MovieChat Forums > Dolores Claiborne (1995) Discussion > Disturbing, but well done. Whats up wit...

Disturbing, but well done. Whats up with that line.....?

posted 17 years ago by Kman13
19 replies | jump to latest

I was surprised with some of the content of this movie. It was pretty damn heavy, but still very well written, and acted. The lighting in many scenes seemed to compliment the "feel" of this movie very well. I don't want to call it depressing, but I can't think of a better term. I wonder if some of the outdoor scenes where done with natural lighting, mainly because of the blueish tint that occurs (like when the daughter is leaving for Arizona, or being forced to use her hand on her father, etc). Does anybody know about how they filmed these scenes?

The only thing i wondered about is if a woman would ever really utter the line "sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to.." That's such a Stephen King-kinda line, but would it exist outside his universe? Ladies, can you identify with this concept? I guess knowing that it was mostly likely a product of the mind of S.King, i had a little trouble swallowing it. Other than that, this movie was painfully realistic to the point of almost being hard to watch.

[–] ImmortlDragynSaint 17 years ago

Actually, I can relate to that. I use that expression sometimes, because I think iy's true. Sometimes it is all I have to hold on to.

"I'm going to get my chimp." Marky Mark
Yo soy guasa, guasa. No me hodes

[–] spacechic1012 17 years ago

its funny that line was mentioned because that is my quote...i do think its true.

Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto.

[–] Lana-Walker 17 years ago

yes, it is very true. women portray their emotions more than anything (as many men know..ha ha.)
but its very true, and very simple when you think about it. and although the quote is directed to women, im sure it can be put into the context for a man to.
for example: say someone is downright miserable. they may argue that, "i am sad because i am abused, ive been sad for so many years, that's all i know. it's all that's left of me." and therefore, you become what you feel. in this case, you become your actions (being a b'tch.) so yes, you'll do that or say that, if it's truly all you know.
:)

[–] chihuahuaz 17 years ago

Being a life long Mainer (not in any way bragging) it is one of those places where odd sayings abound. This state does have some crazy expressions and several dialects (depending on region.) "Boogary" was a new one to me but it sounds like something they might say "downeast" where the movie is supposed to be located.

[–] wiccaryan 17 years ago

Actually i am a gay male. and i use this quote alot except i change 'woman' to 'person' but i do think that woman can idetify with this quote because when the world has beaten you to your knees what else do you have but to stand up and bite right back?
Also i have a Dolores Claiborne quote as my IMDB quote.

Sometimes an accident can be an unhappy womans best friend

[–] jemaniac 15 years ago

I hate this quote. I loathe bitchy women, and ladies who use this as a "motto" need serious help!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kr-write2 10 years ago

Do you hate bitchy men? Ha. The bitchiest people I ever knew were all men. True story.

[–] jordanjanellejoy 15 years ago

I used to think that the line was pretty harsh, when I saw the movie at sixteen years old. Now that I am almost thirty, and have gone through personal obstacles that I can honestly say, have changed when it comes to my overall personality, I can ascertain that I 100% agree with that line.

Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto in order to keep her sanity. I know it is with me.

[–] goodbear40 15 years ago

From a man:

Best dramatic movie line ever uttered. In context with this film: perfect!

[–] squiffydoodle 15 years ago

Don't you just love Stephen King! To make such awesome women characters in this story ~ he's amazing

Bein' rich ain't for sissies ~ Lennie Briscoe

[–] Paul_Ke 14 years ago

Don't you just love Stephen King! To make such awesome women characters in this story ~ he's amazing

Yes! We think alike!

[–] TheManInOil 15 years ago

That line pretty much also defines the character of Margaret Hullahan in M*A*S*H.

"I'll book you. I'll book you on something. I'll find something in the book to book you on."

[–] Devans00 14 years ago

Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto in order to keep her sanity.

I think of the actors Bette Davis and Joan Crawford when I hear that line.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fiatlux-1 14 years ago

I tend to agree with the line often. But it may sound odd, but I don't think the line is 'appropriate' for 'all women all the time.'
Vera had no business feeling that way really. OK, so her husband was a jerk who cheated on her and ignored her. That justifies KILLING him?!
She just wanted his money and house and to not have to get a job! She didn't want to have to give up her preferred lifestyle and make her own way.
Similar to Dolores. She could have divorced Joe long before, even before Selena was born. In the book, she knew he was a jackass even before she married him!

Perhaps there were no shelters or such back then, so maybe I could understand Dolores' plight, but not Vera's.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] markusk6 11 years ago

While I would tend to agree that this quote from the film is a bit unlikely as a truly feminist ideal, I also think its extremely befitting, coming from a narcissistic woman like Vera Donovan. The manner in which Dolores adopted it was also most indicative of the strength that she drew from Vera, and profound effect that her relationship with Vera had on her life. I didn't get the impression that Vera was any kind of rags to riches story. She clearly married 'well', but it seemed to me that her ego simply couldn't handle the humiliation of her husbands disregard. In her own opinion, his disrespect for her made her an 'unhappy woman' with her own motives for enabling his demise. I felt that her reference to husbands who die and leave their wives their money was directed at Dolores in order to help her see a way out of her own personal despair.

[–] oneofeight 10 years ago

I always thought that line was more of a 'backed into a corner' kind of thing. When you feel like there is nothing left to lose.

[–] purplenad2004 10 years ago

I agree