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'Forty Shades of Blue': Tolstoy meets Hank Williams
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, "Forty Shades of Blue" hits you like a shot of moonshine whiskey. Right in the gut, with a buzz that just keeps going. As much Hank Williams as it is Tolstoy, this unhappy-family tale grooves on the Memphis scene and Memphis music as expertly as last summer's "Hustle & Flow." But it's a different scene, different music (for the most part) and definitely a different vibe. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
Alan James is a legendary music producer from the Memphis Soul heyday of the '60s. Now he lives with his girlfriend, Laura, who he met on tour. Laura spends most of her time alone or raising their three-year-old son. When Alan's grown son returns to Memphis for the first time in many years, the initial hostility he has for Laura develops into a messy, dangerous affair.

FILM FACTS ...

First Look Pictures

'Forty Shades of Blue'

Director: Ira Sachs
Starring: Rip Torn, Dina Korzun, Darren E. Burrows, Paprika Steen, Red West
Run time: 107 minutes
Release date: Sept. 28, 2005
Rating: Not Rated

On the web
Official movie site

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READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: B+
"Whippet-thin, with a sad-eyed elegance, newcomer Dina Korzun matches Rip Torn scene for scene. At times, it's as if Greta Garbo had somehow found her way to Graceland."