Dolores Claiborne is one of the more underrated Stephen King screen adaptations.
Here, we take a look back…
I remember readingDolores Claibornefor the first time very clearly.
The book had been on our shelves for years.
My clearest memory of all is Dolores voice.
Its an intense, claustrophobic stream of consciousness without proper chapter breaks.
Its a clever move because it keeps Dolores central to the story.
The film teases out these female relationships and brings them to the forefront.
It was, after all, the last time Dolores family were all together, despite Joes abhorrent behaviour.
It isnt used often, but contributes beautifully to the ongoing themes of consequence and memory.
Bates turns in a performance as steely as it is tragic.
Parfitts performance is also excellent, a reminder that women find themselves trapped in all kinds of situations.
All three women present an aggressive front to the world.
Especially when they have to face up to men like Mackey and Joe.
Mackey has a very fixed attitude that excludes emotion to his detriment.
As Joe, Strathairn is utterly unlikeable.
He moons her, they laugh, he smacks her across the back with a piece of wood.
In that short moment, we understand everything about their relationship and the violence inherent within it.
A King thing:Abusive husbands and fathers.
They have been mentioned in previous King things, but its their turn in the spotlight.
For every heroic father, theres an awful one there to balance it out.
Join me next time, Constant Reader, forChildren Of The Corn III.
