Customer Reviews

Dolores Claiborne [VHS]

5 star:		(103)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WOW...I won't go into any more detail than the previous reviewers did, as they have summed up my feelings too on this remarkable, underappreciated and underrated movie. Oscars should have gone to director Taylor Hackford, the cinematographer, Danny Elfman's haunting score, and the acting, oh my. Of course, Kathy Bates is overwhelming; Jennifer Jason Leigh has never been better; Christopher Plummer certainly sheds his "Sound of Music" persona; Judy Parfit is unbelievably effective as bitchy Vera, but her portrayal is so dimensional that we come to care for her; Ms. Parfit's scene with the pig musicbox playing "Happy Days Are Here Again" is brilliant. Also superb is Ellen Muth, who plays the young Selena, and John Reilly as the sheriff, who stands up to Plummer's state detective. Of course, one can't overlook David Straitharn as Dolores' cruel and abusive husband. His performance is so convincing that I don't think I'll like him in anything! My only regret is I didn't see this one earlier. Can we go back and do the 1995 Oscars over??
I loved this movie!!!! Stephen King should rank this and "The Green Mile" as his crowning adapted movies!

Nothing in the title of the film, or the premise, allows the watcher to be prepared for the virtual punch his powerhouse movie gives us. Led by much-deserving Oscar winner Kathy Bates and a sullen and moody Jennifer Jason Leigh, the cast brings to life several characters trapped in a story of denial, repression, and ultimately, the strength that women must have to endure life.

This film has been overlooked by many people, including myself, for many reasons. Kathy Bates in another Stephen King story seemed to repetitive from her amazing performance in "Misery". But fair warning, she is not Nurse Annie here, but a completely amazing and hard woman who deals with the trauma in her life head on. I also didn't appreciate the magical artistry of this film until buying the DVD and listening to Taylor Hackford give his wordy and brilliant commentary to the film.

I'm very glad to have purchased this DVD, and I feel you will as well!

Let me admit this: I have never read the book and I probably never will, as I am not much of a Stephen King fan. Therefore I may not have the same view on this film, as those of you who have.

Dolores Claiborne, as a movie, is surprisingly well made. I have no doubt that this is Taylor Hackford's best film yet. I am especially impressed with the visual effects he used, during the flashbacks. He paints a vivid picture of the world of Dolores Claiborne: A world of sorrow and pain. He pulls the audience into this world and never lets go. Thus, he brings us through Dolores'life and make us feel her pain.

Another great thing about this film, is the acting. Kathy Bate's is as usual brilliant. CAN she even mess up a single line? Jennifer Jason Leigh plays as she is supposed to;nothing more, nothing less. Which in itself should be considered a superb performance. And I was also really pleased by the remarkable performance of Judy Parfitt, the actress who plays Vera. Truly a great portrayl of a women who is as hurt and angry as Dolores. The scene in which she reveals her deepest, darkest secret to Dolores (you who have seen the film will know what I am talking about) is truly one of the best scenes from a movie the last 20 years! She should have gotten an Oscar! Plummer, as detective Mackey is also extremely good. Especially in the finale of the film. Very intense!

However, I feel there is one element of this film that so far has been largely overlooked by the other reviewers: Danny Elfman's superb score. Indeed, this score should be considered one of the finest EVER. Right up there with Herrmann's PSYCHO and Steiner's KING KONG. And I seriously mean that. Elfman's music is, perhaps more than any other element of the film, that which creates the painfull, sadly mysterious atmosphere of this movie. He uses an orchestra largely consistning of strings with added piano etc. and hereby creates a cold, stark sound which is as harsh as our lead character. Yet, he also gives us a score filled with emotion and pain, a score which makes the audience (whether consiously or subconsiously) more involved in the story and makes us feel closely connected to the characters. He creates a tention, that to this day has never been mached in any other score before or since.

Still, Dolores Claiborne is not perfect (Which film is?). The script could have been fairly better penned, especially the inquest scene where Dolores is being questioned.

But overall, this is a finely crated film, which has a lot to offer in the visual department, the acting and especially the score. Well done Taylor Hacford and Danny Elfman!

