Jolene 2008

    This film is based on a story written by E.L. Doctorow.  The story is titled “Jolene: A Life.”  Jolene was raised in foster homes and she meets Mickey when she is 15 years old.  She sees an opportunity for a different life and they get married.  Mickey promises they will look for a place of their own after just a couple of months of living with his aunt and uncle.  Uncle Phil likes Jolene too much and it doesn't take long for this marriage to break up.  Mickey loved her but he wasn’t able to provide for her financially.  Jolene is sent to juvenile detention and she meets Cindy and she helps her escape.  Next, she's a roller skating waitress in Phoenix and she meets and marries tattoo artist Coco Leger.  This marriage only lasts until his still married to Coco first wife comes to see him with his son.  Jolene suffers a meltdown after this experience.  She becomes a dancer in Las Vegas, she meets mobster Sal, they get married and she's happy for a while.  He dies suddenly and she marries Brad.  He is a multi-millionaire but he treats her very badly.  After this marriage, she’s finally on her own and she works her way up from several jobs to a receptionist job.

    Chastain does a very good job in her role as Jolene and this is a screen debut for Jessica.  I did not like the ending but it may explain everything that happened previously?  3* (This movie is OK)

108 min, Drama directed by Dan Ireland and written by Dennis Yares, E.L. Doctorow and Michael Gilio with Jessica Chastain, Dermot Mulroney, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Vartan, Zeb Newman, Rupert Friend, Theresa Russell, Frances Fisher, Stephanie Likes, Zeb Newman, Denise Richards, Michael Vartan, Shannon Whirry, Drea Pruseau, Mickey Cottrell, Mary Jane Johnson.

Note:  Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 4,247 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 48% with 21 critics 43% audience with 3,049 ratings, Slant Magazine Glenn Heath Jr. 1* out of 5*, Letterboxd 2.8* out of 5*, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 232 reviews,

Special Note:  The story written by Doctorow is inspired by the Dolly Parton song, Jolene.  There is a mistake with Jolene’s southern accent because it comes and goes?  There also a mistake when Jolene is charged with kidnapping.  Another mistake is that legally it is almost impossible to get a civil annulment when the couple have lived together as man and wife?  It doesn’t matter how much money you have!!  Brad would be required to get a civil divorce instead.