"Jolene" is, in spite of a lot of previous comments, better than average. Jessica Chastain, playing the eponymous character is outstanding. Yes, her journey is repetitive in a way, and she never seems to learn from her experiences and continues to make terrible decisions in her life. I tend to assume that this is the point of the story. Every other part in the movie is somewhat small, as Jolene moves on and never goes back. But good work is done here by, among others, Frances Fisher, Theresa Russell, Denise Richards, and Shannon Whirry. Rupert Friend and Dermot Mulroney's characters were creepy in the extreme, which probably makes it more fun to play them. There are no likable characters in this film, including Jolene, and this is probably what turns off so many reviewers.

Of all the films I saw at the 2008 Seattle International Film Fest, "Jolene" is the one that stayed with me. Jessica Chastain gives a multi layered, complex, superlative performance as the title character. A girl drifting through her life looking for love in all the wrong places. The film stays away from sentimental payoffs giving it a very distinctive tone. Are we suppose to sympathize with Jolene? Dan Ireland, the director, leaves that to us in another honest and wonderful tale of longing and hope. From Rene Zellwegger in "The Whole Wide World" to Joan Plowright in "Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont" Dan Ireland has shown a remarkable flair to bring out the best on his female characters and more. Frances Fisher gives an Academy Award worthy performance in a part so far away from anything I've ever seen her do that it took me a while to realize it was her. Michael Vartan, Dermot Mulroney, Chazz Palmintieri and in particular Rupert Friend give vivid, powerful performances. "Jolene" is unique in a year of sequels and TV adaptations. I can't wait to see it again. Congratulations Mr. Ireland and thank you for your passionated and coherent commitment to the independent soul.

When do you know for sure you are in love? After a failed marriage at a young age, Jolene (Chastain) deals with getting over the past and finding herself. She sets off on a journey across the country looking for what is missing in her life. This is a very, very good coming-of-age story, also kind of inspiring in a way, no matter what happens to her she never gets down and keeps pushing forward. On the other hand it is also pretty depressing to watch what this girl goes through. This movie does a great job of showing what a girl, who was raised as an orphan and spent her youth between the home and foster parents, acts like. Though it's not her first movie the woman who plays Jolene (Jessica Chastain) is fantastic in this. It's not an easy role, especially with as much sex and nudity involved (nothing gratuitous, it actually helps define the character), along with the ranges of emotion she must portray. I'm really surprised she didn't get any recognition for this. I don't want to give too much away, but I really, really enjoyed this movie. I give it an A.

Would I watch it again? - I did already.

"Jolene" is quite a film. It's about the journey of life for Jolene (Jessica Chastain), who is quite a character. A girl who was left to be raised by the authorities, she is itching to experience more of the world and be happy—the type of girl who could get hurt. But Jolene has an indescribable quality that makes people fall in love with her, lust after her, commit crimes for her and then go crazy, and generally in that order. Likelihood is they'll get hurt instead of Jolene.

The film strikes a remarkable balance between the quirky, comedic charms of the characters and the somber and serious situations that Jolene gets herself into. Although, as a caveat, I do recognize the critics' complaints that that balance can be quite jarring. The journey the film takes us on with this unforgettable character is a fascinating, funny and joyful one, but also at times, harrowing. Crimes of passion, crimes in the name of God, and crimes for money — all for Jolene — are all committed. No body is left unturned.

The path the film took to get to us is almost as tumultuous as that of its heroine. Tumbling through the small film festival circuit in 2008 and 2009, it didn't get a distribution deal until 2010. And then it only opened in a handful of screens. But now everybody can finally see this extraordinary film and extraordinary actress. Jessica Chastain is starring in Terrence Malick's highly-anticipated, masterpiece-to-be "The Tree of Life". It's time to meet this star-in-the-making in "Jolene".

"Jolene" captured my heart, and then attempted to stomp all over it, but the film leaves its mark, as does the character Jolene, as does Chastain. I'm still not exactly sure how to take it, but it was an amazing experience.

Jessica Chastain, as Jolene, a pale, freckled girl with wild red hair, is only fifteen when the story begins in South Carolina. She's been abandoned by her parents and has grown up as a ward of the state. She's an appealing, impulsive, sexy girl with a casual sense of stoicism.