Geez,this is undoubtedly one of the best modern films I have ever seen, and I am one picky bugger. Bates outdoes herself as Claiborne, surpassing her role as Wilkes in "Misery". Critics have said Bates was trying to cash in on the success of Misery by playing Dolores Claiborne,what are they thinking. This film and its characters have so much depth and detail it just can't be compared to another work. The direction and cinematography are hauntingly beautiful,a mood is set in this film rarely tapped into just by the scenery. Set in Maine, the dark and moody tale by the ocean suits the script, spooky. This is a much overlooked and underappreciated film which I would rank Masterpiece. It intriques the viewer and sends chills without gore. Just a good old plain fashion murder mystery, Hollywood should sit up and take note off this work, that a film can be superior without special effects, all it needs is a good script and Kathy Bates...

Stephen King's 1992 novel comes to life with a truly great perfomance by Kathy Bates as the title character, Dolores Claiborne, David Straitharn as her deceased husband Joe St. George and Jennifer Jason Leigh as their prescription pill popping progeny, Selena St. George.

This film and novel are from King's writing period of evil, not examined through supernatural forces, but like "Gerald's Game" and "Misery", the evil that human beings do to other human beings. Even their own flesh and blood...

The film opens with a fall down the stairs by Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt, Dolores' employer and wench of a woman, a marble rolling pin a dead body and a mailman who reports the "goings on" to the local police detective, John Mackey, played by Christopher Plummer.

Dolores is hauled in for the murder of her employer but we soon find out that this isn't the first time Dolores has been in trouble with the law! Her husband died of unknown causes during the solar eclipse of 1975 and many islanders think that Dolores had something to do with the death of her abusive husband.

The movie succession is filmed in many flashback sequences through the mind's eye of Dolores that are just quite mesmerizing! Great cinematography and direction in this film, no doubt!

Did Dolores kill her husband twenty years ago? Did she also murder her badgering b!tch of a boss, Vera Donovan? What family secrets are hidden and what will be the outcome of Dolores and her daughter, Selena?

Watch the film and find out for yourself!

Happy Watching!

Kathy Bates. We all know who she is. She starred in the classic movie misery as a mentally distured nurse and fan of her favorite writer whom she rescues and then he is help captive in her home. But Dolores Claiborne is different. It's a story about a maid
(bates) who is accused of murder for the second time, first it was her husband, then her employer (Vira Donovon) who she had worked for for many years and then became her caregiver. It's a myserty/drama and a very enjoyable film even though there are some dark moments when Dolores is having flashbacks of her alcoholic abusive husband, and her daughter who she tried to protect. Vira Donovon makes the movie special because not only is her acting oscar worthy but her character is very likeable even though she appears to be a rich bitch at the beginning, but as you get to know her character you realize she's a good person, but just doesn't take crap from anyone. So is dolores claiborne, and it's really about women. How women are treated and these two women became such good friends because not only were they alike, but they had some similar problems. It's about friendship, female bonding, and what can i say GIRLPOWER! Being tough, but doing what's right. Being a good person but learning from your mistakes. Looking out for yourself, but help others every once and a while. And never judge a book by it's cover. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays selena st george, dolores's daughter who has emotional problems and is unstable but we all find out why. This movie is underated. Maybe many of you think it's about hating men, but not really. It just focus's on women and their strength and weaknesses, and sometimes doing the wrong thing for the right reason. Dolore's husband is suppose to be an unpleasant character and you can't help but not like him at all. And everyone has the right to defend themselves and their children. No one should take that. And even if you provoke someone, you can't make anyone do anything they don't wanna do. Bottom line is, self defense is self defense. It reminds me of EYE FOR AN EYE with sally field. In real life, Cops can set up a sting, and go undercover and provoke people, but if you commit a crime you go to jail. You're responsible for your own actions. If someone intends to do you bodily harm, you have the right to defend yourself, and your children. It's justifiable homicide. This movie, dolores claiborne is thought provoking, and focus's on some important issue's. It's just a movie and it can make you feel good because no woman should ever have to accept a husband like joe. That isn't love, and it sickens me that women protect their husbands no matter what they do to your kids or them, but no one should let that happen. First accept that the sitation needs to stop, but by stopping it, you have to make hard choices. And that's what this movie is about.

