I've NEVER cried so hard watching a movie until I watched this one. I'm talking deep sobbing, not just tearing up. There's nothing at all positive about this film, but it's wonderful. Ben Kingsley is one of the greatest actors of our time.
If I watched it today I still wouldn't doubt on calling it one of my favorites... I'm often a sucker for depressing films =) There's something about Jennifer Connelly's performance that's always stayed with me, Ben Kingsley gets better each time, and Shohreh Aghdashloo is simply adorable.
This was such a controversial film. It is hard to pick a side. One moment she is doing something that makes you angry and then you pick his side while the next moment he does something horrible where you then pick her side. The ending is heart breaking and does not settle any feelings. Very well written and directed and the performances are truly great.
House of painfully slow developing characters and drivel is more like it. Part "Crash" (Overrated one) and part soap opera, this is just another movie that attempts to make you cry. It's uneventful and it stagnates with misfortune after misfortune. There's not one intentional funny moment either. What did I learn from this? "Pay your taxes!" Oh, wait.
Very interesting film. Kind of like a thriller but in a different genre. Seems that both parties in this saga have their rights which ends up in a real tragic sense.
Probably a lessor or two to learn from this.... the perspective that people have can clash even from a good point of view.
wow. awsome movie. i watched it blind, not even reading the case. a darker movie similar to crash. superb performances by all the actors, specially kingsley and connally. wyatte
Whoever reads at least 10 of my reviews knows I easily refer to a good or great film as "flawless", "perfect" or "masterpiece" as if nearly every single movie I see is, in fact, perfect. I understand and confess that sometimes I get a little bit "too excited" when it comes to a great film but as soon as this movie started and, obviously, by the final 20 minutes, I knew this was, probably for the first time in years, a truly masterpiece and I'm not afraid to write it down because whoever sees it will know I'm not, for one, overreacting.
The beautiful, gorgeous and, yes, FLAWLESS aspect of this film is how the tragedy and the intensity of its characters is subtle and quiet just until the last minutes but that doesn't mean it's ever boring or slow because it actually manages to hold the tension all the way and makes us repeatedly wonder what's going to happen with this hurt, destroyed souls in search of justice and dignity.
The characters reach so much depth and the dialogues are so stunning, yet silent that you can just let go and enjoy the tragic ride. Jennifer Connelly is gray and teary-eyed all the time but she never gets melodramatic. Let's just say her character is closer to "Dark water" than "A beautiful mind" and the direction/screenplay is so precise she doesn't need help from any of her usual gimmicks that we all love but that, in this movie, we don't miss. Let's just say she stepped out of the freakin box and found out the most powerful weapon to the audience's soul was inside of her painful look. It helps a lot, of course, that her co-star is Ben Kingsley in what is, without any doubt, his best performance. I loved his character from the first moment he had a quarrel with his wife: there wasn't a single word that came out of his mouth that didn't have sense or dignity and everything he says is correct in argumentation and intelligence. It's a rightful men that doesn't want to hurt anyone and his only flaw is to be so naive, innocent and, of course, loving to his family's honour. By the look of some clips, Shohreh Aghdashloo's character looked extremely melodramatic and cliche but, boy was I wrong! Her performance is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen on screen. Maybe she didn't reach Connelly's depth or Kingsley's powerful presence but her fear was as terrifying as anything the two lead beasts at war could do or say.
Yes, this movie is not a regular drama. This movie is almost like a modern greek tragedy as everything these characters did was already written in the stars and the only thing they did wrong was making the choices they made for better or for worst.
This movie is terrifying, unconfortable, visually stunning and intense but beware because the fog never disappears and the light of a beautiful morning never comes through the windows.
All the things that can go wrong when you have different cultures, and people fail to communicate.
A series of unfortunate events means that a house if wrongfully sold, and the rightful owner has to fight a lot of red tape whilst struggling with an addiction. She tries to talk to the people that bought the house, but because of the difference in culture, and them all failing to listen and recognise where the other party is coming from, it all comes to a very sad ending...
Great performances from all involved. Not a happy go easy film, but will make you think...
Powerful performances by Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly. Beautifully filmed. Depressing story. Somewhat predictable script after Sheriff Lester Burdon enters to picture.
'House Of Sand and Fog' appears to be a strange title, and one that I almost turned away from, but they say never judge a book by its cover - and this is the same for films and their titles. Believe me when I say that this is absolutely unmissable. A recently divorced, unemployed, broke and isolated American woman. An Iranian colnel and his family forced to flee Iran due to debt and a dark secret that threatened their lives. One house is the cause of a collision between these two different worlds that results in devastating tragedy. Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley are incredible. They give flawless performances that radiate depth, sadness and intensity. Both characters are incredibly strong-willed and this is perhaps their biggest downfall. They are given stellar support from Shohreh Aghdashloo who is superb in the role of Kingsley's wife, and Ron Eldard who is the catalyst for several of the tragedies that come to pass. Vadim Perelman's direction is astonishing. It is so subtle and delicate that it avoids over-dramatisation. His choice of score is absolutely mesmerising, one of the components that keeps you rooted to your seat from start to finish. This isn't for the faint-hearted, but 'House of Sand and Fog' is truly a fantastic piece of drama that I urge everyone to see. It's true. Some dreams can't be shared. Astonishing.
This film is so intense. Ben Kingsley always delivers his lines with such passion. His role as Massoud is one of his most amazing roles yet! Shows a darker side. hehe
Jennifer Connelly adds to the brilliance of this movie.
It just goes to show how people fight over things that in the end, they don't really want and it's all about the ego-trip!!!!
This is how I see it: It was about the importance of homes and about how broken systems can destroy homes and individuals. Kathy, Bahrani and his family are so desperate and frustrated, but why shouldn't they be? They are victims to broken law systems and to the wrong way things are handled by governments. Bahrani is forced to leave his homeland. Kathy is forced to leave her house. And Esma'eel ends up dead; all because of the way the governments and the law people decided to handle the situation some desperate people were caught in. It shows that even law can be blind. The ending was too sad, but I guess that's what life and reality is. Jennifer Connelly's performance was brilliant.
Patient in it's approach (a virtue unfortunately most films don't have anymore), "House of Sand & Fog" is one of the most overlooked movies in recent years. Every performance is passionately portrayed on screen, every frame polished to perfection, it's WELL worth checking out. I HIGHLY suggest you go out and rent it!
MCT:July 16, 2008
MCT:July 16, 2008
MCT:June 13, 2008
MCT:June 7, 2008
MCT:June 4, 2008