Let's see. She drives her first boyfriend to suicide. Her second beau is a bigamist pretending to be much younger than he is. He goes to prison for statutory rape. Chastain is sent to a correction facility where one of the staff, Frances Fisher, falls in love with her. They get it on together in private and Chastain doesn't mind a bit being loved by a woman. You get used to it.

Fisher endangered her own career by smuggling Chastain out of the Home For Wayward Girls and hides her in her own home, warning her not to leave the house for any reason "until this blows over." A quickly bored Chastain leaves anyway and hitch hikes to Arizona, servicing a couple of truck drivers along the way.

I'll make the rest of it quickly. Chastain is courted by a failed guitar player and rock singer who now runs a tattoo parlor. He marries her, but he turns out to be already married and is also a drug dealer.

She hitches to Las Vegas, where she is spotted pole dancing by Mr. Big, Chazz Palmintieri. She lives with him in a penthouse overlooking Las Vegas until Palmintieri dies a natural death from bullets.

Next, ho hum, she hitches to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she is spotted as a waitress and courted by a very odd-mannered man whose family "owns half of Tulsa." The diamond in her engagement ring is the size of the Rock of Gibraltar. She marries him and has his baby, but he's a rude, religious fanatic and beats her. The wicked family kicks her out and takes the baby.

Last scene: Now all glamorized and un-hicked by make up and a sense of comme il faut, she wanders the streets of Hollywood, hoping to become a famous movie star, go back to Tulsa, and reclaim her baby.

The performances are okay. Nobody torpedoes this movie. And Chastain is quite good in the central role, as is Palmintieri, who finally gets a chance to project genuine sincerity. There are a couple of stereotypical figures but their appearances are brief.

It's nicely photographed and directed, and the script gets the job done, but at heart it's the story of a woman abused in every way by men and by the system that's supposed to provide shelter from them. The men are all cads or crooks, and the system works for the wealthy. And the climactic scenes with Chastain's son, when she is declared an unfit mother because of her "checkered past". My God, do we have to go through that again? What is this, Lifetime Movie Network? Why not change the title from "Jolene" to "Please Don't Take My Baby!"

Well, the first half of the movie, the part shot in South Carolina, isn't bad at all, a tangled web of American values. And the weaknesses of the men are somewhat counterbalanced by the fact that Jolene herself isn't really a very admirable figure. She starts out dumb and naive, humping rednecks in pick up trucks and whatnot. But every time she meets a new suitor, none of whom she loves, and moves in with him, it's another step up the ladder of wealth and status. "The money doesn't matter," but she keeps getting richer and richer because she's beautiful and willingly shares beds.

We've seen much of this before. Other versions are usually shot inexpensively in Canada, starring nobody you ever heard of, but they're all supported by the same familiar, sagging spine. And at the end, the protagonist walks bravely alone, smiling, optimistic. She still has her dreams.

It's by no means an offensive movie. It's a little reminiscent of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", the far superior "Wanda," and a number of other stories of women on their own. But it is repetitious, and finally boring, in its formulaic way.

