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Movies / Upcoming / Forty Shades of Blue
Forty Shades of Blue

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Forty Shades of Blue (2005)

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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

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Reviews for Forty Shades of Blue

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21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
12/17/05
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

Subtle and morose to a fault, in the end it's just Junebug, another Sundance downer, without the heart.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
12/16/05
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

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.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
12/08/05
Chris Vognar
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/06/05
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
12/06/05
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A nicely tuned American indie drama in a minor key...

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
11/27/05
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The characters are going through significant life crises, yet we're given no particular reason to like them or be interested.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
11/23/05
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

[Torn's] acting so well he not only creates this character, but makes him into an object lesson.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
11/03/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Forty Shades of Blue hits you like a shot of moonshine whiskey. Right in the gut, with a buzz that just keeps going.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
11/03/05
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/29/05
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A so-what time waster.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
10/29/05
Jean Lowerison
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan

A nuanced meditation on the context of happiness and the problem with great expectations.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
10/28/05
Tom Long
Tom Long
Detroit News

[Sachs] fails to make us care enough about the characters to share their pain.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
10/28/05
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press

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.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
10/27/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

As messy and exhilarating as life.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
10/25/05
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

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.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
10/21/05
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

The reasons to watch are the performances by Torn and Korzun, and how Sachs and Rohatyn draw on the actors to paint fascinating portraits [of these characters].

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
10/21/05
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

The payoff comes at the end with a glimpse smack into the souls of characters more complex than those usually seen onscreen.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
10/14/05
Ruthe Stein
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle

Has the plaintive, lyrical feel of a classic Southern short-story.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
10/14/05
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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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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