Greetings again from the darkness. Let me start by saying that this is a beautifully made and extraordinarily well-acted movie. First time director Vadim Perelman, who also wrote the screenplay, delivers the visual punch that was laid forth in best selling author's Andre Dubus' novel of the same title. Ben Kingsley delivers another powerful, and at times chilling, performance as an Iranian immigrant trying to do right for his family. The stunning Jennifer Connelly stretches her acting skills as never before as the lost puppy searching for meaning. Realizing this was a best selling book, I must still say that the foundation of the story is preposterous. Are we really to feel for the screwed up person who can't manage to open her mail? Are we supposed to feel disgust for the hard working immigrant who judiciously purchases a home at auction (and won't give it back) because the county might have made a clerical error? PUHLEEZE. She is an idiot and he has total legal rights to the property. Forget what the "right" thing to do is, given some emotional attachment she has to the house. She lost the house ... he did not steal it. This becomes even more ridiculous at the end which I will not give away. Remarkably, this did not ruin the movie for me. Watching the interaction between Connelly and Kingsley and Kingsley's wife is both fascinating and frustrating. Her slide back into addictive habits is painful to watch, even if it is carried a bit overboard. I feel certain this movie will receive critical acclaim due to the star power and the best selling book. Many will overlook the obvious flaw in the foundation of the story. Regardless, this is a well made and well acted movie that is worth seeing.
Review of House of Sand and Fog