I love Jessica Chastain so I decided to give this movie a try. I had a difficult adolescence so I thought I'd identify with the character. But I should have known-this film was written by men and therefore, the character lacks depth and the edge that a girl who truly went through what this character is portrayed to have dealt with would truly develop. Throughout the movie, older male characters are shown as benefactors rather than victimizers of Jolene, and she is shown as not a confused teenager who out of desperation uses her sexuality and attention from much older adults to survive in otherwise bad circumstances but a horny nymph who sometimes acts robotic but is also seductive and not much of an emotional being. She gets to survive using her sexuality as she's basically raped, and has orgasms, according to this movie. The movie starts with Jolene, at 15, marrying a rather young man named Micky, a sweet and rather awkward man who really does seem to care for her. When the sleazy uncle of the boy takes a predatory interest in Jolene, she finds this appealing and succumbs as a willing participant, which leads to disaster and a series of other adults who find Jolene irresistible and she uses them for her own comfort and survival, which DOES happen in real life, but not without much worse consequences generally. She enjoys art and art is another tool employed to try to make the perversion of this teenager as more legit. This movie portrays the systematic exploitation of a young girl as no big deal and not damaging or hurtful to this young girl- in fact quite the opposite...the writing attempts to show her as "artsy" and steering her own ship instead of a victim who has serious problems. It was only after watching 3/4 of this movie and being disgusted that this continued, that I checked and verified for myself that the writers of this movie were men. Well OF COURSE they were! Who else would write a female lead who has been mistreated by men and had to use her own sexuality with sleazy older men to survive and ENJOYS IT and THRIVES instead of becoming a broken and sad drug addict or worse. What I ended up taking from the movie is that this is a movie for men (and women) who would do things like the men (and women) in the movie to young girls and justify it as if the girl is enjoying and benefitting from this attention and behavior-a way to live. Jolene is shown as mainly a sexual being, a conquest, and a willing participant in her own abuse and exploitation, but not as a person with many feelings outside of sexuality. Even the "religious guy" is a pig and a rapist. But after being anally raped, and showing a tad distress for A MOMENT, she's fine and happy. Her range of emotions were confined within very shallow male's idea of what it's like to be a female, especially a female who has a history like Jolene's. After years of abuse, she has a child, and is IMMEDIATELY fulfilled and believes in God. Then after being beaten enough shows the fortitude to move on, but just as fast as she found God in her child, she gives up on him and fantasizes about going back someday, embraced by her son now as a movie star. That's redemption? What a load of crap. I found it actually rather disgusting but typical of male-created female lead. Don't waste your time, especially if you care about real stories about the female experience.

Jessica Chastain gives one of those performances that make history in this wonderful Dan Ireland film based on a short story by Doctorow. She goes through a life of radical changes, so much so that it could be considered a multi character study if not for the amazing truth in Chastain's portrayal. The exteriors may change and circumstances may appear diametrically opposite but at its very center she's the same girl we met at the beginning, never ever betraying that spirit or that thirst for life. Like in Dan Ireland's "The Whole Wide World", that launched the career of Rene Zellwegger, "Jolene" may do the same for Jessica Chastain. I don't think I'll see a better performance this year.

You can certainly understand why Jessica Chastain took this role. I mean, what actress just into her 30s wouldn't? It's not only the lead in a relatively substantial production, the whole movie revolves around her character and she's on screen for almost every second of it. It's a part that goes from 15 to 25, from roadside whore to rich man's wife, from dependent little girl to supposedly independent woman. There's also a decent bit of nudity, which is sadly something many actresses need to indulge in for Tinsel Town to take notice of them. If Chastain had any hesitation about this job, I'm sure everyone from her parents to her agent to the little Korean lady at the nail salon told her that this motion picture was going to make her career. There are just two little problems. One, Jolene isn't really any good. The story is shallow and contrived and is more like a simulation of life than real existence. Two, Chastain is not the right kind female for this sort of part.

This largely plot less tale is about Jolene (Jessica Chastain), a red headed girl from a life of foster parent abuse who at 15 married a young man desperate enough to take her as a bandage for his wounded heart. She almost immediately betrays him for his older smarmy uncle, which destroys everything and sends Jolene out into a cruel world that is never quite cruel enough to leave a mark on her. She passes from a lesbian guard at a juvenile mental home to a charismatic tattoo artist to a mobster to the scion of a wealthy Oklahoma family. Along the way, Jolene only gets a little bit wiser but never any more sympathetic or likable.

Part of it is that the film assumes the audience will automatically identify with and root for Jolene, so it never does anything to make her any more appealing than her physical attributes. Jolene isn't all that nice and she isn't good in any meaningful sense of the word and this movie never gives the viewer any reason to emotionally invest in what happens to her. When bad things happen, it's like watching a rotting house collapse from a distance. It's momentarily diverting but you don't care about the house and you're not close enough to it to feel any danger or risk.

Part of it is that Jolene does not appear to be happening in any kind of real world. The character is put in all these fake, fabricated situations that are like bad reproductions of actual things. The world has strip clubs but the one Jolene works at is classier and more refined than any strip club on Earth or any other planet. This story takes place in the present but is based on an understanding of family and divorce law that is straight out of the 1950s. And though Jolene is twice thrust into situations of great wealth after periods of practically living on the street and turning tricks to get by, she never thinks to stash any money away for herself.

Part of it is that Jolene, while the center of this movie, is so passive through the very end of the story. She barely does anything. Stuff happens to her and she hardly even reacts to most of it.

