Review of House of Sand and Fog (2003) by Thomas H — 12 Jul 2010

A slow, deep and devastatingly depressing movie about shattered dreams and heartbreaking reality that had the tagline: "Some dreams can't be shared." A stunning and stellar (STELLAR) cast raise this film high above standard domestic drama that could have easily been mired in dread and despair.

Both Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi [for which he won 1983's Best Actor Oscar], Sexy Beast, Schindler's List and Bugsy) and Iranian-born revelation (!!!!!!) Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Stoning of Soraya M.

, television's 24 and the upcoming The Adjustment Bureau) won Oscar nominations for their work in this film; but a deluge of other intense female lead performances kept Connelly from her earning her second career nomination (Charlize Theron much-deservingly won this year for Monster while other actresses joined Connelly with the royal snubbing [most notably, the teenaged Evan Rachel Wood for a startling performance in Thirteen]).

Aghdashloo should have won the Oscar for her brave, honest and flawless, tragic performance in this film who's dialogue delivery produced chills and tears (she was defeated by Hollywood BIG-NAME Renee Zellweger for her most over-praised performance in years [she had been twice-nominated before this year (consecutively I will add) for her delightful Bridget Jones's Diary and awe-some Chicago]).

The House of Sand and Fog is about a mentally imbalanced woman (Connelly) who's disconnect from daily reality has put her in financial difficulty which eventually leads to an IRS-office clerical error that results in a faulty eviction from her deceased father's home(so .

.. she had some faults and isn't blameless but this problem does wrong her). Sweeping in to buy his family this seized-property that'll become his San Francisco dreamhouse, a very hard-working and moral Kingsley innocently becomes the bad-guy for trying to provide a luxurious/wondrous life for his family (he too has problems and faults and even after realizing that his "fortune" came about because of the wronged misfortune of another, he won't relent [which raises even more fair questions from the viewer]).

Both believe they are entitled to the property (as it is legally hers and he DID legally buy it after a small-yet-epic government mistake) and won't give in to the other. Both individuals (her troubled and him stern) resent the other and are unknowingly prejudiced.

Their small minds lead to a modern-day, Shakespearean disaster that can be avoided if Kingley's sexist character, Behrani, simply LISTENS to his wise and wonderful wife (Aghdashloo -- have I said yet that she is "perfect" here?).

A profoundly shocking drama without any frills, The House of Sand and Fog is intense drama at is very best.