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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 source)
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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

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
10/08/05
AV Club
N/R

Click to read the article

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

Click to read the article

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

Despite Torn's always lively presence and a stunning performance from Russian actress Dina Korzun, this is predictable soap opera stuff, served up with such hamfisted self-importance that patience chokes on even a small portion.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/13/05
Ray Greene
Ray Greene
Boxoffice Magazine

"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)

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

[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
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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

The film's haunting final freeze-frame offers a visual paradox: Laura is suspended in time yet finally free.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
09/30/05
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

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
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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

[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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

In its maturity and willingness to look at the complexity of adult lives, the movie is a refreshing if solemn rarity.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
09/30/05
E! Online

It's a solid outing for all concerned.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/07/05
Oz
Oz
eFilmCritic.com

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

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
10/06/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Click to read the article

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

Director Ira Sachs moves to the rhythms of his native Memphis, teasing emotional resonance out of geography.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
10/12/05
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source)
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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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