And as mean as it is to point out, part of it is that Jessica Chastain is not beautiful enough to make Jolene believable. The most defining characteristic of Jolene is she's supposed to be so drop dead gorgeous that lovers fall helpless at her feet. Chastain pulls that off when Jolene is 15 and radiates the sort of raw, unconscious sensuality that turns middle aged men into idiots. But as the character ages and has to lose that Lolita-like openness, it gets harder and harder to buy that Jolene is so darn irresistible. Few guys would kick Chastain out of bed for eating crackers, but she's not that good looking…or at least not that kind of good looking. In fact, if Chastain were physically stunning in her early 30s, she wouldn't have been able to convincingly play someone sexually precocious and half her age.

The direction and the acting here are good enough. It's the story itself that isn't worth anyone's time. You'd be better off listening to Dolly Parton's "Jolene" than watching this.

I have not read the E.L. Doctorow novel this is based on, but I'm guessing the film takes a lot of liberties, as Doctorow is usually more sophisticated than this. Jolene (Jessica Chastain) is a Southern-fried child bride who starts a torrid affair with her husband's uncle. She lands in a juvenile detention facility where a butch lesbian guard has designs on her. She escapes, drifts across the country having sex with a variety of sleazy creeps, and becomes a tattoo artist and a Vegas stripper. She finally marries a born-again Christian who (of course) turns out to be a fanatical, wife-beating lout (it has been light-years since we've seen a positive depiction of a Christian in a movie). The plot sounds like an homage to a dumb, 1970s drive-in flick, but JOLENE takes itself too seriously for that, which is its downfall. This is not fun or entertaining---it is ugly garbage loaded with nudity, graphic (and unerotic) sex scenes, and scenes of violence against women. I am astonished by the positive reviews here at IMDb that claim the film is "sweet" and "charming"---I saw none of those qualities. But since others did, judge for yourself.

On a trivia note, a couple of scenes were shot in my old stomping grounds of Prescott, Arizona. At the time, local news reported that Donald Sutherland was in the film. Since he is nowhere to be seen in the finished product, I must conclude this report was in error, or else he had a cameo that ended up on the cutting room floor, which was probably all the better for him.

I saw Jolene at its world premier last night during the Seattle International Film Festival.

The story is charming and the two plus hour film moves along without faltering. Newcomer Jessica Chastain is both beautiful and talented and portrays an ever-optimistic Jolene with the skill of a seasoned actor. The supporting cast includes well-known stars Frances Fisher, Chazz Palminteri, Dermot Mulroney, and Theresa Russell, but your eyes never leave Chastain.

The director is Dan Ireland, co-founder of the Seattle International Film Festival, which is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Ireland's earlier movies include The Whole Wide World and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. Great work, Dan! I hope everyone comes out to see Jolene.

Yes, Jessica Chastain can act, and does so very well in 'Jolene', but that doesn't make this a good film, necessarily. In episodes, the viewer witnesses the (bad) choices she makes and what harm comes to her. There seems to be no redeeming quality to any of it, from her early days of abuse (this begins before she gets married, but is captured in just a single voice-over sentence) to her final false (?, I can only assume; the movie ends there) dream of being a movie star and reclaiming her child... The resilience of Jolene's character is both impressive and hard to watch. And to learn that big money (the Tulsa parents) is seemingly the only way to (finally) find out about Jolene's past and get her back in touch with the 'proper authorities' is a confrontation with an utterly sad truth, let alone with the equally sad fact that the rich Tulsa husband (among others) can get away with such violence.

But why tell such a story? I would guess to tell the tragic life story of a young woman, put in a few life lessons for young, fragile women, criticize certain life styles and institutions...? Yes, I think I could get that, but as I tried to explain before, things are off. Jolene doesn't learn, bad folks get away with their mischief, and institutions too. In the end she escapes once again into a sad fantasy - where will she go from there? On top of that, some parts tend to the exploitation genre (while this film is trying hard to fit the drama genre, I believe) and the separate episodes are mostly rather shallow, stating facts in an up tempo manner.

I still can't get my head around all of it, and / but I don't know if that is a good thing or not... 6 out of 10 for now.

Oh, and this was based on a fictional tale with the same title, which was in turn based on the song 'Jolene'. And yes, that, in turn, was based on something, too.

