RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • 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
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Might just as well be called Forty Shades of Boredom.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
10/13/05
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

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

So shallow and abhorrent, one might find themselves trying to think of all the different shades of blue mentioned in the title instead of paying attention to what's going on

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
10/08/05
Edward Havens
Edward Havens
FilmJerk.com
N/R

Click to read the article

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

It feels mighty real, and veteran Torn's almost all-impulse performance adds greatly to the sense of life unfolding, in its messy uncertainty and grabbed-for satisfaction, right before our eyes.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
10/07/05
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A jolt of backwoods moonshine whiskey injected into the veins of the atrophied American relationship drama.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
10/06/05
Scott Foundas
Scott Foundas
L.A. Weekly

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

Hits plenty of wrong notes.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
10/06/05
Doris Toumarkine
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International

A small-scale triumph.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
09/30/05
Timothy Knight
Timothy Knight
Reel.com

remarkable and challenging

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
09/30/05
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
Filmcritic.com

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)

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

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A rare serving of adept regional indie cinema.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
09/27/05
Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There hasn't been a [Sundance] Grand Jury Prize winner this terrific since Tom Noonan's What Happened Was…

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
07/08/05
Keith Uhlich
Keith Uhlich
Slant Magazine

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
 
 
41 - 60 (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…

90% 90% The White Ribbon 12/30
100% 100% Daybreakers 1/8
— Leap Year 1/8
83% 83% Youth in Revolt 1/8
— The Book of Eli 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

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

New clips from the detective reboot!

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

Watch the brand new trailer now!

Awards Tour

Awards Tour

Keep up with latest nominations and awards!

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

District 9 & 500 Days of Summer

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
11
  • 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
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
309
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
220
  • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
102
  • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
89
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
43
  • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
43
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
41
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
20
  • Friday Harvest: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and more!
14
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from Disney!
6
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
41
  • 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
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • 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
MSN's Year in Review
MSN's Year in Review External Link

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

Moviefone's Year End Poll
Moviefone's Year End Poll External Link

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Tarantino's Characters
Tarantino's Characters External Link

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

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

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN 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.