Impressively directed, low-key drama that really gets under your skin, thanks to strong performances from its three leads.
Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:50
Fresh:31
Rotten:19
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: In its portrayal of a woman's awakening and disillusionment, Forty Shades of Blue is as nuanced as its title would suggest.
Rated: 15
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:30-06-2006
Synopsis: FORTY SHADES OF BLUE tells the story of Laura, a young Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock 'n roll legend, and the personal awakening she experiences in the wake of her... FORTY SHADES OF BLUE tells the story of Laura, a young Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock 'n roll legend, and the personal awakening she experiences in the wake of her unfortunate affair with his estranged son. Alan James is a legend in Memphis, a white man who produced black music back in the 60's and 70's, the heyday of Memphis Soul. Now in his later years, he's still living the high life in a comfortable house in the right part of town. Alan lives with his girlfriend, Laura, a Russian beauty he met on tour in Moscow. Laura spends most of her time alone or raising their three-year-old son, Sam. A stranger in Memphis, she lives an easy, alienated life, Alan also has a grown son, Michael, with whom he has a complicated relationship fueled by jealousy, disappointment and anger. When Michael returns home for the first time in many years, the initial hostility he radiates towards his father's "girl" develops into something much more, and a messy, dangerous affair ensues. In the bars and bedrooms of this very contemporary city, a love triangle forms, illuminating the hearts and souls of these three tangled lives. Starring veteran actor Rip Torn as Alan, Darren Burrows as Michael, and Dina Korzun as Laura, the woman caught between them, FORTY SHADES OF BLUE was shot on location in Memphis, Tennessee – the hometown of director/co-writer Ira Sachs – and where he made THE DELTA, his first feature film. Screened at the Sundance and Toronto festivals, THE DELTA was distributed in the US by Strand Releasing. Rip Torn's magnetic performance in FORTY SHADES OF BLUE is a return to the kind of lead roles he was known for in the 70s, in films like PAYDAY, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, and the seminal COMING APART. For Dina Korzun, it's her first role in an American film, a stunning follow up to her award winning performance in Pawel Pawlikowski's LAST RESORT. The Producers of FORTY SHADES OF BLUE are Margot Bridger (THE DELTA, JESUS' SON, SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK), Donald Rosenfeld (HOWARD'S END, REMAINS OF THE DAY), Jawal Nga (THE CLEARING), Mary Bing and Sachs. The film was developed and produced in association with Mirage Enterprises. Executive Producers are Geoff Stier (UP AT THE VILLA, POLISH WEDDING) and Diane Von Furstenberg, whose clothes are worn by Korzun throughout the film. --© Official Site [More]
Starring: Rip Torn, Darren E. Burrows, Dina Korzun, Paprika Steen
Starring: Rip Torn, Darren E. Burrows, Dina Korzun, Paprika Steen
Director: Ira Sachs
Director: Ira Sachs
Studio: First Look
Reviews for Forty Shades of Blue
This plodding mood-piece is as emotionally engaging as a paint catalogue.
In its maturity and willingness to look at the complexity of adult lives, the movie is a refreshing if solemn rarity.
Ira Sachs's beautiful, melancholy film, winner of the top prize at Sundance this year, features a passionate performance by Rip Torn as a legendary record producer.
It feels mighty real, and veteran Torn's almost all-impulse performance adds greatly to the sense of life unfolding, in its messy uncertainty and grabbed-for satisfaction, right before our eyes.
Korzun has a placid quality that may remind you of Liv Ullmann, and she keeps us riveted because her calm reactions are such an odd response to the outrageous behavior she's reacting to.
Ira Sachs' story of hereditary malaise, passed from father to son, will disappoint anyone looking for a propulsive narrative or slam-bang excitement. But it will amply reward patient viewers who prefer a slow burn.
Forty Shades of Blue is wonderfully unconventional, truthful and touching.
You can't take a movie like this one from a veteran like Torn, who is terrific, but Korzun anchors the movie with dense subtlety and watchful detailing.
Forty Shades of Blue hits you like a shot of moonshine whiskey. Right in the gut, with a buzz that just keeps going.
Rip Torn's volcanic turn elevates the awakening story of a pretty Russian immigrant that's marred by rambling narrative and unexciting direction, also evident in Sachs' debut
The film's haunting final freeze-frame offers a visual paradox: Laura is suspended in time yet finally free.
Latest News for Forty Shades of Blue
January 31, 2005:
"Forty Shades of Blue" Takes Top Award at Sundance
Ira Sachs' "Forty Shades of Blue" took the grad prize for drama at Sundance, the New York Daily News reports. "Hustle & Flow," directed by Craig Brewer,... More...
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