I don't see what the point of this film was or understand how it was so highly rated or acclaimed. It was at terrible movie with a young girl who was terribly misguided, repeatedly degraded and exploited throughout her entire life. Despite any better judgment, she never learns, never overcomes, and ends with her smiling as she thinks of some delusional fantasy that, based on the story, will never happen. It's clear this was written and directed by men because it's all exploitation, violence against women, and gratuitous nudity. The only reason I watched this is because I recognized some actors' names but wow, so disappointed I wasted the time to watch this.

Think "Monster" but much more lighthearted and charming. I watched this movie with neither preconception nor hype; in fact I almost overlooked it. From the opening scenes I even imagined it may be a comedy and it does indeed contain many amusing moments that naturally emerge from the story and bring a smile to the face. Darker moments sober the viewer throughout but the narrative fails to linger long enough to bring the mood down, and despite the trials and tribulations, the overall feeling of the movie, like Jolene herself, is quite upbeat. It's hard to find much fault with "Jolene"; it is what it is. Unfortunately, what it's not is an hour longer. I could have easily sat through more in the hope of a more conclusive ending or just to see where the road might take her next. However, Jolene's erratic journey through life is ongoing and the lack of a Hollywood finale serves this movie well. If you're bored of blockbuster bombardment then "Jolene" could well provide a refreshing antidote.

After seeing this film at it's world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival I have to report that I am very disappointed. This is a truly awful movie. There is no plot or overall story to the film. It is just about Jolene travelling around the country going from guy to guy. She learns nothing about her experiences and leaves us feeling absolutely no sympathy towards her character whatsoever, in fact our lack of sympathy for her comes very early on in the movie and lasts for the entire duration despite one attempt near the end which seems very rushed and forced. As Joelene moves on in her journey she comes across numerous characters and different situations, each of these situations being the same as the last one and leaving us wondering if this film is actually going to go anywhere or not, or if a plot or story is going to unfold at some point. The makers of this film had access to a great cast. I've seen these actors shine in other movies which makes it even more shocking to me that they decided to take a part in this film, none of the roles did the actors talents any justice. The script is terrible and feels like it has been written by someone who has not experienced real life. The dialogue is very simplistic and the characters and situations seem very cliché. I've seen these same characters and same events in other films, but done much better. There is nothing unique about any of it. The wardrobe, set dressing and makeup also seems to be very amateur, camp and over dramatic. One character in particular, 'Coco' has been made to look exactly like Johnny Depp, reminiscent of the way Depp looked in his early years, which is very cringe making. The actor playing Coco also looked very much like Orlando Bloom and so I spent much of his screen time trying to decide whether it was him or not, due to the actor's bad accent which got me thinking 'Is this Orlando Bloom trying to do an American accent?', however I was wrong, it wasn't Bloom. The actress playing Jolene wasn't that bad and I would like to see her in more films, however the script and directing could not save her on this occasion. I would like to see what she could do with a solid script and a better director. There was absolutely no flare from the director, it was very conventional and safe movie making. The script was bad, but the director could have made something a lot better out of it, unfortunately he failed to do so. I know this film was based on a book, but I am judging this movie by itself and I am afraid that it falls very short. If you are looking for an entertaining movie which will take you on a journey, this is not the film for you. I've seen these characters and scenarios before. It's like 'Forest Gump' with a woman, and done badly. This has TV Movie written all over it.

This movie is very dark but it shows what life can be like for some children growing up in foster care. It is easy to forget that Jolene is actually a child when she gets married the first time. Jolene is a child without a childhood and she uses sex to get what she wants/needs. Jolene does not seem to make life happen, she just goes through life letting things happen to her. It seems that she just wants to be loved and cared for. However, she does not know how to do that the right way. There were a lot of sex and nude scenes. I am not sure that all of it was necessary. Many scenes are difficult to watch if you are a woman and it is easy to feel sad for the character Jolene. I had hoped that Jolene would have a happy ending. However, it is meant to be realistic and not wrapped in a sweet little package. It was okay to watch once but I would not watch it again.

*** SOME SPOILERS ***

This is one of those films where you're not sure what the point is. The film is based on the E.L. Doctorow story "Jolene: A Life," published in The New Yorker. You can go to their site and read the synopsis without subscribing. Interestingly enough, the synopsis is almost exactly what happens in the movie.

