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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:16

Fresh:13

Rotten:3

Average Rating:7/10

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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Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
10/07/06
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
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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
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... both emotionally captivating and elusive ...

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
01/27/06
Geoff Pevere
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
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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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[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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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
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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
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[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
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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
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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
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Forty Shades of Blue is a daring film, full of muffled yet suggestive moments.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
10/06/05
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
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Forty Shades of Blue may be praised for bringing an often ignored character into the spotlight. But once she's there, we can guess why she's so often kept in the wings.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
09/29/05
Stephen Whitty
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
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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.

comment Comment
09/28/05
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
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It's worth sticking with 40 Shades of Blue to catch two of the year's most richly detailed pieces of acting.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
09/28/05
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post
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A rare serving of adept regional indie cinema.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
09/27/05
Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
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A muted but nicely observed study of a Russian woman's gradual estrangement from her domineering Memphis music-legend husband.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/02/05
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
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Plodding and predictable.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
02/05/05
Duane Byrge
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
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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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