Mklangelo House of Sand and Fog is a tragedy if ever there was one. The story is tight and the acting is superb. It stars Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley. It's described as a Crime Drama here on IMDB and that is misleading. This is a tragedy. Although there are crimes committed, by the Cop played by Ron Eldard, as he pursues a romantic relationship with the excellent Jennifer Connelly, falling for her considerable charms, it's not an accurate idea for describing this movie.Why we don't see more of Connelly in leading roles on the silver screen must have to do with her not kissing the right Hollywood arses and certainly not for a lack of talent or looks, as she possesses both in ample amounts. A recurring theme in Hollywood, particularly with talented actresses. As Marilyn Monroe once said, "Hollywood is a town where they'll give you a million bucks for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul." Smart lady. Kingsley is perfect in his portrayal of an Iranian immigrant moving his way up the social economic ladder in this land of promise. He comes by a house on auction that was illegally taken from Connelly's character. She has been wronged, but not by Kingsley's character as many would have you believe in their reviews of this disturbing film. The wrangling over this house destroys everyone involved, although the ending of the book, by Andre Dubus III, has a slightly different conclusion, with Connelly's character in prison. In the movie, it's not really clear what becomes of her but she is homeless and alone with no visible means of support just after two very convincing suicide attempts prior to the end of the story. This is a hard film to watch and it will haunt you for days after you finish it.

outpix This title was released in theaters but you could of fooled me. The entire feel and production of this over-rated drama is that of the Saturday night feature on Lifetime network. Not to say it's as sappy as most TV dramas but this film will make you glad you didn't dish out $15 to see it in theaters. The major failing is the script; the Lester character suffers the most with unmoving robotic dribble. Overall, the acting is acceptable but hardly exceptional. The plot is rendered mute because of the lack of any real power or feeling in the character lines who at times seem like they wish they were somewhere else. Unfortunately so will you.

Lee Eisenberg Vadim Perelman's "House of Sand and Fog" looks at the way that goals can have terrible outcomes for all interested parties. When a woman loses her home for nonpayment of taxes, she stops at nothing to reclaim it, even as an Iranian refugee family buys it. What caught my eye is that both she and the new family have suffered adversity: her husband abandoned her, and the patriarch - a colonel in the old country - now works menial jobs. This house may have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, but what happens over the course of the movie is anything beautiful. It is a REAL downer.While due credit should go to Jennifer Connelly as the original owner and Ben Kingsley as the patriarch, I think that a lot of credit should go to Shohreh Aghdashloo as the matriarch. Simply trying to hold her family together while still agonizing over the loss of their livelihood in the old country, she's a delicate but benevolent person. This is one of the most depressing movies out there, but I think that it's something that everyone should see.PS: The son mentions SAVAK. SAVAK was the Shah's security force from 1957 to 1979. Amnesty International reported that it had the worst human rights record on the planet.

NateWatchesCoolMovies House Of Sand And Fog is an emotional thunderclap in ways you won't see coming, leaving the viewer gutted after a finale that feels spare and detached yet wracked with emotion in the same moment. You feel haunted after witnessing the story unfold, and I was particularly affected by Ben Kingsley's determined, tender performance for days after my viewing of the film. He plays an Iranian man, a proud man who was a Colonel in the air force in his home country, and has been forced to work construction labor jobs in America to support his family, and to keep up the appearances of their lifestyle. When neglected taxes force a troubled woman (Jennifer Connelly) out of the house she grew up in, Kingsley sees an opportunity to buy the the property for a fraction of what it's worth, essentially leaving Connelly homeless. She has a history of alcoholism and instability, and this unfortunate situation really worsens her condition, leading to angry and confrontational behaviour towards Kingsley. He has no ill will towards her, he's simply trying to make a better life for his family whom he loves very much. His wife (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is still very much rooted in Iranian culture, and much of what's going on goes over her head. There's also a cop (Ron Eldard) who strikes up a reckless romance with Connelly and tries to strong arm Kingsley into selling the house back to her, pretty much reasoning with his dick instead of his brain. This is a film that refuses to take a side, showing us unblinking and compassionate views of both people within the conflict, and never lifting a judging eyebrow. It's a sad, sad turn of events and the film wants to show us the tragedy, but it does so with the utmost care, and always has a loving hand in presenting it's two lead characters. Connelly is heartbreaking, showing us the burning humiliation that frays her spirit to the last sinew. Kingsley is flat out brilliant in the kind of performance that holds up for decades to come. He rightly won an Oscar for his galvanizing turn that breaks hearts and opens tear ducts. Ron Eldard is the only piece that doesn't fit, because he's usually not fund in this type of stuff. He's really talented as an offbeat character actor, but just seems out of place here playing it straight, and it also doesn't help that his character is just damn unlikable. Aghdashloo is the third leg of the acting table, and her work earned her an Oscar as well, she is plain superb. Be careful of what mood you're in when you give this one a go, it's pretty devastating. It's also powerful cinema, and a story that could happen to anyone, anywhere in the world, giving us something real to latch onto and connect with.