, & gorgeous. The make-up work (to age Dolores & Vera 20 yrs.) is highly believable. Danny Elfman's music score adds to the mood of each scene. There's even some subtle usage of special effects; to enhance certain scenes (particularly in a fantastic solar eclipse sequence).
The emotional impact that 'Dolores Claiborne' has - both on the characters AND on us, the viewers - is quite high. There is such honesty on display btwn. Dolores & Selena that you can't help but be wound up while watching them. The whodunit is interesting enough. But the healing of the mother/daughter relationship is, in some ways, more potent. Dolores is a sad, extremely lonely survivor who's had to endure a life of pure misery (no pun intended). She's held so many secrets in her life that you can see the effect they've had on her; both physically & mentally. And Selena has also been affected; as she is now a drug abuser & alcoholic.
Kathy Bates gives a powerhouse performance as a hardened woman who's had to endure a lot. Bates is as effective here in her biting one-liners as she is in her quiet, heartbreaking moments. I was in awe. Jennifer Jason Leigh is also great. Selena is a true b*tch, but we know why she is, & are sympathetic with her situation. Leigh just nails the complexities of this character. She is nothing like her mother, sharing only a familial love; but their past & present meld (by the end of the story) into something quite poignant. David Strathairn is viewed through Dolores' perspective. But he has one powerful scene on a ferry that is unforgettable. And I loathed him -- great performance. Christopher Plummer appropriately got under my skin as the obsessed, unpleasant detective. And Judy Parfitt is simply amazing as Vera, the cold-hearted, snobby elitist who expects nothing short of perfection from anyone she encounters in life. But she also exudes warmth in a funny way. A scene she shares with Dolores after the latter divulges one of her pent-up secrets is one of my favorite scenes of the film; and that's saying a lot.
There's a lot to digest in 'Dolores Claiborne'. But because it's so deftly handled by director Taylor Hackford, we can wade through the heavy drama, plot incidents, surprises ... & appreciate everything we're seeing onscreen. He's able to make everything flow; which isn't easy when you're bouncing around btwn. scenes in the present & in the past. The ending isn't as effective as all that comes before it. But it's an acceptable conclusion. Nearly every frame of the movie is bubbling over with explosive emotional turmoil. Even the quiet, cathartic scenes have you riveted. And I couldn't be happier with the experience of watching 'Dolores Claiborne'. It is one of the most engrossing, evocative, emotionally honest, & powerful films that I've seen in some time.
Enter Dolores' estranged daughter, Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh); who is haunted by memories & blames her mother for her father's death. A big city reporter, Selena has returned to Maine for the 1st time in 15 years. She's back to help her mother out of obligation, but resentment over the past gets in the way. Det. Mackey doesn't believe Dolores' protestations of innocence; desperate for a conviction. The townsfolk don't believe Dolores. And more importantly, neither does Selena. In the course of working out the sordid details of what happened, as well as some troubling questions from the past (concerning Selena's childhood), many truths are revealed about Dolores. Facing the turbulent present & unable to escape her past, can Selena forgive her mother for the mysterious death surrounding her father? And 18 years apart, is Dolores innocent of both deaths or were they both accidents?
'Dolores Claiborne' is just an absolutely thrilling movie from beginning to end; not thrilling in action, but in the way it is put together. The story, adapted from a Stephen King novel, offers drama, mystery, depth & intrigue; a whodunit of the highest order. The characters are multi-faceted. The dialogue is superb; great conversations & one-liners. The acting is phenomenal from everyone -- phenomenal. The editing is incredible; weaving skillfully between the past & present. The cinematography, shot in grey/blue tones (for the present), & bright, vivid colors (for the past), is moody, atmospheric, & gorgeous. The make-up work (to age Dolores & Vera 20 yrs.) is highly believable. Danny Elfman's music score adds to the mood of each scene. There's even some subtle usage of special effects; to enhance certain scenes (particularly in a fantastic solar eclipse sequence).
The emotional impact that 'Dolores Claiborne' has - both on the characters AND on us, the viewers - is quite high. There is such honesty on display btwn. Dolores & Selena that you can't help but be wound up while watching them. The whodunit is interesting enough. But the healing of the mother/daughter relationship is, in some ways, more potent. Dolores is a sad, extremely lonely survivor who's had to endure a life of pure misery (no pun intended). She's held so many secrets in her life that you can see the effect they've had on her; both physically & mentally. And Selena has also been affected; as she is now a drug abuser & alcoholic.
Kathy Bates gives a powerhouse performance as a hardened woman who's had to endure a lot. Bates is as effective here in her biting one-liners as she is in her quiet, heartbreaking moments. I was in awe. Jennifer Jason Leigh is also great. Selena is a true b*tch, but we know why she is, & are sympathetic with her situation. Leigh just nails the complexities of this character. She is nothing like her mother, sharing only a familial love; but their past & present meld (by the end of the story) into something quite poignant. David Strathairn is viewed through Dolores' perspective. But he has one powerful scene on a ferry that is unforgettable. And I loathed him -- great performance. Christopher Plummer appropriately got under my skin as the obsessed, unpleasant detective. And Judy Parfitt is simply amazing as Vera, the cold-hearted, snobby elitist who expects nothing short of perfection from anyone she encounters in life. But she also exudes warmth in a funny way. A scene she shares with Dolores after the latter divulges one of her pent-up secrets is one of my favorite scenes of the film; and that's saying a lot.
There's a lot to digest in 'Dolores Claiborne'. But because it's so deftly handled by director Taylor Hackford, we can wade through the heavy drama, plot incidents, surprises ... & appreciate everything we're seeing onscreen. He's able to make everything flow; which isn't easy when you're bouncing around btwn. scenes in the present & in the past. The ending isn't as effective as all that comes before it. But it's an acceptable conclusion. Nearly every frame of the movie is bubbling over with explosive emotional turmoil. Even the quiet, cathartic scenes have you riveted. And I couldn't be happier with the experience of watching 'Dolores Claiborne'. It is one of the most engrossing, evocative, emotionally honest, & powerful films that I've seen in some time.