RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Forty Shades of Blue
Forty Shades of Blue

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Showtimes & Tickets
  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Forty Shades of Blue (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
62 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

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

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "SAVE" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Forty Shades of Blue

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

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

Click to read the article

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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

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...

See All

More Movies

Close
Coming Soon
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

More…

100% 100% Daybreakers 1/8
83% 83% Youth in Revolt 1/8
— The Book of Eli 1/15
— The Spy Next Door 1/15
See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Critics' Best & Worst

Critics' Best & Worst

RT's critic friends offer their choices

Total Recall

Total Recall

We list 10 New Year's Eve-themed films!

Awards Tour

Awards Tour

Stay up on the latest awards and noms!

Forever After

Forever After

Celebrate Shrek's return with this trailer!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • New Moon Tops Moviefone's 2009 List Source: Hollywood Reporter
25
  • Star Trek Tops 2009's Most-Pirated Movies List Source: Hollywood Reporter
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
111
  • New Toy Story 3 Clip, Photos Posted Source: Slashfilm
26
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
14
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
32
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records
329
  • RT's Best of the Decade!
185
  • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009!
105
  • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009
61
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
37
  • Critics Consensus: Sherlock Holmes Is Worth Investigating
34
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: 9 and Paranormal Activity
28
  • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies
17
  • Friday Harvest: Sherlock Holmes, Toy Story 3, and more!
10
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox!
1
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
72
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Forty Shades of Blue at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Forty Shades of Blue at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Dozen of the Decade
Best Dozen of the Decade External Link

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Top 50 of 2009
Top 50 of 2009 External Link

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Santa's Naughty List
Santa's Naughty List External Link

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

Top 10 Movies of 2009
Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Top 20 of the Decade
Top 20 of the Decade External Link

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.