Jolene
Based on E.L. Doctorow’s story, “Jolene: A Life,” details ten years in the life of a 15 year old orphan, Jolene (Jessica Chastain), making her way across the country, from South Carolina to Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma and finally California. All the while, drama, love and heartbreak comes from her life experiences and repeated bad choices in partners as she attempts to lead a transient and free spirited life.
A bit hard to digest, I wish I could say I was sucked into the narrative and entranced, alas, this was not the case. Rough edges from many of the supporting cast members felt wooden and left me particularly disenchanted, and, we’ve certainly seen better from some of the more senior members of the ensemble. Furthermore, this feels like a classic example of source material that may have been compelling material on the page but comes up short in the adaptation to screen. Maybe a rental for indie buffs looking to catch Chastain’s film debut, Jolene is rated R.