Dolores Claiborne

Dolores Claiborne, released in 1994 is a film based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. The film stars Kathy Bates as Dolores Claiborne, as well as Jennifer Jason Leigh, and young John C. Riley. The film takes place on Little Tall Island, which was also the setting for Stephen King's made for television film, Storm of The Century. Little Tall Island is a fictional Island off the coast of Machias Maine, but it was filmed in Nova Scotia, which looks much like that area of Maine.

Dolores Claiborne has been praised as being one of the few truly feminist films, with a strong leading woman, who is not portrayed as a sex object, as leading women often are in film. She is just a tough as nails, classic Mainer woman, the kind of woman I see often here in Maine, not much unlike my landlady to be exact. There is nothing sexy about this film, and honestly that is a little refreshing, in Hollywood films, it seems that everything is so hyper sexualized, and a woman's sex seems to be all she has to offer, no matter how strong of a character she is. That is not the case with Dolores Claiborne, as is quoted by the three primary female characters at different points in the film, "Sometimes being a bitch, is all a woman has to hold on to." Yes, these three women come across as bitches, but they all three also have a real and sensitive side, but they are never weak. The film deals with heavy issues, such as domestic abuse, and incest, and deals with it in a good way, not the sensational way that many films tend to do. This film as well as Storm of the Century portrays island life, as being different than that of mainlanders, and what happens on the island stays on the island.

This film, was nearly perfectly cast, especially the amazing casting of Kathy Bates as Dolores, she was so absolutely perfect for the role. She is beautiful in a way a very common woman way, tender, but also hard. I see her everyday here in Maine, the way she talks the way she acts, she is so many women here. Also she is a loving mother who would kill for her daughter. The film also had a dreary gritty look to it, which fits the setting so well. I've been to that part of Maine, and it is very much like the film portrays it. The only real special effect is the Eclipse of the sun, and it is beautifully done. I really see little to no technical flaws in the film.

The film got mostly positive reviews, and is still seen as one of the best film adaptations of a Stephen King novel. The film to this day stands up very well, and expertly tells the story through Dolores' eyes, until we get to the final flashback had by her daughter, of what her father did to her. The film is very well done, and deserves the high praise that is has received. Stephen King has a way of telling a woman's story better than some women do even, which might be, because he writes his novels for his wife, not for us. This is one of the best examples of his work coming to life on the screen. This film is a horror, but also a drama, and even a melodrama. This is a film that more so tells the horror of people, and pulls at the heart strings of the viewer, and even asks you to understand that sometimes it is okay to murder your husband, and sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to.

Would I recommend this film? Yes, I would say that this film is a must-see film. This one is a classic and should be seen and talked about. This is not a conventional horror, this film has emotion, and tells the story of a strong willed woman that will do anything to protect her daughter. This film transcends genres, and is simply an amazing classic film. If you ever get a chance to find this film, watch it, it is gritty and real feeling. Definitely on my list of favourite films.