Classics: A Review of Dolores Claiborne By Lauren Ennis

 Are some secrets best left hidden? Can we ever really escape out past? What does it take to survive in an unforgiving world? These are the questions that lie at the heart of the 1995 drama Dolores Claiborne. Part twisting whodunnit and part gritty character study Dolores Claiborne is wholly gripping viewing. Exploring such weighty topics as domestic violence, trauma, and the meaning of justice the film remains as resonant and relevant now as it was upon its release. Join Dolores Claiborne for a mystery in which who done itis just one of its devastating secrets. 

The film begins in 1990's Bangor Maine with elderly Vera Donovan being found dead at the bottom of her staircase. Complicating matters is the fact that Vera's caretaker and housekeeper, Dolores was found hovering over her dead body wielding a rolling pin. a homicide investigation is then launched. After failing to indict Dolores in the suspicious death of her husband decades earlier lead investigator Detective Mackey makes it his personal mission to see her charged for Vera's murder. Meanwhile, Dolores' estranged daughter, professionally successful but personally tormented journalist Selina returns home after fifteen years. In the ensuing days mother and daughter are confronted with long buried secrets and ghosts of their pasts, all leading up to a final reveal that is nothing short of devastating.

Dolores Claiborne may begin as a straight-forward mystery, but it soon becomes apparent that the film is every bit as complicated as its titular heroine. The film starts as as standard whodunit, but then uses that premise to explore deeper questions surrounding truth, justice, and trauma. While the story's two deaths give viewers plenty of questions to ponder it is the characters' efforts to grapple with those deaths that lead to the story's greatest revelations. in this way, the film functions as more of a 'why done it' than a 'whodunnit'. Through this subversion of genre expectations the film offers an unflinching portrait of two very different women and the tragedies that shaped them. In this way the film places audiences in each of its heroines' minds and forces us to consider what we would do in their position. As a result, the film raises vital questions that will haunt viewers long after its final mystery is solved, making it one of the most provocative, poignant, and engrossing entries in the thriller genre. Discover the cold hard truth with Dolores Claiborne.

The film transports viewers into the dark world of Stephen King thanks to the stellar performances of its star-studded cast. Christopher Plummer makes for a worthy adversary as dogged Detective Mackey. David Strathairn portrays Dolores' abusive husband, Joe, with the ideal blend of sinister and pathetic. Judith Parfitt proves to be a scene stealer as Dolores' formidable employer, Vera. Ellen Muth turns in a mature and nuanced performance in which she aptly captures childhood Selina's torment. Jennifer Jason Leigh personifies repressed trauma in her by turns gruff, cold, and ultimately gut-wrenching performance as Selina. Kathy Bates manages to outdo her iconic performance in Misery in her portrayal of Dolores' journey from helpless battered wife to self-proclaimed "high-riding bitch" in a role that King specifically wrote for her.

Even as it forgoes the scares and gore of horror Dolores Claiborne is easily one of the darkest and most haunting films adapted from the work of Stephen King. The script bring the novel's wrenching reveals and twisting plot to visceral life. The cast bring each of the characters to the screen with raw emotion and New England grit. Discover the cold hard truth of Dolores Claiborne.