It is all about a naive young woman who goes through 10 years of mostly torment at the hands of numerous men. She doesn't change that much over that time, and is just as bad a judge of character at the end as she was at the beginning.

So, why watch this? I don't know. It is competently made, with the cinematography and (then-newcomer) Jessica Chastain's excellent performance being the highlights. Admitedly, director Dan Ireland is very faithful to the story, so maybe the problem is with Doctorow. I am not willing to subscribe to The New Yorker to read beyond the synopsis, so I am going to have to guess that the story is where the problem is. The question then would be: Why make this in the first place? I really don't know.

****** (6 Out of 10 Stars)

I watched Jolene because I am a huge fan of Jessica Chastain. I truly think she has the acting chops to live out a long and successful acting career. I am not familiar with the book this film is based on, so I can only rate this film based on what was presented.

This movie is a coming-of-age story. Jessica is not 15, however, at the beginning of the film she acted the emotional age of 15. She was so convincing of that, that appearance-wise it didn't matter as much to me. As for plot, many before said there was no plot. I disagree on this point. Following Jolene on her physical, mental and emotional journey was indeed the plot! This was not a lazy man's film; you had to pay attention. Jolene was learning and her character was developing along the way. Jessica's acting was perfect, even if the story felt a little drawn out or campy at times.

The only things I feel that would have improved the movie were a more resolute ending (does she fight for her child?), and a slightly different cast. I could not take Rupert Friend, Michael Vartan, and Denise Richards seriously.

I recently saw this at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Based on the novel Jolene: A Life by E.L Doctorow and directed by Dan Ireland this film takes through the experiences, marriages and loves of Jolene beginning at age 15 when she is a child bride after living in foster homes in a childhood of abuse and takes us through a series of abuse full and exploitive relationships. Lots of interesting characters that we meet briefly along the way including performances by such noted actors as Theresa Russell, Denise Richards, Rupert Friend and Chazz Palminteri. Jessica Chastain is clearly the star in her debut role in a feature film. She's fantastic and really makes what might otherwise be an ordinary made-for-TV Lifetime or Hallmark type movie. Dan Ireland directs with wonderful photography by veteran cinematographer Claudio Rocha. Chastain is in virtually every scene and she looks like she may be a star on the rise. She also tells the story in narration as the different chapters of her young life are presented. Director Ireland was at my screening for an audience Q&A. I would give this an 8.0 out of 10 and recommend it.

This 2008 film brought us Jessica Chastain, last year's supporting actress nominee for "The Help" in a totally memorable performance as a girl who matures despite the horrific life experiences she endures.

Scarlett O'Hara had 3 husbands and Jolene goes from situation to situation, with disastrous results each time. Still, by the end of the film, she is resolute in her attempt to make something of her self.

Definitely the product of a bad environment, Jolene faces life as it seems to continuously slap her in the face. She goes from one bad circumstance to another with an assortment of bad husbands, boyfriends and a world that seems to be against her.

JOLENE is an adaptation of one of EL Doctorow's short stories from his collection 'Sweet Land Stories'. That story was one of the few forgettable ones in that collection and makes one wonder why it was singled out for a screenplay by Dennis Yares. Doctorow is one of America's most important writers (Welcome to Hard Times, The Book of Daniel, Ragtime, Billy Bathgate, Loon Lake, The Water Works, The March, City of God, etc) and this is surely not one of his finest moments. Made in 2008, it did give Jessica Chastain an opportunity for exposure (as in "total'!) so perhaps that is why it is making the rounds again - before Oscars....

Jolene is a 15 year old girl, at story's beginning, who knows nothing about her parents and who marries a geek boy (Zeb Newman) whose own parents are mysteriously dead and lives with relatives who are odd - the aunt (Theresa Russell) is angry with the world and uncle (Dermot Mulroney) is a pedophile: Jolene ruins her first relationship by having an affair at age 16 with the uncle , her 'husband' commits suicide, and she ends up a juvenile delinquent in a 'home' for wayward girls. There she is courted by staff member Cindy (Frances Farmer) who helps her new young lover escape. Jolene runs away to hit the road hitchhiking (selling favors along the way), and ends up in a desert drive-in where she meets and marries a tattoo artists Coco (Rupert Friend) who is a drug dealer on the side and Jolene steps out of another bad relationship. Making her way across the country she stops in to work as a stripper and is noticed by a rich man (Chaz Palminteri) from Las Vegas who shows Jolene wealth and love but is murdered by a rival gang from New York. Once again she hits the road to end up in Tulsa, OK where she is courted by a sicko right wing evangelistic wealthy boy (Michael Vartan) who marries her despite his wealthy parents concerns, gets her pregnant, then throws Jolene's past in her face, claiming their newborn child as his own - Jolene being a used and unfit mother. In desperation Jolene moves to Hollywood where she follows her one talent - art - and dreams of becoming a movie star.

