Jolene -- Film Review

4:30 PM PDT 10/29/2010 by Stephen Farber

E.L. Doctorow's novels have never been translated entirely successfully to the screen, though Sidney Lumet's "Daniel," Robert Benton's "Billy Bathgate" and even Burt Kennedy's "Welcome to Hard Times" all have their merits. (The most high-profile Doctorow adaptation, Milos Forman's film of "Ragtime," is probably the worst of the lot.)

Short stories of a gifted writer often make more effective movies than densely layered novels, and perhaps that's why Jolene, based on a 30-page story, works neatly onscreen. The only limitations of the film -- adapted by Dennis Yares and directed by Dan Ireland -- stem from the episodic nature of the original story. The film is seeking distribution, and while it won't set the boxoffice on fire, it deserves attention for its performances.