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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.

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:2005

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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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Aspires to tell us something revealing about compromised souls.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/20/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Forty Shades of Blue is wonderfully unconventional, truthful and touching.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/25/08
Dan Callahan
Dan Callahan
Slant Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Time Out New York

This plodding mood-piece is as emotionally engaging as a paint catalogue.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
06/15/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/27/07
Steve Rose
Steve Rose
Guardian [UK]
N/R

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Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
10/07/06
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
09/28/06
Sight and Sound

...a sporadically well-acted curiosity.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
08/05/06
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
07/01/06
BBC

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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
06/30/06
Empire Magazine

Impressively directed, low-key drama that really gets under your skin, thanks to strong performances from its three leads.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
06/29/06
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

Korzun . . . is a non-presence, a brittle facade . . . a sketchy screenplay [adds up to] Zero Depths of Feeling . . . a flat, tasteless, faux-Euromance.

Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | comment Comment
05/11/06
Brian Gibson
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
05/06/06
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
03/11/06
Jam! Movies

It contains some very good performances and some finely observed writing.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
02/02/06
Richard Nilsen
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

... both emotionally captivating and elusive ...

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
01/27/06
Geoff Pevere
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

"Forty Shades of Blue" might have benefited from a little more honest melodrama, as the film is so subtle at times that it barely registers.

Full Review Source: Capital Times (Madison, WI) | comment Comment
01/12/06
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

The magnificent Korzun ... [delivers] a performance of internalized anguish.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
12/20/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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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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