If you are a Kathy Bates fan, then you must own this movie. I have watched this movie over and over again and still want more. She has a nack of getting you into her character and feeling like you were there. The story never has a dull moment up to the very end. As usual she does a supurb job as well as Jennifer Jason Leigh, and the rest of the cast.

It is a fantastic story of a woman whom is abused and ends up working for a very mean spirited rich woman as her maid, then care taker plus what all of this does to her daughter growing up. I don't want to give to much away, so see the movie.

Can't wait for the next Kathy Bates movie, I will be in line to see it.

Dolores Clairborne is one of the best American films of recent years, and certainly one the most underlooked and underrated films.
The film has it all: a dark thriller a domestic tragedy, story about friendships,about psychological traumas, about revenge and obsessions, with each character brilliantly written and developed.
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judy Parfitt, David Strathain and Christopher Plummer give very powerful performances, but the film goes to Kathy Bates, who is simply the best working actress in the US. Her presence is just mesmerizing, and as much as her performance in Misery and Fried Green Tomatoes.. was brilliant, in Dolores Claiborne she really excels!!
The film is over two hours, but the moment it opens, with an excellent haunting score by Danny Elfman,you will be transported on a dark journey that touches your heart, mind and soul and it will seem like few minutes have passed, after reading the end credits.
Hackford's CV was 'studio' oriented to say the least, but in Dolores Clairborne, you discover an artist, who is capable of offering his viewer an intimate story with a lot of sensitivity.
The visual transition between present and past which happens quite often, is very original, and adds to the power of the story.
The DVD, although short on the extras, it has a very pleasent and unique surprise..a audio commentary by Hackford..Not on selected or deleted scenes (which directors nowadays deliberately include in DVDs to enhance the extras), but throughtout the whole film, scene by scene, recorded four years after its theatrical release!! which gives a lot of insight into the making of Dolores Clairborne, and it is as interesting to hear as watching the film.
So Dolores Clairborne is a prime example of very talented people, offering their art with love to every cinema lover in the world.It is a MUST buy and should be added to your collection.

It is a cold, bitter world that sets the stage for "Dolores Claiborne"--a deep-seated cold that is reflected in the bleak winter landscape. Nowhere is the Hollywood lighting, the softening perfection of characters too beautiful to be real. Nor is there the epic drama of a tragedy that is larger than life. The story is small, concerning one family, and the characters are ordinary people. Yet the depth and intensity of this film is unmatched, perhaps even heightened by its narrow focus.

Cold is the feeling one gets from the film...The chill between mother and daughter, the truths frozen behind a protective shield. The film is structured in such a way that only pieces of the truth are revealed, a bit at a time, and each piece more ugly than the last. Therein is the genius of the story's structure: it is almost unbearably ugly until the last piece has fallen into place, and then it becomes apparent that the ugly truth is dazzling; it is harsh, cruel, yet at the same time incredibly beautiful. During the entire film this beauty is never articulated until one point near the end; ironically that moment is its one weak link.

The acting can hardly be called acting; the artists live their roles to such a degree that they deserve the name. Jennifer Jason Leigh is haunted and haunting as Dolores's daughter,her brittle exterior a mask for deep suffering, her pain consuming her from within. Kathy Bates is so much the character she plays that it is impossible to think of her as an actress. For the genius she brings to this role, she deserves ten oscars.

This is recommended to anyone who looks for something deeper than standard Hollywood fare: the story centers on the complexity of human relationships, the underlying beauty of even the deepest darkness. Truly a masterpiece.

Oscar Winner Kathy Bates really deserved another for her riveting portrait of Stephen King's title character in this most satisfying film on all levels. She is dynamic as a woman coping with demons of her past and present as she tries to make a bond with her estranged daughter, effectively played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Able support is provided by the underappreciated Christopher Plummer. David Straithairn is also outstanding as Bates' thoroughly heinous husband.

But the real surprise is Judy Parfitt, a less-familiar name, who makes her mark as Dolores's employer. Parfitt's transformation from elegant rich matron to feeble invalid is remarkable. Brilliant is an understatement.

Finally, the film's color and locations are truly enthralling. It makes the viewer want to relocate to New England, not just for a vacation, but for a lifetime.

Taylor Hackford has crafted a timeless classic!