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Jolene

Play trailer Poster for Jolene R 2008 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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48% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A teenage orphan spends ten years traveling to experience life.
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Jolene

Critics Reviews

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Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times More epic than it needs to be and less profound than it should be, "Jolene" remains a watchable excursion into human frailty and foibles. Rated: 3/5 Nov 4, 2010 Full Review Tom Keogh Seattle Times Chastain proves near-heroic embodying Jolene's innate strength and incremental wisdom. Yet she also makes us understand how the heroine's wobbly resistance to manipulative characters is overwhelmed time and again. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 4, 2010 Full Review Glenn Heath Jr. Slant Magazine Jolene's main themes, including the manipulation of youth, the fragility of love, and the suppression of individuality, try to carry the wonky dialogue into complex territory. Rated: 1/4 Oct 31, 2010 Full Review Lindy West The Stranger (Seattle, WA) It's a mediocre movie with a very nice central performance. Aug 29, 2017 Full Review Brian Orndorf BrianOrndorf.com Cruelly, the display of sorrow never takes command, with most of the film an unsatisfactory soap opera that never seizes an illuminating essence. Rated: C May 3, 2011 Full Review Marcy Dermansky About.com Chastain has long red hair, wide eyes, and an even wider smile. She is Jolene, of course, and she is appealing. Rated: 2.5/5 Nov 21, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Reb L Raw, haunting, and unforgettable. Jolene is a deeply affecting film that left a lasting impression on me. Jessica Chastain delivers a stunning performance as Jolene—a young woman whose resilience is tested time and again through a life marked by heartbreak, betrayal, and survival. Her journey is painful to watch at times, but it’s also a testament to the strength of the human spirit. What struck me most was how the film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities Jolene faces. It’s not a fairy tale—it’s a portrait of a woman navigating a world that often fails her. And yet, through every chapter, Jolene keeps moving forward. Her vulnerability and courage made me root for her even when the odds were stacked against her. The cinematography and storytelling are intimate and raw, pulling you into Jolene’s world with every scene. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a necessary one—especially for those who appreciate stories that reflect the complexities of real life. This movie broke my heart, but it also reminded me of the quiet power of perseverance. Jolene’s story is sad, yes—but it’s also beautiful in its honesty. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/25 Full Review Audience Member An excellent movie about a troubled young woman's life. While the relationships that Jolene gets into are extreme (for example she becomes a girlfriend of a rich Mafia guy in Las Vegas and later she becomes the abused wife of a rich jerk in Oklahoma), her story is one that is extremely realistic. I say this because unfortunately, there are far too many people who grow up in foster homes or were abused during their childhoods. Sadly, many of these people never experience much in the way of a real family or in learning how to avoid problematic, manipulative people. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/25 Full Review Audience Member I can't watch this movie; it's sad and heartbreaking. It's a good drama, you feel the emotions. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Debbie Y I loved this movie !! Jolene lives alot of different stories by the age 25 she starts over so many times but ppl are so taken by her beauty.a true redhead and adventurer this movie made my cry at the end and left me wanting more Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Ronald H You know you're seeing a bad movie when you can't tell if it wants to be a comedy or a drama....and it fails at both. It's too stupid to be taken seriously as a drama, and the only laughs it induces are derisive. It's ignorant, exploitative trash, and it's without a doubt the most embarrassing thing in Jessica Chastain's resume. Thankfully, she partly redeemed herself in her later work. She actually can act, but you wouldn't know it by watching this. I seriously implore viewers, even if you're fans of Chastain, to avoid this. It's little more than soft core porn. It's also an insult to intelligent, independent women everywhere. Men take one look at Jolene, and within 24 hours, they're proposing marriage. Of course, she accepts, only to end up betrayed and abused. Can a woman actually be this dimwitted? Give me a break. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Megan e Chastain's performance in her first movie is very good - 3.5 stars! However the film itself was rather pointless with Chastain's character having very little agency. The story seemed to highlight the objectification of women, but not in a critical way. It's a pass for me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Jolene

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Movie Info

Synopsis A teenage orphan spends ten years traveling to experience life.
Director
Dan Ireland
Producer
Zachary Matz, Riva Yares
Screenwriter
Dennis Yares
Production Co
Next Turn Productions
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Drug Use|Some Violence|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 50m
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