Thursday, June 02, 2005
House of Sand and Fog
I just finished watching this, and honestly, I don't know why it took me a year and a half before I did, even after a reliable source recommended it to me. It's a truly excellent show; immensely moving, haunting and beautifully tragic. It probably speaks for itself that I could really really enjoy the show, even whilst nursing a slight hangover. Hell, I think it even cured my hangover.
For those who haven't had the benefit yet of catching this masterpiece, it's a story which reflects the gap between cultures, as well as several other underlying lessons, about humanity and hope. The directing is nowhere short of superb, and what more from a first-time director. Given how good this show was, I'm most definitely going to be in the queue for his next movie, Truce, even though the premise doesn't sound all that appealing.
That's not where it ends though, the acting in the movie is stunning. Jennifer Connelly showed once again that behind that pretty face (and hot body) there lies immense talent, and that her performance in A Beautiful Mind was not a one-off thing. (She's acting next in yet another American adaptation of a Jap horror flick, Dark Water) And it goes without saying that Ben Kingsley, as always, delivered a breathtaking performance (I honestly think he should have got an Oscar for it). Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jonathan Ahdout were excellent too, and together they helped create a beautifully emotional movie. I only wish that they'd gotten a better actor than Ron Eldard to play Lester, his role was really crucial to the main point of the movie. To be fair to him, he was OK in the role, but given that he was standing among giants, he really showed up as inadequate.
Anyway, if you really want to buy or rent a DVD, this is my recommendation for the moment. Don't get it though, if you're looking for a happy show. The movie is tragic at best, but is definitely a keeper.
- - - - - - - - - -
So the first Wednesday of the month's passed, and I'm still not $2 million richer. I think I should stop buying Big Sweep.
Today's Thursday though, and hopefully I'll be $1.5 mil richer by the end of the day.
3:57 PM