Dan Ireland directs this bit of treacle and an outstanding cast makes the best of the script they're given. Chastain shows evidence of the superb acting skills that now yearly are becoming more apparent. But as a movie, JOLENE Is a contrived little mess - and it makes us wonder how the powerful EL Doctorow could be so diluted.

Grady Harp

This was one of those movies where it doesn't really matter if the story sucks or if the film itself was poorly made. I could care less about any of that stuff because watching Jessica Chastain on screen is just delightful in its own way.

The story was alright, although I'm not sure there was an actual story here. All I gathered from the so called plot was that this woman (Jolene) didn't know what to do with herself and just kinda wandered & winged it through life on a daily basis.

This movie should have been the female version of "The Truman Show" where the audience can just follow around a clueless human being for no particular reason. This is a wannabe reality show disguised as a feature film and the only thing missing is SNOOKI and that's all there is too it....

As a foster kid tossed from home-to-home throughout southern Louisiana only to land with hard-earned education in Boston working at Harvard Medical School and living in the penthouse of the Ritz, I can tell you that I identify with this movie. There is something luring about the disenfranchised vulnerable that makes beautiful for predators (even well-intended predators with good intentions)- mark. I am most curious to learn where and with whom the author did his research to accurately reflect the subtle, but violent truths of this character Jolene. He captures the dichotomy of her seeming power but destined powerlessness with piercing accuracy.

Jessica Chastain, as Jolene, blows me away in this heartfelt adventure-drama. Known for more recent roles in The Help (2011) and The Tree of Life (2011) the relatively new actress is making big waves in Hollywood. Jolene is a breakout film for her, in which she captures the leading role by a longshot(and also SIFF Best Female Actress), with supporting actors having no more than about ten minutes on screen each. In the film, Chastain plays a redheaded vixen(she's one in real life too) orphan. She marries at an early age and struggles with household tasks as a wife, but finds her niche in her artwork. There's something about her that is irresistible and her newly-wed's father begins an affair with her. One thing leads to another and Jolene is sent to a psychiatric ward with no known family to vouch for her or take care of her. She uses her artistic abilities to make an income painting portraits of her inmates. A lesbian love affair with one of the guards eventually breaks her free. Jolene sets off west in search of a new life. She continues to find comfort in art becoming a tattooer's apprentice in Phoenix followed by an exotic dancer in Las Vegas. Through the course of multiple lovers and many different career paths, Jolene takes us on a thrilling journey across the United States from the perspective of a very fetching young female orphan.

Bottom line: If you don't think Jessica Chastain is attractive, don't watch Jolene.

I just saw the movie.. It's 2017. 9 years after it was made. What is the point of this Movie? Is it to show people how terrible life can be? Or what? And what kind of wrong information has been provided ..? Like the system is against her. She's like this idiot woman who never learns.. It's thoroughly annoying with such unnecessary disgusting sex scenes and nudity! There's no taste at all. The only thing good about it was Chastain 's acting.

Were do I begin? With the constant comatose look on the lead actress face? Or the lack of story and character development. Over all this movie was so boring,that even the actors looks bored during all the sex scenes.

I mean I get that Jolene is suppose to look bored.Since she's suppose to be emotionally crippled,and get taken advantage off,but the male actors look bored too.

Not to mention the cast don't seem to care about delivering any of their lines with some feeling. What ever they got paid to do this movie it's either too much or too little.

I like Dermot Mulroney in some of his earlier films,Like Where The Day Takes You,There Goes My Baby ,and Young Guns. But this,this is utterly crap.They even have Theresa Russel,and Denise Richards in it.They both scream washed out actresses