Jolene (2008)
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50% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
42% of users liked it
(2,750 ratings)
Author E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed short story Jolene: A Life gets the big screen treatment in Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont's director Dan Ireland's independent drama about life on the road. Jolene (Jessica Chastain) is a red-haired wanderer who isn't content to call one place home… More Author E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed short story Jolene: A Life gets the big screen treatment in Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont's director Dan Ireland's independent drama about life on the road. Jolene (Jessica Chastain) is a red-haired wanderer who isn't content to call one place home for any expended stretch of time. Setting off to explore the outside world at age fifteen, the free-spirited teen embarks on a decade-long cross-country of adventure which finds her crossing the paths of everyone from a firebrand Texan (Dermont Mulroney) who steals her heart and destroys her marriage to his wealthy fundamentalist nephew (Michael Vartan), to an ex-mobster (Chazz Palminteri) attempting to make good in Las Vegas. Denise Richards, Rupert Friend, and Theresa Russell co-star in a film adapted from the story by screenwriter Dennis Yares. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Dan Ireland
- Written By
- Dennis Yares
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Oct 29, 2010 Limited
- Studio
- E1 Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
More epic than it needs to be and less profound than it should be, "Jolene" remains a watchable excursion into human frailty and foibles.
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Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
Chastain proves near-heroic embodying Jolene's innate strength and incremental wisdom. Yet she also makes us understand how the heroine's wobbly resistance to manipulative characters is overwhelmed time and again.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
So bad it's almost (but not quite) good, Dan Ireland's Jolene is an unusually elaborate and excruciatingly long vanity production...
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Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Ms. Chastain digs deep. Surrendering to her character's smoky voice-over and disastrous judgment, the actress finds pockets of soul in a role that's part Jessica Rabbit, part Marilyn Monroe.
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Rex Reed, New York Observer
The movie has been through as many hurdles getting here as dear, sweet Jolene, but sometimes the most engaging movies are the ones worth waiting for.
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Cast
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Jessica Chastain
as Jolene
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Dermot Mulroney
as Uncle Phil
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Chazz Palminteri
as Sal Fontaine
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Michael Vartan
as Brad, Brad Benton
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Denise Richards
as Marin, Marin Lerger
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Zeb Newman
as MIckey
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Rupert Friend
as Coco Lerger
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Theresa Russell
as Aunt Kay
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Frances Fisher
as Cindy
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Stephanie Likes
as Kendra
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Donald Sutherland
as Sal
